Not trying to give you a hard time or looking for an argument, but I really don't know what you mean by "...ride like crap..."
I do ride my Trucker unloaded. I do not think it rides like crap. That also doesn't mean I love it, but there are things that I really like about it that I've never experienced on another bike. I love the stability screaming down a steep hill. I like the smooth, stable ride when I'm out for a longish ride of 30 - 50 miles. BUT, I don't like the "squish" when I stand up climbing. Just a few things.

But I think there's a factor that is always left out when people talk about riding their truckers unloaded. That is the relationship between their own body weight and the size of their frame. I ride a size 58 and weigh 210 lbs. My wife weighs 100 lbs. less and rides the second smallest size in a trucker. Her frame is much more stiff than mine. She weighs 100 lbs. less. She feels like she's on a crit bike compared to my ride. A lot of guys riding my size frame weigh 20 - 30 lbs. less than I do. I think their unloaded ride might feel a bit more unforgiving than mine. I may not love my trucker for everyday unloaded riding, but uncomfortable and stiff feeling it is not.

Having said all that, I would really like to know what specifically you didn't like about your crossrip. I would imagine it could compare to a present day crosscheck, and I am kinda-sorta considering that bike in the ALR form.