I am in NW PA and we get lake effect snow... EVERY NIGHT. Every truck I see, especially the ones from NYS (15 minutes away) are cancered. I recall everyone around the Barre, Vermont area when I was there had Subarus.
I almost am considering a used plastic Saturn Vue... but I really want a truck... saw a 2004 F250 like I would want (extended cab, bench seat, standard trans), but it is a 2004 Powerstoke timebomb waiting to happen.
The old man in NJ has a 2007 Ram 1500 with a 5.9 liter Cummins... it is a driveway decoration... he retired and wanted a toy... He tells me that it is appraised street value today is $35,000... when it cost him 33k new. Go figure.
I think the Cummins is the only way to go. Especially the older ones.
They also made a 3.9 4cyl turbo, they used them in UPS and bread trucks. If you wanted to do a 1/2 ton build of any brand, that would net you great fuel mileage.
If you do want to build something, make friends with a body man or used car dealer and go to an auction with him. Trucks are pretty much bolt together, and if the price is right you can afford to do a lot of fixing for the price of a used one off the lot.