If you need a truck, then get a truck...a 245 is versitile but having owned 9 240/5's I can say when you need a truck nothing else does the job.

As to a trailer, among the issues are separate licensing/inspections/insurance (some insurance companies do not like handing trailers) and also the issue of driving it in shitty weather, other a**holes who don't know how to drive around/pass a trailer, etc.

As to type...small bed pickups (Ranger, etc) they are good and if you get one with a mall V6 you can get decent mileage. I owned a series of Rangers w/ 3.0 V6 and got avg 18/20 mpg w/ AOD trans. On the plus side, Ford galvanized the body/frame in the factory and I never had more than minor surface rust (in the salt loaded NorthEast). Bought all of 'em from PSEG sales outlet w/ 85/95K on the clock and all went to 200K w/out a peep.

If you need bigger then go F-150 but look for an older one (pre 1990) w/ the straight 6 and no computers. They run like a sewing machine and you can DIY cheaply. I owned 4 and all were workhorses.

Stay away from 1992 to 1998 F-150 V6, Front end was a trash box as you will be replacing the suspension piece by piece at serious $$$

Never owned a Chebby or a GMC.

Drove a company Dodge Ram and didn't like the tranny and had issues with driveline. Durango/Dakota is a POS cheap out by Chrysler. also remember that when FIAT bought Dodge they began to refuse to cover the 7/70 warranty issues and really econominded the Dakota line.

I'd rather Push a Ford than Drive a Chevy/Dodge!