The Necro, which I and a few others locally own, has been black for the past few years. They decided to change it to greenish this year. Not much of a difference really. If you can get a good deal on a 2013, I'd say do it. It went from Black Ops, to Necromancer to Neck Romancer to just Pug Ops.

From Surly's site:
A bigger footed, much more color matched version of a standard Pugsley. Where the standard Pugsley sports 65mm-wide Large Marge double-wall rims, the Pug Ops (the “ops” is for optional) utilizes our 82mm-wide single-wall Holy Rolling Darryl rims to expand its tireprint, thereby increasing its traction and snowshoe-like float over all sorts of terrain. The increase in rim width does put the tire closer to the chain, so to avoid chain rub we spec’d this bike with our OD Crankset. This provides all the chain/tire clearance necessary while retaining low- and mid-range gearing for crawling through the sticky and flying under the radar. The Pug Ops is available as a complete bike (with a Moonlander fork) and as a frame, no fork. Choose the right one for you from our fat bike fork offerings…or pick something else (there are a few non-Surly options out there) and build up your ride to suit your specific needs. Frogman suit not included.

I have upgraded mine to a Clown Shoe (100mm) wheel and Bud (4.8") tire on the front and I enjoy it. A lot.

Short of going full on Moonlander, which has the large (100mm) rear end, that is the bike (Pug Ops) for what you want to do. Dustin Collison (local good guy) has one and uses it similar to how I believe you would like. He has front and rear racks and usually has her loaded down.

I suggest calling Phil or Steve at B&H and getting a price from them. Let them know you are a FORCer and they'll treat you good.

Good luck.