steering column intermediate shaft?

[1moretoy]

Hey guys I bought a new tilt column and it has a 3/4 DD shaft. Has anyone got rid of the factory intermediate shaft and used an aftermarket collapsible one connected directly to the sterring box without the rag joint? I could use a solid shaft but I like the added saftey of a collapsible unit. Either way I'm Just wondering how bad the vibration will be without the rag joint. Also what is the spline count and diameter is on the steering box shaft? Truck is a 70 1/2 ton. Or is there a different/better way to connect the new column? The way I'm thinking will require 2 u - joints and a shaft around $230. Nothing is cheap anymore.