Is there a dimension Ford publishes for the bed load surface height? Seems like it would be useful, like overall length and height, which I suppose people would use to see if the truck fits in their garage.

Personally, I've avoided later-model pickups, and 4WD especially, for the wood-hauling I do; I'm a one-man band, and my old '66 has a bed that's low enough for me to shlep a huge log into at hip-height just by sliding it onto the tailgate. Newer truck are much higher and will present problems in this regard, but I need to upgrade, and I'd like to see which trucks have what for bed height.

Is this parameter published anywhere?

 

Not sure if this was ever published.
On a side note have you thought about a lift gate? I would think if you do a lot of wood hauling and loading of other things this could save your back big time. Yes it will be costly but what would it cost to replace your back? Can't do that nor will a back ever be as good as it was before the injury.

I'm not sure how much wood you haul or how big of a truck you want. Myself I would look for a F250 to help with the extra weight of the lift gate. Also they cost just the same as an F150 from what I have found.