Newbie - confused about hitch weight

b1martin wrote:
Why would Ford put a tow package on that has a hitch capacity that cannot accommodate their own max TT weight?

It doesn't. The tow rating is for all types of trailers. A V-nose boat with 8% tongue weight will tow far better than a same weight TT at 13% TW. All tow ratings are for the best conditions and easiest type of trailers, not all trailers with a truck full or overweight people for example. Ford's own towing guide even says that towing anything should not exceed any of the trucks ratings, GVWR, GAWR, GCWR.

....Does the WDH reduce the hitch weight by redistributing it to the front axles on the TV and the axles on the TT.

A WDH reduces the amount of tongue weight on the truck's axles vs. weight carrying, but does not reduce actual tongue weight the receiver sees. See this example:

1000 pounds of TW
Drop tongue on ball:
Truck front axle weight decreases by 400 pounds
Truck rear axle increases by 1400 pound
Net 1000 pounds of TW

Apply WDH adjusted for most truck manufacturer recommendations:
Front axle weight is restored to same as unhitched
Truck rear axle increases 800 pounds over unhitched
TT axles increase by 200 pounds
Net 1000 pounds of TW.

The truck's axles only see about 80% of the trailer TW, but the hitch/receiver must handle all 100% of TW.

My advice is before you spend any money on an upgraded receiver or gears or even a new truck is to weight your setup. Take 3 passes (truck only, truck with TT without WD, truck with TT with WD). Find out exactly where you stand with respect to all your truck's ratings. Otherwise, the people of the Internet can only guess, albeit with a varied experience. There is no point spending $200 on a receiver with higher capacity if it is used within it's ratings. Likewise, if you find out you are greatly exceeding other ratings and need a new truck.