[sourdough]

Ricendice - you have been given good advice. Another thing to consider is just the engine itself and what you are going to ask it to do. It is a 4.3L six cylinder that you propose to put a 6500lb. trailer behind. To me that's a no go. 285hp is used up just trying to propel a 1/2 ton truck decently much less strapping a 6500lb. trailer behind it. Combine that with a 3.42 axle, marginal with a larger V8, and you're really stuck with a "light weight" 1/2 ton truck not meant for towing anything of much size. What size should you look for with that truck? Off the top of my head maybe 4500lb. gvw. Not what you want to hear but it's the same story everyone hears once they buy a light weight "truck" (thinking it's a "truck") and then want to buy a larger trailer to match their "max tow" capacity.