[JRTJH]

As I've been reading through this thread, nowhere does it state that you've actually gone out, parked your truck (without the trailer) and measured the front wheelwell height, then hooked up the trailer, set up the bars and measured the front wheelwell height with trailer attached. That is what "setting up the hitch" is all about, returning the "drivability" to the front axle by transferring the lost weight (from the trailer being attached behind the rear axle) to as close to it's original weight as possible.

When you drive your truck "solo" you have about a 60/40 weight distribution. That's 60% of your trucks weight on the front axle and 40% on the rear axle. This gives your steering a "specific feel" that you interpret as "normal steering". When you add 700 lbs (just for explanation purposes) about 30" behind the rear axle, you significantly "unload" the front axle and cause the steering to feel "light and squiggley".

The purpose of the weight distribution hitch is NOT to return the truck to "level" with the trailer attached, the purpose of the WD hitch is to reload the required weight on the front axle so steering (and vehicle controllability) can be maintained.

It sounds like when your dealership "set up your Dodge" they got it right, and when you "set up your Ford" you copied the links and hitch height that worked on the Dodge.... That's not how you set up a truck/trailer combo.

Take your rig to a level concrete parking lot, unhitch, measure from the ground to the bottom of the front fenderwell (above the tire), record that measurement, then hitch the trailer and adjust your weight distribution bars until that measurement is within 1/2" of the "unloaded height".

Then, stand back and see if your trailer is sitting "level" or "slightly nose down" If it is, then you're close to being properly set up. If the trailer is "nose high", THEN you need to lower your hitch height. If you can't get the front wheelwell height correct, then you need to adjust the washers (remove or add) to change the hitch angle so you can "crank the WD bars down tighter or loosen them to get the wheelwell height correct.

Don't try to level your truck !!! That's what causes most issues with hitch WD adjustment problems. The truck will (not maybe, not could, not might) the truck WILL sit lower in the back than when empty.

It's the front fenderwell height that you must get right or you'll never have a "controllable" rig.

Good Luck