I'm driving an 87 Pathfinder (manual trans) with a Class 1 (2000lb. max) ball hitch on it. The Pathfinder has over 200k miles, but still runs well.

I want to bring a U-Haul trailer full of my girlfriend's stuff back from NY to Colorado where I live. My owner's manual says that the towing capacity for my Pathfinder is only 1000lbs for a trailer w/o brakes!
*Problem: the U-Haul trailer I want to tow weighs in at almost 1000lbs EMPTY! The guy at the U-Haul place says he doesn't think it will be a problem, as long as I don't put too much heavy stuff in (?) -- but I don't necessarily trust him.
Does anyone have some knowledge they can pass on??
Thanks