Newbie to towing . ... What all do I need to tow? ....
You need:
Trailer Brake Controller
Weight Distributing Hitch, set properly
Trailer ball, set to correct height for the trailer being pulled.
Which you find by leveling trailer,, with a level, and measuring from ground to top of ball socket.
Then you put trailer on truck, with a WDH, and measure trailer ball height, again, to see how much up or down trailer needs to be. you adjust that by moving you insert Ball, up or down.
Figure out your trailer weights, Tongue weight, total weight, etc, when loaded with your gear, and keep tongue weight within 9-12%, ideally.
Figure out truacks towing capacity. Since you are new to towing, do not go over 75% of that number. If you go over 75% of that number,
do all your camping within a 50 miles radius of your home. You need to know how to handle atrailer before you get crazy and push the limits.
That's all you need ot get started.
Now, what should you add?
Experience. Tow, at night, when roads are less congested. In all kids of cooditions, keep to mild or no winds, at first, and as confidence increases, then increase how much wind you tow in. again, stay within yoru abilites. DO not care how old you are, you're sentialyy a 16 y r old jsut getting his locense. You do not know, just how much you do not know and the cost, for screwing it up, could be high.
Upgrading springs, if need, would be first thing I;d doo.
Then,if need upgrade shocks or even tires or both. if ya need more,a fter tha,t you need ot get a bigger turck because you are too darn new to twing to mess with air bags. If you need air bags, aftr springs shocks and tires, yo got too much trailer, for right now, with your experience level.
Ask old capers at teh campgroudn who look liek they know what they are doing. gusy who pull in wit perfectly setup rigs.Campers tedn to be friendly sorts.
wish you the best. post up ppics of your rig.
oh yeah, 8 speed tranny doe not matter what rear end you have, 3.92 would be nbice but 8 speedr really does help a ton.
Good Luck adn ask questions, we will try to help and you got grea adice, thsu far.