Re: Trailer Weight
And that 7000 pounds, or whatever it is rated for, is with no accessories added to the truck, no cargo, no passengers; just a 150 pound driver and a bit of fuel. And the amount you tow will be the UVW plus everything you put in the trailer. As you can see, these numbers can smash into each other fairly quickly, leaving you exceeding 1 or more of your weight limits. This leads to a greater chance of accident, faster wear on the truck, increased chances of breakdown, and if there is an accident, almost certainly the tender mercies of a lawyer.
So, run the numbers most carefully before signing on any dotted lines. And it is wise to visit a scale before you set out on any trip, to make sure you haven't slipped over any weight limit.
Frankly 1/2 ton vehicles (at least before this model year) should generally not try to tow more than 5000 pounds, and that is assuming the truck is fairly lightly loaded.