I figured you guys might enjoy seeing this. While working down in VA last week, I was impressed by the load that I witnessed a 9th gen F-150 XLT pulling: a 20' (I think), tri-axle trailer with several BIG logs on it! The 150 was sagging a bit, but it seemed to be handling the load pretty well. You can see the pics below.

I don't know the full specs on it, but as you can see, it's a regular cab, short bed 4x4 w/ an auto and a manual t-case. I'm not positive, but I believe the single tailpipe indicates either the I6 or 5.0L V8, as the 5.8L trucks I've seen have had dual tailpipes, but I may be wrong. I would guess that it's at least a 5.0L. The first pics are the 2nd load he hauled, the first one had even bigger logs on it, and the second 2 pics are of the 3rd load. Pretty stout; instances like this make me REALLY want a 4x4 9th gen for a beater/play/mudding truck, but I've got too many toys already.

 

ha cool, awhile back i saw an old f150 of that body style pulling a trailer with a full sized john deer tractor on it. granted he was only going like 45 before he turned off the road but still.

 

Don't doubt that it was an I6. Those things are torque monsters. They'll pull a tree out of the ground!

 

ha, I bet that was a sight. I know a guy who did something similar, he pulled an old Massie-Furgeson tractor about 100 miles with an 87 Dakota, 3.9L V6. Took backroads the whole way, I don't think he ever topped 30 mph. That poor old truck took some beatings.

Good point, I always forget about the low end grunt of the 300.