Great job describing how you're going to use it. Most people don't seem to have a clear picture and that makes the decision process much harder.
Based on what you've said the 2-ton does sound like the better choice. It will be harder to make a 2-ton go highway speeds and things like brakes will be more expensive.
But then I still like the buy both approach. Handle your parents the same way I handle mine. Don't tell them. But mine live a couple hundred miles away and don't see me any more than I see my own grown children...
