Do you tow an excavator or bobcat behind your truck often enough to justify purchasing one given how high the ongoing costs will be?

But even then, Dodge does offer their 3500 at a base trim that's only a bit over the $40k bar I set (about $45k for the Tradesman trim). And you'll be foregoing electric for a few more years (or purchasing specialized construction equipment).

I have to say though, this is a bit of a different usecase than a family purchasing a car. Such a vehicle is going to be more of a work expense, after all.

Are there any light duty trucks, gas or electric, that can pull 20,000 pounds?

20,000 pounds is well into medium or heavy duty truck territory.