So here's what I've done so far:
1. visually and manually (using hand to see if there's movement in anything or bolts holding things on) checked u joints, bushings, damper, steering linkage, leaf springs. Nothing except the tie rod link was loose to the touch and none of these has been worked with since I've owned it. The tie rod link (that's what I'm calling the link between the steering arm and the tie rod; see pic below) was very loose. It rotated maybe 1/2+ of a inch. I haven't tried tightening the castle bolt to see if it actually cinches down. I have my doubts but I'll check.
2. checked for wheel bearings being bad. It was just the wiggle test. The wheels had no vertical movement and only a small horizontal (3 and 9 o'oclock). The whole inner hub tended to move with the wheel but as I say, it was only a very small amount (maybe 1/8+ of an inch).
Have yet to check on:
1. tire balance
2. wheel alignment
3. exact angles of drive shafts but rig hasn't had a lift or transmission switch so not sure why that would matter.
Tomorrow, I'll take it to my mechanic who isn't familiar with these rigs, but I'll share with him what you guys have told me. I'm including various pics of the steering links and such below, so if anyone sees something I haven't because I'm a uneducated observer (some of the terms you guys use are like a foreign language to me

, please hollar. Thanks to all.
This first picture is of the steering link that has a lot of play (the 1/2+ inch)
same thing but different angle of the first photo
This is the other end of that link toward the front of the rig