F-TROUP wrote:
If your truly nose high that tends to throw more weight on the rear axles, so level is best. We go out to the desert a lot and at 7" bed clearance haven't hit yet(see my profile), but have been puckered a few times. If you put cargo in the truck bed keep it level or below the bed rails.
Unless it's excessive, the amount of weight shifted between axles is negligible. 2-3" likely wouldn't even be measurable. Moving 100lbs from the front to the back of the trailer would likely have as much or more impact.
If the OP is going off road, 8-9" is nice to have.
As far as pinbox vs hitch, again, technically there is a difference but not enough to matter. Do whichever is easier to get the bolts moved.