Help in choosing tow vehicle needed

What they said.

Do also be aware that any trailer weighing more than 3,000 lbs (3,500 lbs in some states) MUST have brakes, and for that you are going to need a brake controller.

I note that U-Haul requires that the TV weight not be less than 80% of the total weight of the trailer to prevent the tail-wags-dog syndrome. This is a good starting point for saying that if your trailer's loaded weight is say 5,000 lbs, your TV must weigh at least 4,000 lbs. This is for a bumper-hitch rig, 5th wheels are not so sensitive.

So whatever you get, be sure to get enough of it . . . .

How much towing are you going to be doing? Occasional use, a V6 might do, cross country trips would need a little diesel, turbo gas engine, or a V8 truck.

I'd suggest you look at the Ram 1500 Ecodisel with 4 corner air suspension.

Just take care when buying a new tow vehicle. Make sure you don't run into the tail wagging the dog syndrome.

There's lots of options for a trailer that light. A V6 would be plenty of muscle.

My first choice would be a Ford Flex EcoBoost. 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and tows 4500 pounds. Also has more payload than many 1/2-ton pickups.

Naturist is of course, correct. I thought if the OP was looking at a diesel, that they would have indicated that in their post. I should never assume!

You can haul a$$ in a diesel!

While @Frank is entitled to his opinion, there are 6 and even 4 cylinder TVs that will work fine with such a rig. They are, however, diesels.

I've dragged a 21 foot TT, 3680 lbs dry weight, 5,000 lbs GVW back and forth across the continent with a 2.8 liter, 4 cylinder Jeep Liberty CRD (diesel) several times. Went over the Rockies on I-70 west of Denver, over 11,000 feet altitude. Worked just fine.

I've since "graduated" to a BMW X5 a 3 liter, 6 cylinder diesel. Jeep, VW, Audi, and Mercedes all have 6 cylinder diesels as well capable of this.

You probably are looking at an 8 cyl, not a 6. If the trailer was only 3,500 loaded, you could get away with a Lexus 6 cyl Hybrid LOL!

Do you have any brand preferences?

Which brand of travel trailer are you looking at?