Looking for a new travel trailer, where to start?

Askibum02 wrote:
It would be tight, but I think it would work. According to the yellow sticker on the driver side door jam, the payload is 1582 lbs.

Almost every truck won't really offer as much payload as that yellow sticker driver side door jamb sticker suggests. Add a liner, perhaps a tonneau cover, towing mirrors, or anything else and it all comes off that number. If you really want to know what your particular truck's real world payload capacity is go weigh it with a full tank of gas. If you're in the truck when it's on the scale subtract your weight from the scale reading. The result is how much your particular truck actually weighs as it sits there with a full tank of gas ready to be hitched to a trailer. Subtract that weight from it's GVWR, also listed on the driver's side door jamb, and the result is your particular truck's actual payload capacity - that which you will use to accommodate the weight of everyone and everything in the truck PLUS the weight of your weight distribution system PLUS any trailer tongue weight transferred to the truck once hitched up. Be honest with the numbers and you'll be surprised at just how little your 1/2 ton Silvy has to offer. In my case I'm towing a trailer with an average gross weight of ~ 4800 lbs with an average gross tongue weight of ~ 620 lbs and even with just my wife & I & one big dog in the truck I'm pretty well out of payload capacity. :E