Well, you are going from essentially a street tire to an offroad tire. There is going to be a difference.
The stiffer sidewall on the BFG is probably why the ride feels stiffer. And the wider, more aggressive tread (compared to the GY's) is probably why the steering feels different. Try going to some 315 MT's and then compare the difference.
And unless you want the look, don't bother raising the t-bars. It will not improve the ride.