Like mentioned- make sure you have the ITBC installed if not already. Also- if you haven't got the fold out tow mirrors, invest in a set of clip ons with a spotter mirror (Cippa?)
That size is a good fit for both a starter unit and a 1500. You will have no troubles handling that. Just remember- the tongue weight applied subtracts from your trucks payload- so judge accordingly. I honestly think you'll have plenty of truck regardless.
With that weight- I would suspect your tongue weight once loaded might *just* cross the 500lbs golden rule, so look at a decent weight distribution hitch. You don't need anything crazy, but don't get a cheap one. One with 600-750lbs bars would be a good fit, and integrated sway control is a bonus. There are several like the blue ox that have all of the above plus if you ever move up a trailer size, you only need new bars, not a whole new setup. Quickly educate yourself on how they function and how to set them up. It's pretty easy.
Learn how to properly load the trailer so you don't get light on the tongue. A good rule of thumb is 10-15% of the trailers loaded weight should be on the tongue to tow smoothly. It's sometimes a challenge to distribute ypur load because it's not a perfectly flat surface, but you'll get the hang of it. Load heavy items low, 60% of the weight axle forward is a good ratio.
Make sure you have all of the proper tank chemicals on board and RV only TP
. Check your hoses- bring enough, and verify that you have an adapter to go from 30A to 15A. An extension for your power cord is a real God send too and can be had quite cheap.
Your TT tires should be inflated to max cold PSI. They are *likely* ST tires. So basically they are a balloon and will act accordingly. Check them for dry rot annually- if you see them cracking- time to replace.
If possible, head to a large empty parking lot and practice your maneuvering including backing up. Learn how the trailer tracks behind you.
When you are pulling it- your first and natural reaction will be to fight the way the truck is driving. Keep tow haul mode on to save your torque convertor. Your truck will rev a bit- it's doing as designed to keep the Hemi in the power band. When climbing grades, try to keep it to speed or close without letting the engine scream and try to eat itself. Basically pull grades by RPM, not some arbitrary speed limit. Good motorists will understand and give you room. Descending hills- you will want to get a feel for the engine braking ability. It's a very important feature that will save your brakes!
Speaking of brakes... for that trailer, your setting should be light electric. To properly set your brakes, pick a starting point- likely 5- the accellerate the truck to 25 mph. Then, squeeze the brake controller ONLY. The entire rig should come to a stop in a reasonable distance without lock8ng the trailer tires. You want to get it just to the point of lockup, then back it down little bits at a time until they don't lock up. Once you get that set- you're ready to hit the road!
Most impportantly- slow and steady. Give yourself lots of stopping distance and plan your routes. There is a lot to learn, but it is worth it! Stay safe and have fun!
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