Do more research on the tow vehicle first.
1. The vehicle's tow capacity, is considering a propperly equipped vehicle, which has NO aftermarket accessories, No cargo, NO passengers, and may have included a limitation on frontal area of the trailer. Check the owners manual for info on frontal limitations.
2. Some SUV / crossover type vehicles are not recommended for use with a weight distributing hitch. Check the owners manual, regarding use of WDH.
3. The vehicle will most likely exceed it's payload capacity, long before it gets close to that 8000 lb tow capacity. Check tire and loading sticker (on drivers door jamb) for occupant / cargo capacity (payload). From that number, subtract the weight of occupants, cargo (stuff they plan to keep in or on the vehicle), and weight of the hitch (if that is a WDH - 100 lbs). What is left, is payload available for trailer tongue weight. As the available payload is going down, the towing capacity is going with it.
4. Check the vehicle's hitch receiver. Look for rating numbers for tongue weight with and tongue weight without weight distribution.
Consider some average trailer numbers.
1. Tongue weight will be minimum of ten percent of loaded trailer weight, and could be up to fifteen percent. Average about 12.5 percent. Keywords being "loaded weight" and "average". Tongue weights go up and down during every trip.
2. Average trailer load (dishes, pots and pans, camp chairs, BBQ, flashlights and tools, bedding, groceries, and water, etc) is 800 to 1000 lbs. If they buy a trailer with 4000 lb UVW, it will be close to 5000 lbs when ready to camp.
Once you know the real world towing and carrying capacities of the tow vehicle, and you have a good idea of what kind of "loaded" trailer weight will push their limits, look at trailer's that will leave them some cushion. The closer you get to exceeding any ratings, the more unpleasant towing can be.
You may find that Lance to be a good fit, or, you may find you need to adjust your search.
