Finally hit the scales

Ron Gratz wrote:
For 2008, the online manual reads:

3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and adjust the hitch equalizers so that
the front bumper height is within 1?2” (13 mm) of the reference point.
After proper adjustment, the rear bumper should be no higher than in
Step 2.

This reasonably could be interpreted as an acceptable range of:
minus 1/2" to plus 1/2" with a midrange of 0"
or
0" to plus 1/2" with a midrange of 1/4".
In either case, a measured height increase of 1/2" would be at the extreme end of the range.

Since I've seen no indication that Ford considers their 2011 specification to be retroactive to 2008, I would shoot for a front-end rise of not more than 1/4".
Better yet, you might want to contact Ford's technical department to see what they have to say. It's always good to get an "official" opinion.

Ron

Your interpretation is correct. I called Ford. Apparently, for 08 F250, they were more concerned with measurements than weights. I was told to "do the measurement front and back, hitch up, and measure again. Front should be no more than (plus or minus) 1/2 inch of unloaded measurement and rear should not be any higher than unloaded measurement."

I didn't measure at the bumpers, but I assume, since wheel well measurements didn't change, the bumper measurements must be close too.

I did the scales, mostly out of curiousity. I had read posts about poor FALR with the Andersen hitch, and, was curious to see what mine was doing.

It appears to be doing what it's supposed to do. Next time I hitch up, I'll measure the bumpers and see how it compares to measurements I have now.