Towing advice sought

Hey Folks.
I was looking for some info as I haven’t been able to find it with internet searches.
I have a 2013 RC with a 5 speed MT. I have a 2000lb pop up that I tow a couple of times a year up to maybe 200 miles at a time. I have setup my truck with a tow hitch, brake controller and firestone airbags to help keep the truck leveled out when towing.
When I tow my camper, I have been loading up the bed of my truck with all my camping and vacationing gear. Maybe up to about 500lbs. My thinking is that I want my truck to have as much of a weight advantage over the camper as possible to prevent the camper from pushing the truck around.
I don’t really have any issues with how the truck does pulling. Actually I’m quite impressed with how well the 4 cylinder does. I find I just need to be in the right RPM range for the truck to not struggle.
Is there any advantage with loading more of that gear into the camper as long as I balance the loading? Would it be easier to get the truck and camper rolling if it was loaded differently than how I currently do? I guess my big question is does it matter if the weight is in the truck or trailer to move the load easier?
Any input is always appreciated. And Happy Easter to all and if that’s not your thing, have a great day.

 

I tow a boat that with the trailer weighs in excess of 3000 lbs. I’ve towed it with the bed loaded with gear and sometimes I’ve loaded the gear in the boat. I haven’t noticed any difference in handling and stopping whether the gear/weight is in the back of the truck or in the boat. I think that it’s the total weight that really affects handling and stopping and it doesn’t make much difference if the weight is in the truck or trailer.
Also I have hauled heavy loads of fire wood in the back of my truck (probably exceeding manufacturer weight capacity ) and handling and stopping was worse than when I just am pulling my boat.

 

I load as much as possible into the trailer to keep the weight off the truck but my trailer is a dual axle that weighs 4,500 lbs dry and has a tongue weight close to 600lbs when loaded.

 

So you load up the camper instead of the truck? Do you think the truck handles the towing better? I would be slightly nervous giving the trailer more weight than the truck. I would be concerned that the trailer could push the truck around. I’m only driving a RC so my wheelbase is shorter and my truck is lighter, hence my concern with doing that. Thanks for your input.

 

You can quickly exceed your payload when you factor in passengers, the gear in the truck, and the trailer tongue weight.

 

Makes sense to me.

 

I tow my Miata on a single axle trailer with my '13 RC 5MT. I'd estimate the trailer weight to be around 2800lbs, maybe slightly more. Only put a few things in the bed, and it still does very well, even on more winding/wind prone sections of highway. I'd say if the trailer is only 2k, load it up rather than your bed, and just bias the weight a little more forward (maybe estimate 300lbs tongue weight versus the general rule of 10%).