My Tahoe does pretty well with my trailer, but I've also never loaded it over 7500lbs. At 7500, I'm basically at all my capacities for payload, axle ratings, etc... I have the HD towing package, Z71 off road package and an upgraded transmission cooler. If it was just you and the wife in the trailer, you would be ok, but with 2 other people you'd be over payload. You could also take less stuff. 2000lbs is a LOT of stuff. No need to travel with the tanks full. That's a lot of unnecessary weight to carry around. When I went on a 3 week trip, I weighed everything and was at about 7300lb on the trailer with 1000lb of tongue weight. It was me, my girlfriend and 3 dogs in the Tahoe, which put us right at the payload and GCWR.
Just take the wife and have your friends follow in another vehicle. Then again, if I had another truck that was more than capable, I'd take that instead. I just haven't had a serious need to upgrade, but have been looking recently at Suburban 2500s, since I Can't find a crew cab that would fit my 3 dogs.
BTW, my dry weight on the trailer sticker is 6676lbs according to the sticker on the trailer. I've also used a Tahoe to tow all over the country and never ran into any issues. The biggest issue I had was in the Denver passes heading from west to east and struggling a little to climb the mountains, but it did the job. I've never had an issue with being able to stop the rig when needed either.
