" I am always good at planning and executing things but with these trucks and campers, I always get very overwhelmed and lose my way completely. I am happy to answer any questions, go and look at resources, any help will be appreciated. Given demand and supply, I think I have to act pretty fast if I have to make it happen this Fall."
It appears you have identified the first and probably largest challenge. I mean, if you can spend days in your car in the Arctic winter when you're not actually stranded, you can handle the cold weather prep pretty well and know what to expect.
The above quote is where your primary questions lie, understood.
As someone who is sort of a gearhead and having opportunity to own or drive many/most light duty trucks due to my career, I have the following truck recommendations, although your budget may or may not be accepting of them.
I'll keep it to trucks say around 10 years or less old.
- Due to extreme cold, snow I would prefer a truck that does not have touch screen controls or parking/proximity sensors. Not a deal breaker and not an absolute if you're buying a new truck you may not be able to avoid either, but JMO. Talking basically early to mid 2010s models here.
-3/4 ton vs 1 ton? Obviously a 1 ton is preferable for factory load carrying capacity. However especially with prices and availability as they are, you are not getting "less" of a truck with a 3/4 ton and they are much more widely available. (Caveat being 2014 -up Ram 2500s have coil spring rear suspensions, or air ride. DO NOT get one of these for a decent size or larger TC. Unless you somehow get a screaming deal then more modification considerations would be on the docket.)
You will end up with "some" suspension upgrades either way, so a little less OE rear spring rate/capacity is a non issue with any leaf spring HD truck.
- Drivetrain. As said, I would stay with gas. You don't need the abilities or complications of diesel in general and reduced fuel mileage of gas I don't believe will outweigh the other considerations of diesel.
Transmissions, Ram I would shy away from older than 2019 for transmission. Again not a deal breaker but a preference based on more things than you probably care about. Ford/GM, take your pick of 6 speeds all 3 offerings between the 2 are fine. "Best" IMO is Ford. with 6R140 in the early mid 2010s.
Engines No real preference between brands. I would take a 6.0 GM, 6.2 Ford or 6.4 Hemi virtually interchangeably for your use.
Ford has a selectable electronic rear locking axle option, which is a bonus and reliable. Best "posi" track of the big 3. Nothing wrong with the other 2 brands limited slip/locker. Order of preference would be 1 Ford E locker. 2 GM G80 mechanical locker. 3 Ram limited slip.
4wd/front end. You'll hear all kinds of preferences here. Bottom line is all are open diffs so no traction advantage and all are equally reliable. Don't give any preference to solid axle (Ram/Ford) over IFS, unless you're dead set on serious off road off camber "wheelin". In which case the solid axles articulate better.
Or if all this chit is the confusing part and you don't want to wade though it all.....
#1 2011-2016 F250/350, 6.2 gasser
#2 GM 6.0 gasser 2500 or 3500
#3 Ram 6.4 Hemi any year
(I'm a Dodge guy so to speak and NOT a Ford guy, so you can trust that this recommendation is un-biased)
The rest of it is budget and personal preferences for trim level and chassis configurations.
