newbie start from zero, nothing, nada !

jmtandem wrote:

Maximum weight fully loaded 7000lbs
tongue weight dry 555

Your tongue weight should be ideally 13 percent of the trailer's weight. Use gross weight and never brochure or dry weights for your calculations. 13 percent of 7000 pounds is 910 pounds. The hitch will weigh anohther 75 or more pounds. And then add all the folks, dogs, bicycles, kayaks, tools, supplies, etc. in the truck and you can reasonably figure your truck's payload needs. The 5.3 and a 3.43 axle is not exactly a towing champ!!!! Maybe that is why some folks tow with more truck than you think is reasonable. Because it works better.

Ditto !!!

If you buy a trailer first, calculate 13% of it's loaded weight. Then add that 13%, plus weight of your driver and passengers, plus weight of any cargo you plan to put in the truck, plus 75 - 100 lbs for hitch weight. Take that total occupant / cargo / trailer weight and shop for a truck that has a factory towing package and payload (cargo carrying) capacity, sufficient to carry it all.

Don't listen to truck sales people, when they start talking about max tow capacity. Max tow capacity is determined using a 150 lb driver, who has NO cargo, and NO passengers. As you load the truck with people and cargo, tow capacity goes down, as does the available payload.

Check the drivers door post (on truck candidates) for a tire / loading sticker. It will show max cargo capacity. That number is what you will have to work with. for everything and evrybody you put in or on the truck.