Ford 7.3 Power Stroke is the best way to go. Chevy diesel is a dog. Ford 6.0 is a lemon. Chevy 350 does not have the grunt. Chevy 454 or Ford 460 has the grunt but will get 9 to 10 mpg. I'm using a 67 Ford F250 with a built 410 fe. Its got the grunt and the HP but only gets 9 mpg, can't pass too many gas stations with it.

Not to mention turbos are AWESOME!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

we tow portable generators with 2500 chevys with 5.7l engines,truck and the generator gross out around 16000lbs gets 13 mpg up hill down hill and flat and its been beat on for 185,000 miles pulls real good 3/4 ton will easaly handle that little weight jm2cnts <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I would steer clear of that old GM diesel. IMHO
as for the would of Gas VS: Diesel for towing....Been there done that. there is none.
I'll save you a few years, as already said find a ford with a 7.3 power stroke or a older dodge with a cummins and you won't be sorry. bye the way the power that diesel trucks can put out will blow the doors of gas engines
I have been towing jeeps, cars, trucks, boats, quads, and trailers over 20 years, here is a list of my encounters. straight six, v6's, 350's, 401, 454,7.3 Power stroke,cummins turbo, 6.0 power stroke and now A Freightliner with a 8.3 cummins.
I have a 1951 willys that I used to flat tow with a 1991 cherokee 4.0, it would do it but it didn't like the hills. then we bought a half ton chevy 350 and put the jeep on a 8x16 tandem trailer, again it did fine, then to the 1999 suburban with a 454 wow nice no need for more power. now I get a 2001 Excursion with a 7.3 power stroke diesel, Holy bat bells I long for nothing else. with this rig when we would go wheeling the only one that could keep up was a buddy with a dodge CTD and 6 speed, all of the gas guys fell behind on the hills and we just kept pulling and pulling. I also picked up a 1976 J-10 with a T-18 and a 401 in it. loved that baby.
I then bought a 2004.5 Dodge 3500 CTD and we joined the toy hauler club (a 43' fifth wheel), then a 2005 F350 towboss and now to the Freightliner. this process is what led me to this site (the toyota side) as I promised my wife that when I bought the big truck I would get a smaller truck to drive for work so I found a T100.
hopefully my ramblings will help.
Rich

I love Jeeps, but older Yotas ar cool. They're tough as hell.

Like has been said already, if you're looking to tow, and don't mind the slightly heigher gas prices, go with a turbo diesel. The V-8's will do fine, but the diesel's will last longer towing, and not give any grief about it either. Just my 2ó.

Ditto on the Chevy diesels, they have a bad reputation and not great power.

My tow rig is a 2000 C3500 cc lb with the vortec 350 (similiar weight to the Suburban). It gets the job done. Might not accelerate with the turbo diesels, but maintains 70 mph on hills just fine. I would recommend finding a 3/4 ton with 4.10s. 5300 lbs may be within the factory ratings for a half ton, but in reality the rear axle, transmission, and rear springs are mediocre for the job.

Btw, mine gets 17-18 mpg mostly highway. 11-12 mpg towing 6500 lbs.

i forgot, its a gas engine <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />