I may try both ways. Tight on the way down, and 1 link up on the return trip. The trip is a short (1.5 hr) and if I feel that too much weight on the front is negatively affecting the truck, I can easily pull over and change it.
Food for thought, the Tundra has high axle ratings. 4,000 front and 4150 rear. I think Ford and chevy are around 3700 in the front. Maybe those makers are close to the GAWR before a load and they want to keep from overloading the fronts? It seems the Tundra can handle a couple hundred more pounds on the front, which would seem to make the truck level in my case, or as GMW pointed out, what the manual states.
I think I have read that someone with the same truck as me measured their front to 3650 lbs while loaded (no trailer).
Online specs say the curb of my truck is 5460 lbs. Add 600lb passenger and cargo= 6060 lbs. Assuming 40/60 weight distribution (what the 4.6 is) that puts front at 3636 lbs. With 4,000 lbs to play with, I am allowed another 364 lbs (on paper) before I reach my rating.
According to cars.com, the F150 has the same exact curb weight and weight distribution. The GAWR says it is 3900lbs. This link (http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=99054) claims just 3750 lbs though. If that's the case, just loading a vehicle with people puts the front GAWR within 100 lbs of the max allowed and I could see why Ford would not want any more weight than stock on the front end.
