Heheh, Bill, lots of good questions...
I went through the same thing, and settled on a 5500 with a flatbed.
I figure I can put strong plastic removable (just me out there) storage bins along the sides for "Stuff".
I plan on a cargo net/tarp with tie downs to use the bed with the camper off.
That's the game plan at least and the few I've been able to talk to, friend has a 3500 box, really liked the idea of the Flatbed.
There's another thread on this too, I'm having a "Deja vu'" on this...
Ride like Crap, enh? sacrifice for piece of mind on load/towing etc...
good like, heheh, I'm following you all over the forums.. LOL, fun..