Dave,
Save a little more of your money and find a diesel with a manual transmission for pulling duties. A 2WD diesel with overdrive manual tranny pulling 7000lbs worth of trailer and car will still get over 15 mpg. Empty your looking at 22mpg highway. As far as maintaining a diesel. You first change the
oil at 5000 mile intervals. Next, oh yea. There is no next. Miles between overhauls and valve jobs etc. Probably 300,000 miles at least. A diesel pickup accelerates slower than a gaser, but when you put a trailer behind it, it will still accelerate at about the same pace. Just my opinion, but gasoline powered trucks can't hold a candle to one with a diesel.
Jim Downard
2002 Dodge 2500 w/Cummins diesel, 5 spd. , Dana 80 rear axle 3.55:1 gear ration, 4WD, 20 mpg average cityand highway.
Just food for thought.