Driving on the beach can't be any harder on your rig than driving in the winter after they have sprayed liquid ice melt on the roads. That stuff gets in every crack and crevice which means my rigs get washed more in the winter than in the summer. As far as rigs I would suggest a minimum of 3/4 ton, but go look at campers first and see what you like. If a 9.6 or smaller works for you and you find one of the lighter ones a 3/4ton will work. In newer pickups there is very little difference in driving ease and ride from 3/4 to 1 ton if it is a single rear wheel.