Shocks pretty well have to go through the inner fender no matter what but it doesn't have to be crazy:
This is Fred Williams' Alaskabama Army Truck. We cut out more inner fender than we had to just because it didn't matter that much and we were in a big hurry but the hole could be smaller and a hose remote shock gets rid of the extra hole size to stay away from the piggyback too. It wouldn't be hard to close it in more if necessary with some plastic or rubber sheet. There are some more pics here:
http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/ORD2/library/Alaskabama Army Truck?sort=3&page=1
If I were you I'd consider some big johnny joints or my favorite urethane spherical which is the Summit Machine flex joint. There's no shank so they weld right to the tube and the really important thing is that they are greasable and seal up pretty tight so dirt won't get in. And have a threaded adjuster and when that's bottomed out they cost about $12 to rebuild.