Is it worth losing the gas mileage to get a 4WD?
IMO, Yes. not much loss, either.
and for a camper, 4wd can be nice just moving the trailer... eg a little incline and a little damp from dew can result in tires spinning in grass. maybe you won't be "stuck" but you may tear up your yard or the campground.
Any accessories that should be considered a must for towing?
If you get a bumper pull vs a 5th wheel, you should have a weight distributing hitch with sway control, unless it's a very small trailer. I use it for my 20' TT.
If it's not built in, you'll need an aftermarket brake controller.
tow mirrors.
if you're looking 5th wheel you'll want 3/4 or 1 ton. there are a few 1/2 tons w/ enough payload for a small 5thwheel, but why live on the edge? you may end up wanting airbags.
look at longer beds for 5th wheel. or make sure your hitch and trailer combo will give enough clearance.
depending on size of trailer, you may opt for diesel.
make sure you have a jack that can lift the trailer to put on a spare (many don't go high enough).
If I think of more I'll come back...... that's off the cuff...
-rvb
I have had both 2WD and 4WD pickups. It is now exclusively 4WD for me. Just too handy not to have. If I cared about economy, I wouldn't be buying a truck.
I don't tow a camper, but do pull an open-deck car hauler often enough. My preference to to NOT have a truck that is barely rated to tow the load. While TECHNICALLY I could tow with a pretty small 1500 series truck, I opted for a 2500 series. The difference in brakes alone is amazing. Tow mirrors, factory hitch, factory wiring, brake controller, trans and oil coolers, extra engine cooling, and extra fuel capacity are all part of that deal, too. I guess you can add most of that to any other truck. That said, there are some pretty heavy-duty 1500 series trucks out there now. The new Ram 1500 is actually rated as a 1-ton, with something like 12K towing. Amazing.
If you ever plan to use the truck for more than a tow rig stay away from 5th wheel or gooseneck.
Not too many campers with goosenecks... though I think there may be some types of adapters (never had one, no direct experience)?
Depending on the size of the bed, may need a slider type of hitch vs a fixed ball to get full turning...
-rvb
I've pulled the same trailer with both a 1500 and a 2500. BIG difference.And another thing, and maybe somebody can quantify this but if you're pulling a heavier trailer, my friends have sworn a 3/4 ton truck makes a big difference too.
The new Ram 1500 is actually rated as a 1-ton, with something like 12K towing. Amazing.
used for towing a travel trailer (maybe a 5th wheel).
once in a while tow a smaller sized travel trailer.... small travel trailer that we might decide to make the long haul to Alaska and back some day
You have to be careful with that number. My ecoboost F-150 is rated for that too. Most of the time you are going to exceed the GVWR of the rear axle with that kind of load.
If a 2500 Chevy can haul 39,000 lbs of big rocks then a 1500 should be able to handle any camper you can dream of.