Yep, dry weights - fugeddaboutit. Not much use really and often aren't even close to what your actual weights and capacities are (including recent experience).
The other important thing to know besides towing capacity is payload capacity. On this too, don't go by what's on your door jamb sticker or in the manufacturer's publications. Do yourself a BIG favor and weigh your Denali at a scale (full tank of gas and only driver) and then subtract this from the GVWR on the door jamb sticker. I see that Google says your payload is 1462 lbs, but I don't know your year or other relevant info. This figure *could* be way off (more personal experience).
You can expect a wet/loaded weight of a TT in your size range to be about another 1,000 to 1,500 lbs on top of the unit's UVW. So for example, if you bought a trailer with a UVW of 6,000 lbs, the scaled weight could be 7,500 lbs. You'll find that a lot of things you'd expect to be aren't included by the factory in the UVW like electric stab. jacks, power awning, fiberglass cap, etc. We haven't put much in our trailer to go camping (the "usual" things) and it weighed in at 6,600 lbs while the UVW on the sticker says 5,237 lbs (1363 lbs more). The TT's GVWR is 6,800 lbs which sure doesn't leave room for much more cargo! This is how it often goes with trailers....
You can use a sometimes used rule of thumb guideline of 80% of your TV towing capacity as the max UVW trailer weight you can pull. This would be 6320 lbs in your case.
However, it is really important to know the max. payload capacity of your TV. Here's why. The tongue weight of a trailer is typically between 10 to 15% of the trailer actual weight. So if your trailer had a scaled weight of 7,500 lbs, the tongue weight could be 1,125 lbs. Notwithstanding the fact that a WDH hitch will transfer some of this tongue weight back onto the trailer axles, the tongue weight needs to be subtracted from your Denali's max. available payload. If the published or sticker payload capacity truly is 1,462 lbs, you would have about 300 lbs left for your wife, kids, dog(s), groceries and misc. gear. But, I am going to speculate that the true available payload of your Denali is less than the advertised 1462 lbs. You *could* be the only one going camping....
Another thing to look at is the hitch ratings on your Denali. Look for a sticker on the hitch with the ratings which should have the max. tow capacity and max. tongue weight that you cannot exceed. Could be in your owner's manual too? You could possibly find that the tongue rating is a restricting factor for you but Google says it is 1170 lbs so you should be okay relative to your payload and tow capacities. Don't forget that with a WDH hitch, your tongue won't see all of your calculated (or measured) tongue weight because some will be (should be) transferred to the trailer axles.
Personally, I wouldn't want to be pulling something near the max. towing capacity. For shorter trips and where it's not too hilly, you will be okay, but start driving in hilly areas and you'll find it won't be a lot of fun.... Been there on our old 1/2 ton and trailer..... Even if you technically can pull up to 7,900 lbs, in the long run, it's also going to be harder on the TV's brakes, suspension and engine.
You could look into GCWR, axle and tire ratings but I don't think you would need to at this point if you weigh your TV and buy a trailer to fit the payload and tow ratings.
You could end up with a trailer around 30' long and I would say definitely get sway control. Something a step up from friction type control such as a Reese dual cam would help. If your Denali is an older one, new HD shocks like Bilstein would really help for handling. Actually, shocks on your trailer could help, depending on what it is. Some have more bounce than others that causes problems, especially if has a rear kitchen.
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