At the risk of coming-off superior, I offer my (inferior) experience. You have skillfully avoided associated cultural aspects of large off-road trucks like 10K watt headlamps, exposed tire treads and "rolling coal".
We own 10 acres 8 and 17 miles from the nearest Big Box towns. A little over a year ago (in retirement) I assessed our daily drivers . Infiniti SUV, Acura AWD TL, a 4X4 pick-up and a Kubota. I realized we were heavy on utility and light on entertainment. (Four project cars are not in this assessment) The Acura went to Craigslist and an ebay post provided a Jaguar XKR coupe.
The snow/salt of Wisconsin is not depreciating the Jag; the sequester costs $80/mo. That leaves the truck as more than occasional during the winter, and it does a great job; I prefer it to the SUV. The truck has hauled car projects home from Athens, Ashville and Ohio, but a disassembled Ferrari replica in San Antonio required a 28 ft enclosed trailer and 3/4 ton Dodge. Bigger was better but DEF in the middle of the night @ $22/jug is a PIA.
The "Extremely Pick-up" types look down their noses and hoods at me; a relative pizz ant.
What does my truck deliver?
Suicide doors to a back seat with no leg room, but accommodates 80% of what I haul.
Completely analog and ergonomic, with comfort that surpasses the rental cars I encounter.
Climbs my 8% grade, 600ft driveway in winter.
Pulled a car and trailer up and down a 1/2 mile gravel mountain goat path in Appalachia.
Payload 1477lb and tows 7000lb. What fractional equivalent is that?
My wife is completely comfortable driving it, even in a skirt and heels.
It is a Series I Toyota Tundra, my second, the first was crushed by an oak tree at 270K miles.
Ironically the latest "mid size" Colorado/Canyon have identical specifications, except that I have a V8. The days-to-sale of used Tundras is short, and haggling is limited. IMHO "bigger" is more of a statement than a practical requirement.
