Thanks for all the replies.

I figure towing with a swb is doable as long as there is an eye towards safety. I understand it's not the best platform to start with. I can't really rationalize it any other way except that I prefer the short beds over the longer ones.

Who knows though, I may actually end up with a long bed if I run across one that I like. Of course I'd want to find the best vehicle I could within my budget but knowing full well some of the equipment will need to be updated no matter what condition it's all in, short or long bed.

I came up with a few things to add to the budget beyond the initial purchase of the truck; brakes (rebuild/upgrade), springs, trailer accessories, (load leveler, trailer brake controller, sway control), HD trans cooler, tires. Can anyone add anything else that I should be thinking about?