I like your plan on buying a new or newish one and driving it until it quits. Only way to come out on vehicles that I can figure.
Are you looking to tow heavy? My current company truck is a ‘20 F250 with 6.2 gas engine and 6 speed auto. It drives out and tows moderate loads well. Wouldn’t hook it up to a tandem dual gooseneck grossing 15-20k but it will pull 5-10k loads just fine down here in Texas. It does ride rougher than a half ton will, as will any 3/4-1 ton pickup that I know of.
