First RV - needing some sound advice please

alangolding25 wrote:
based on the above first and foremost I need to possibly change my hitch to make sure the rating is more that the hitch rating is more than what I plan to tow, or have it equal to what the max towing rate is.

The hitch rating is the amount of weight the receiver is rated to carry, not pull. Yours is 500 lbs.

A 3500 lb trailer (your max tow capacity) would have less than 500 lbs tongue weight. That fits within your existing hitch rating. A higher rated hitch, would only make the hitch (just the hitch) capable of carrying more weight, which would speed up excceding payload and GVWR. It woud not improve on pulling anything.

You only have 3500 lb max tow capacity, "when" you are alone in the vehicle, you have no cargo, and if you only weigh 150 lbs. Any other weight in, or on the vehicle, you no longer have 3500 lb tow capacity.
We already know, you have occupant / cargo weight that does that.

The interaction your hitch has with other ratings are, when you hitch up the trailer, the tongue weight is pushing down on the receiver, this is where the 500 lb hitch rating is invoved. That tongue weight is also taking up payload capacity, and pushing you closer to going over on GVWR, GCVWR, and axle ratings.

Your owners manual will tell you "Your max tow capacity, is limited to the weakest link in the vehicle's ratings". Your weakest link is payload. There are no upgrades or changes you can make, to change that.