[Motor31]

The first thing you need to do is forget all about the trailer dry weight or empty weight for towing. No one other than a trailer hauling company hauls an empty trailer. Use the max weight figure for the trailer for determining if your truck is rated for it. Also do not depend on the truck curb weight figures as that is based on half fuel and a light driver (150 lbs) on a truck without any load. Use a scale reading from your truck with full fuel, passengers and loaded as if traveling.

Just because the truck "gets it moving" does not mean you are in specs. It is possible to use an F150 (half ton) to get a 38' MS at 20k lbs "moving down the road". That doesn't mean the truck can really handle the load and tow any where near safely. It often takes a F450 or F550 equivalent truck to be in spec towing these heavy rigs, especially if you are getting one of the larger units.

We tow our rig with just a third tank (or less) of fresh water in case we get stuck somewhere by weather. If we towed with full fresh we would be over weight so we wait until we get to the destination to fill the fresh tank for dry camping.