I used a 2018 F-150 with the 3.5 eco boost and 10 speed automatic as my daily for a little while. No other gas engine in a half ton has the torque of the eco boost, at least not when we bought it. It pulled great - unlike most naturally aspirated gas engines, it makes it's torque at lower rpm's, so it doesn't have to be wound up to pull. I added a superspring in the rear, and it held up a load quite well. My two stock trailers (that are in go anywhere condition anyway) are 6'8" x 20' and 6' x 24' and both weigh in the 5100# range empty, so I was always careful not to load over 6k or so of cattle. It pulled it great, and I'm a stickler about brakes and tires on everything, so that was a non issue. But I pull a stock trailer a bare minimum of 200 miles a week, often more. Plus I knew that before long I'd start stretching that 6k, more and more. I had zero issues, but I just couldn't stop the nagging feeling I was gonna tear something up sooner or later, so when I found a great deal on a 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0 with super low miles, I jumped on it.
All that said though, it sounds like you should be able get along fine with a half ton. The comfort and lower initial cost and operating cost are worth a lot.