Scott you know that I'm in the same boat as you . I guess we are the lucky ones my dad is the same way but I remember a vacation pulling a camper all over the U.S. when I was 16.
We had a 79 Bronco it was a laid out Bronco from the Quad shocks to the factory CB and we towed a 24' camper, anyway we had a few problems along the way and a few stops at the Ford dealers and we were on our way.