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You want to buy a 7000# bumper pull camper. You dream of taking your family camping in said trailer. You look outside and the only truck in your driveway is a 1997 2wd Nissan pickup truck. What do you do?

Depends on how often and how far you're pulling it. If pulling locally and not many hills, you can get by with a 1/2 ton. If long-hauling and using a lot, I'd go 3/4 ton diesel. No matter what you buy, trucks are expensive. I still have my 2006 Chevy Duramax I bought new. I can't bring myself to pay new truck prices.

Find a lightly used f-150 ecoboost

Nice truck. Down the road though might need turbo work which is $$$$.

Buy a new 3/4 ton crew cab gasser work truck for less than you would pay for 100,000 mile used up trim 1/2 ton truck. If you want leather, etc get it done aftermarket. Revel in the fact that you have a 3/4 ton that has far better brakes, frame, axles, etc than any half ton made. Never worry if your camper is too heavy or if the camper is wagging the truck tail again. Thank me later.

Buy a Dodge 3/4 diesel 4x4

Don’t buy a diesel unless you are towing mega miles in the mountains. And you like to spend an extra $10,000 on a truck. And deal with the emissions garbage. I know. I have both a diesel and a gasser. But...the diesel tows great.

Camp in the driveway? Seriously, is that 7K empty or loaded?

You're a little light on info. Are you pulling it an hour or so and staying put for the weekend? Flat 2 lane highways where the speed limit is 55 or less? Mountain freeways high winds and high speed limits? How many kids.
A lot of people who get the extended cab because the kids fitness now end up trading sooner than they thought.

Just wondering where you heard there may be problems with the turbos?

Smash a frying pan into your forehead for buying said Nissan in the first place.

I had always bought the 5.0 V8. Friends got into the eco boost and they are definitely better on gas mileage and have a ton of towing torque. Had a few people I knew that had some pretty substantial bills for turbo replacement, timing chains etc. at around 80K miles. .

I like you

You can never have too much truck. Yes the diesels are more expensive. Pay the money once. Diesels also hold their value much better. Just look at used prices diesel vice gas. I have a 14K 5th wheel, and will never go back to a gas truck. Gas truck will pull it, but engine and tranny are screaming for mercy going up in the mountains at 5K RPM + to hold 50 MPH. Most newer diesels also have an exhaust brake when you go down the other side of the mountain. At 7K you are on the edge for a 1/2 ton. More the tire and brakes than suspension and power. Most forget the total weight is the issue, not just the trailer empty. Fully loaded trailer, your family, full gas tank, and any stuff packed in the truck is your real weight.

That’s dry unloaded weight

Main camping spot is 30 min away, but if I want to drive to California and paint my camper rainbow, I would like to able to do so.

I couldn’t get rid of that truck if you paid me, you wanna buy it?

F-250 6.7 vs Ram 2500 6.7, that is the way I’m leaning lady’s and gents. Heard the new 10 speed in the ford is phenomenal

Don’t buy a camper. Buy a decent used vehicle to travel in or just rent one when you go. Depending on your situation it usually easier to Just drive a vehicle and rent a house or cabin. No storage of a camper. No pulling through hills or crap weather. Interstates with campers suck. Ymmv.