I do not own a pick up truck for the first time in 20 years. Had to break the bad news to someone who wanted me to help them move a safe the other day.
Had the same problem with a Toyota truck. Someone told me to use gloves while changing them. I guess they are like halogen work light bulbs; if you get finger grease on them, they will burn out faster.
Nothing I like better than really expensive cars that are really expensive to fix and the companies engineer them to make it harder for you to work on them.
How about LED lights they should pull less amps and keep the wires cooler. Running all new wires shouldn't be too hard. I could pretty much run a garden hose through a couple of spots on the firewall of my old F100
I hate it but it has to be lighter to make the govt. grade. I'm not too worried about it as long as they don't start making the gears out of the stuff. The bed could be a problem though.
The good news is that the alternator is right on top of one of those engines a couple of bolts and a ratchet in the belt tensioner and you will be done in half an hour.
P.s. when you buy the alternator have them test the new one before you leave with it . I got two bad ones in a row once.