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To the question I can address:
Did we buy too much trailer for my existing truck? Inside of the driver's door is a Tire and Loading Information sticker that states, The combined wieght of occupants and cargo should never excceed xxxx lbs.. What is that number on your truck? (There are many factors that dictate whether a truck is sufficient, but payload is usually the limiting factor.)

If you're not familiar with all the towing terminology, check out the "Ratings" articles in the Reference Material section of the Towing & Hitches channel. Also don't miss the https://gdrvowners.com/towing-and-hi...n-i-really-tow thread that's there, too.

humunuku , scdock , and Dougstar -- any inputs for K&M Roadies?

Howard

We own this exact truck, and have 105K miles on it. We have occasionally towed something with it, but not a travel trailer. If you have the factory air suspension (we do not) you should be fine. You should have plenty of power, but our truck squats with anything very heavy attached to the hitch (factory tow package). Make sure you get a good weight distributing hitch and set it up correctly. About 7000 pounds of trailer is about all you're going to get out of that truck in towing. We would occasionally tow a 20 foot car trailer with a giant 14 pax golf cart on it. To keep the squat down, I had to keep the cart further back on the trailer than I would with our one ton. Weight was 6200 pounds, weighed on a truck scale. FYI, fuel economy dropped to 12 with this setup.

Thank you both for your replies! My towing capacity is 8800lbs. The trailer GVWR is 8500, but with just the 2 of us, not much will be carried. Plan is to be at or below 7500. Payload is 1600+, so tongue weight at 695 and our combined weight at about 300, I think I am in the clear. Considering we will be Weekend Warriors for the first year or so, the test should be complete enough to know if the truck will be good going forward. If not, the 2500 will be in the cards. Still curious about the Andersen WD/anti-sway though.

You’ll be surprised how your loaded trailer weight creeps up, I’d plan to be at the trailers GVWR. Also that tongue weight must be based on the dry weight, in order to minimize sway you’ll want 10-15% of your loaded weight on the tongue, so that could be up around 1,000-1,300 pounds, not counting the weight of your hitch itself. You’ll want to avoid leasing anything into the truck for sure if your payload is 1600. Also with a 1500 truck watch the actual hitch rating on the truck. A few members here with half ton trucks have reported the hitch maxed out at 1,000 or 1,200 pounds even with weight distribution. I think you’ll probably be okay, but on the close side. You’ll want to weigh at the scales to verify. Also keep in mind you may be tempted to load items to the rear of the trailer to keep the tongue weight down, that may seem like it’ll solve your problem but it’ll be a sure way to have sway. Even with a great weight distribution setup, the most important thing is proper weight balancing.

Thanks for the honest input ncitro. I am really determined to make this TV/TT work, all because I don't want to get rid of this truck, I love it! We are tracking the weights of the necessities, and aiming for 600 - 800 pounds total add.