[sourdough]

I will just say this having done the merry go round and still in it; get a one ton. I bought my 3/4 and it has everything I need for what I do, and maybe will ever do, but, soon I will replace it. I will go to a 1 ton simply because the payload increase opens different doors for what I may or may not want to do and the price difference is negligible. For the things you are thinking about it seems to make sense to me.

Anticipate your pin weight to be at least 20% of the gvw of the trailer. Add to that every single thing that will be in the truck; hitch, people, gear, tools, toys etc. Those add on top of the pin weight. Diesel will take 600lbs. or so off your available payload but give you towing ability....it's a "dance" as I like to call it trying to balance all the things a person wants/needs/can afford. Good luck.