Colorado Driving

Before making a motel trip, if really worried about the tug my choice would be to buy a used popup for that one trip and sell it for close to the same amount afterward. A 5- to 10-year-old popup won't depreciate noticeably in a few months. I bought a 4-YO Aliner last July, sold it this July, and the difference cost me $500 to use it all year.

I don't know your present rig so I'm not qualified to speak to the braking issue, but for climbing the grades you should be all right by just slowing down more than you otherwise would.