Let my add my experience towing a trailer in this weight class with a half-ton truck. Trailer is a 2011 Keystone 298 RE with a loaded weight just over 8,200. Tow vehicle is a 2010 F150 4x4 Super Crew with trailer tow package and a Husky Centerline hitch. I am about 100 pounds over the GVWR.
Power wise, the truck does a good job and braking is acceptable.
BUT.....the softer suspension of the F150 coupled with the weight/length of the camper results in a towing scenario that is marginal, in my opinion. Throw in a windy day, and it just makes me uncomfortable even though the hitch does a good job at handling sway for the most part. In fact, I decided to use the camper at a seasonal lake site rather than tow it with my current F150 after a couple of trips.
Again, this is just my opinion and I realize that other half-ton trucks may be different, but I think a 3/4 ton is called for when loaded trailer weights exceed about 7,000 in a travel trailer. For me, I considered this a safety issue....for both me and the wife along with others who share the road with me.
