Okay, so I've done some investigating of options and think a half ton will do me. First, I have 500# of
ballast in my truck bed to offset the weight of the plow. It gives me such good traction in snow I just leave it back there even when the plow is off. But that 500# has my leaf springs completely flat. I pulled up next to a brand new 1500 4x4 Silverado on the dealer's lot and transferred the sandbags; the new truck hardly sagged at all. So maybe my suspension is just tired first from the salt spreader the original owner had in the back and next from the loads I've been carrying.
I test drove a 2500HD overnight and was very impressed. It handled well, even over our nasty dirty roads. Rock steady in severe cross winds that have my half ton wandering all over the place.
This morning I took the 3/4 ton back and checked out a half ton extended cab Z71 overnight. Well, that was the plan. It wallowed like I was driving on balloons! I made it about five miles to the post office, then turned around and took it back. Hated the way it handled!
Instead I checked out for the night a regular cab longbed Z71. Basically my present truck in a new form with more bells and whistles. Stiffer suspension. Nicer interior. Nerf bars, aluminum wheels and fender flares. Push button gearcase, power windows and doors and mirrors. Same engine, same rear end ratio, but slightly better claimed mileage. Best, it's brand new so has no history of abuse, and all my add ons (timbrens, snow plow, studded snow tires) would fit just fine.
So we're run it thru its paces tonight and see if it's enough truck for us.
As for the water tank, my lovely and sage bride pointed out this morning that trading our 400 gallon water tank for a 200 gallon tank would cost a lot less money than buying a 3/4 ton gas guzzling monster truck! (Though it might not be as much fun!)
Pete