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If you're headed for a new TV I would consider that a gasser this size would labor up mountains and get maybe 9 mpg while towing. New diesels built for ULSD and modern emissions requirements don't tow at the 16mpg of old -- plus they bumped up the horsepower by 60 or more in a couple steps 2-4 years ago. So it's not an easy choice. The (now discontinued?) Ford V-10 or Chev 8 liter were plenty powerful but register in gallons per mile. I'd still get 4WD -- many times it's saved me from bad traction where rear drive could spin chunks up onto my silver palace.
Regardless of tow capacity, look at any TV's payload capacity. Take the 28-footer tongue weight and add 200 pounds (WD/antisway gear, LP in the tanks, minimal personal gear onboard). Subtract that combined tongue weight from a half tonner's payload. The remainder is all you can load aboard in terms of people, truck cap, payload in the box, etc. Half-tonners can be quite limited in this way -- which is why I have a 3/4-ton with a truck cap that can haul my canoe on top, bikes set up on skewers in the bed mat, genset & all sorts of gear when I'm traveling far from home and spy the perfect lake or bike trail.
If you go with gas be sure to get a tranny cooler (sometimes part of a tow package). A tranny temp gauge is handy too.
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Bob
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