09 2.7L 4x4 check engine light/traction light/hauling issues

Hi y'all! I got a few questions that are going on with my 09 tacona, 2.7 l 4x4 that are putting me on side of road. And it's hot as hades in Mississippi. I'm new to the "fixing my own stuff" way of life and still learning however with help of my wife I do understand some. Just keep it simple please
Started about a month back after wed really tested it by pulling 6x10 trailer loads of iron and scrap metal off my father in law property we inherited. Now fast forward without any major event that would point to the problem persay I'm getting 6-7 miles per gall. ( manual transmission), only code polling up p0170 ( I think, it's the code for MAF to be cleaned), check engine light is on, the light that illuminates the car slipping is on, maintenance( i never cleared it after oil change. ) These issues go away when bed of truck is clear if I add any kind of weight with or without trailer those lights are popping on, and randomly at any speed will start like it's losing power, kinda like out if gas sputtering. My wife thinks it's the fuel filter as we've been adding gas from a lot of gas cans lately that could've added debris. I'm trying to see if this is accurate and I have an alternative fix to dropping the tank? Cause i'd be lost and local mechanic quoted over thousand. Please help. Thank you all and God Bless

 

From your symptoms I would want to check fuel pressure when it's acting up and see if it's dropping, if it is you need a new fuel pump, if it isn't your gona have to get a scanner and start looking at some data.