And if the coils are better how would you use them to replace the leaf springs or can it be done?

Better or worse is a matter of opinion. For a Pickup like yours, leaves are probably best. To switch to coils from leaves requires extensive fabrication and bracketry. Some prefer leaves for simplicity while some go with coils due to the compact design (takes up less room). All depends on your needs. A well set up leaf spring setup can flex just about as good as coils from what I've seen.

Im just curious at this point.wanted some opinions.

Dont the leaf spring SWBs flex more in the rear than the coils. I know some rubbed the inner fender with 31s on stock rims with leafs, I never rubbed my 32s on stock rims in my SWB or LWB gen1 on coils. All things stock, coils seem to me to ride better. Ask Draider90 about those log bridges and his leaf springs, compared to my coils. Im not saying all leaf springs suck though. If you are going extreme and cutting stuff, you can bob (chop the back off for less overhang) a vehicle more with coils than with leafs. Both have their place.

The friction between the leafs is greater than the friction in a coil spring - better ride to some. Depending on application, each spring type has it's place...don't see too many coil spring Semi's for example.

Your right Russell, but do see a lot of air springs. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> or is that bags?

On the soft ground, the leaf setup usually needs additional traction bars to eliminate the hops. The coil-based suspensions are less subject to the "hopping" and thus provide little better traction (when everything else is equal).

Of course, coil setups must have other links to hold the diff in place, and they act like traction bars. I kind of don't like the panhard rod which makes the axle move sideways as it flexes.

I've owned both kinds of monties. The coils ride better with less initial friction to suspension movement. Leafs flex more. I've noted no differences offroad, but I don't do extreme wheeling much, as I mostly wheel alone, and hate walking home.

There are some alignment issues with leaf springs - wear in the spring bushings gives you a very sloppy thrust angle. I could get on the gas and get a veer one way, and back off the gas and she would veer the other way. Not a lot, by any means, but I could feel it and it was bothersome.