I wonder if the 8800# refers to the truck with a standard 8' bed on it before the installation of the steel flatbed?
Unless you overload the REAR axle when loading up an Alaskan, you can safely add the difference which is about 1800#. In looking at some older Alaskan material, the 8' CO should come in at 1440# when dry. However when you add in your passenger, gear, food, etc., you will easily add another 500# or more when you top off the fuel tanks.
Some guys run a few pounds over the GVWR of their tags but don't go over the rear axle capacity and some guys have several hundred pounds over the GVWR and most of it on the rear axle. The addition of springs/air bags, etc. to carry the load may make the truck ride higher but won't help you STOP it if you have to hit the binders real hard.
Have you considered removing the flatbed and finding a regular tub for the truck? Just as a note, my '88 F-250 has a GVWR of 8800# and I weighed it with just myself, about 25 gallons of gas and a 200# shell on the truck....it weighed 6400#.
My guess is that flatbed is much heavier than the standard truck tub would be so you might want to consider a swap for it. Having more "space" usually leads to carrying more "stuff" which weighs more and more...
You'll need to decide if a CO or non-CO Alaskan is what you want as the weight is a consideration here as is the difference between an 8' and a 10' camper....
Since you are in Nebraska, I would suggest you start with figuring out which way to go and then...buy the BEST Alaskan you can find....No leaks or damage unless you are a carpenter by trade! I would also suggest you would do better to finding one by checking Craigslist in Arizona, New Mexico and So. California where there just isn't as much rain and moisture to attack the camper.
Good Luck with the search....it took me 14 months or so to find the one I picked up about a week or so ago....
