My '88 F-250 HD Lariat 4x4 with an extended cab and an 8' bed is a good example here...I too have a 460 gasser with a C-6 auto trans in it. I would suggest you forget most of the online weight references because as each item you change is included to the Build Sheet, it changes the weight ratings for both the front and the rear axles. In essence you either have to find the EXACT truck you want in the YEAR (2018?) you are buying and then check the individual axel ratings based on those choices. Then open up the manuals included with the truck and see what they say about the towing capabilities and tongue weights.
I went with a 1976 8' CO and I like the idea I can drive with the tailgate closed and then have a back porch when I get to camp.
My truck doesn't know the Alaskan is back there on flat ground, it does take a bit more gas pedal on steeper hills but I too have the satisfaction of knowing it 10MPG average wherever I go and that is with or without the Alaskan mounted!
Remember too that your Alaskan will probably weight more or less than mine; that depends on what you have in it. If you have the propane tank forward or rearward, if you have an oven or not, if you have a CO or not...same as the truck, the weight gonna be what it gonna be.
Now, the next thing to sort out is gas vs. diesel....that is up to you but as noted above, different year diesels from the big three have their good and bad reputations. Then, do you need 4x4 or not (no, not until you DO need it!)? Should your truck have four doors? Or do you just need the jump seat style extended cab? Or do you want nothing behind the front seat but the rear window?
Next is the choice between and 8' or 10' Alaskan....for the two of us, the upgrade from the NCO to the CO is enough.
I don't know how you arrived at the GVW you mentioned above....but...
My truck came in as follows:
With two full fuel tanks and me in it...
Front: 3520
Rear: 2860
Both: 6400
VIN tag says:
GVWR is 8800
Front: 3920
Rear: 6084
.....so I can carry 2400 as long as I don't overload the rear axle. The heavy front end is due to the 460 and 4x4 up there.
My Alaskan says it weighs 1450 with 20 gallons of water and 25 lbs or ice in it. That gives me about 900 lbs of "stuff" before it is overloaded. Subtract the tongue weight you mentioned of 300 lbs and that would still give me 600 lbs for "stuff" added into the Alaskan.
Lastly, many guys go for a one-ton SRW 8' bed just to be sure.....the bottom line is you are going to be spending a lot of money on the Alaskan and the truck....the worst thing you could do is not get "enough truck" and that includes the engine size, HP and torque it produces.
If you are buying a NEW truck, you can look at the build sheet in the window and when you find the EXACT truck with the EXACT items you will want on it...take a picture of the VIN tag on the door because that is how Ford (and others) arrived at what is on that tag; they added up EVERYTHING which is what you need to do to know what your ideal truck can handle....then it depends on what Alaskan configuration and how it is outfitted to get the proper weights....unfortunately you just won't know how that is distributed between front and rear axles until you mount it.
You have your homework ahead of you....but for the amount of driving on the highways and off on the backroads you intend on doing, you'd better get it RIGHT before buying either the Alaskan or the truck of your choice.
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