Unbolt the lower part of the front shocks and bounce on the front of the truck
That's the springs you are testing and that pretty much decides the ride
Shock can make the ride stiffer but not "softer"
Shocks are there to stop the springs from rebounding to many times after hitting a bump, they don't support any vehicle weight
Rear leaf springs have to be rated for an extra 500lbs each to get the 1,000lbs 1/2ton rating
So pickup trucks often have a stiff ride in the rear, answer is lower weight rated spring with an added overload spring
Tire pressure is your first line of defense in stiff rides
They are YOUR tires, so set the air pressure to YOUR specifications
Try 28psi so see if it feels better or 26psi