Half-ton vs 3/4 Ton

To answer your question in a nutshell, yes a 3/4 ton will make your towing experience better. My trailer is similar in weight to yours, a little over 8000 lbs. and 35 ft in length. I was towing it with a 1/2 ton Ram with the Hemi and a 3:92 gear ratio, and a 10,000 lb tow rating. This truck had plenty of power, and for the most part, I was pleased with the way it towed this trailer. The biggest issues was high winds, steep downhill grades, and rough roads. Another issue was once the truck was loaded up with firewood, coolers, etc, I often had difficulty getting the rear "squat" out of the truck once the trailer was hitched. Moving up to a 3/4 ton truck immediately eliminated all of those issues. You've got a heavier truck with a much heavier suspension, larger brakes, and larger 10 ply tires, all of which greatly improves the towing experience. Unless you just want the extra torque and power, along with the extra expense of a diesel, a gasser will do you just fine. I've got the Chevy with the 6.0 and 4:10 gears, and it towes my trailer effortlessly. It has a tow rating of 13,500 lbs for a trailer and 14,500 lbs for a 5th wheel, so plenty of weight capacity left for firewood and all of your gear, or to move up to a bigger, heavier trailer in the future. Good luck!