Back in the early 80's I hauled an 8' tc in a F150 with an 8' box for a summer and it wasn't a lot of fun, particularly in a crosswind. One thing to keep in mind is that the CG will shift back considerably if you choose a camper that extends over the tailgate. Seems like with your 1500,coupled with the 6.5 foot bed you would really be pushing it with any sort of tc. I would either trade in the pu for a 2500 or look for a small travel trailer to tow. At best with a tc you will have a very marginal setup that empty is overloaded and with minimal outfitting will not drive well and cause premature wear on the truck as well as your nerves.
Edit: It is possible that GM, when placing that weight limit for hauling a tc was looking at more than simple axle and tire ratings. I remember my F150 handling like a drunken sailor at Highway speeds and would actually start to sway back and forth in a sort of harmonic that would rapidly worsen unless a properly timed snap of the wheel would straighten it out momentarily. I was younger then and will never do those sorts of things again!
