towing near max weight. advice?

We just traded in our 2003 Silverado Ext Cab 1500 4.8L. The truck was paid off and nothing majorly wrong with it. IF we wouldn't have bought our TT back in February we would still have it. Yes it towed our TT fine. Our camper is only 4200lbs loaded. Well within the tow ratings of the truck. WE only towed a 17ft tri-hull boat and a pop-up previously with the truck. We have taken out the new camper 4 times to the same campground. Only about 20 miles 1 way. One of them trips our 2 teenage daughters decided to go with us. The camper was packed the same as all the other trips. My two daughters and their clothes only added about 250lbs at the most inside the truck. My husband fought that truck the whole way, with a few choice words along the way also. IT was not pretty. Needless to say, we now have a 2003 Avalanche 2500 8.1L sitting in the driveway as of Saturday afternoon. Yes, it is overkill for towing our 25ft TT but it is safer.

Take the advice from all these guys that are talking about the payload being important. From our experience, it makes a big difference.