Looking for first TT - Suggestions

OP - you don't say whether your 1,695# payload is what's left over after you've scaled the truck with all passengers, pets, fuel and gear or what you're getting off the sticker or other printed material. If it's not what's left after you've scaled your truck, you may not have enough tow vehicle. All tongue weights stated by the manufacturers are "dry" - you will easily add several hundred pounds more with propane, cargo in the "basement" and front of the trailer, etc. This also does not include anything extra you'll load in the truck bed. Forget about what an RV dealer will tell you - trust only the door sticker on your tow vehicle and your calculations after weighing your truck loaded. Figure on about 13% of the gross vehicle weight rating of the travel trailer for tongue weight - not anything based on published or dry tongue weights (and you have to add in the weight of an equalizer hitch - which can be 100 lbs or more). It's not just a question of whether or not the truck can pull it, but whether it can pull it without wearing out the transmission prematurely and, most importantly, whether or not it can stop the rig (at fully-loaded gross weight) safely. You don't want to put your family at risk. PM me and I can help you with calculations if you like.

Rob