Maybe you could use a rachet strap? You need to know the closed lengths though so you can bump stop them. Did you get anywhere with different fittings for the bottom of the rears?
With the tops disconnected, I undid the anti-roll bar bolts at the chassis (2 x 12mm each side) so I could drop the ARB out of the way. Then I undid the lower shock mounting bolts (17mm), slid the shocks off and emptied them out into my oil tub. Mostly clear fluid came out but right at the bottom was some milky fluid, possibly the dissolved remains of my old sphere membranes.(
I am just considering coming back to sensible Landcruiser ownership.no, when they are level side to side they are not under load. If you lift one side so the suspension droops or stuff one side then there is some load on them.