I am looking for a truck to pull my 1998 Ranger 518 w/single axle trailer. Ideally, I would like to put a camper in the bed and have weekend trips all fishing season. I would prefer a GMC/Chevy 2500 long bed regular cab 4x4. I don't specifically need 4wd because I would only be using this truck to pull the boat from April-November; however, a 4x4 is a luxury I’ve always had. The bad part is, I am only looking to spend 4-5 thousand dollars on the truck and camper. My questions are:
Will a half ton truck be capable of pulling the boat with a decent sized camper on it? I like the mid to late '90s style Z-71 pickups but am concerned about the short bed with a large camper (with shower and bathroom).
Were there certain years the GM made 2500's that had better mpgs? Everything I read says the 6.0 liter is a gas hog. (It's difficult to find a diesel in my price range)
How much better mpg's will I get if I decide to stick with a 2wd?

Thanks for any help I get.