Do your research on all the various ratings, on tow vehicles and trailers. Tow ratings, payload, hitch rating, tire ratings, etc. In most cases, you will run out of payload, before you get close to that mythical tow rating. Buy a big enough trailer, even a 3/4 or one ton, could have issues.
Things to keep in mind:
Tow Vehicles -
SUV's and lite trucks are built for passenger comfort. They normally come with "P" rated tires, geared for higher MPG, and softer suspensions, which don't perform well under heavy loads. They tend to be lite on payload.
Max tow rating (a marketing number) is what the manufacturer says the vehicle could tow, with only a 150 lb driver. No passengers or cargo. Everything and everybody you put in or on the vehicle, deducts weight capacity from your payload and tow rating.
Payload (difference between GVWR and actual vehicle weight) is max weight capacity for aftermarket accessories, occupants, cargo, fuel, weight distributing hitch, and trailer tongue weight.
Buy a vehicle with a factory tow package.
Trailers -
Average tongue weight is 12 - 13% of loaded trailer weight. Some are up to 15%. If you're looking at a trailer with 8000 GVW, your tongue weight could be 1200 lbs.
Average trailer load (dishes, bedding, food, water, camping gear, etc) is about 1000 lbs. If you're more full time camping, your load could be higher.
Trailer tires, also have a load rating. Manufactures tend to install tires that are borderline for the gross weight of the trailer. If you're looking at loading to the max weight of the trailer, you may want to upgrade the tires.
If your armed with all the ratings info, you can buy either truck or trailer, first. If you're looking at trailers, you'll have an idea of what you will need to pull it. And if you are looking at tow vehicles, you will have a pretty good idea on what, real world trailer weight, it could pull.
