Best vehicle to pull horse trailer?

Question

I own a steel Sundowner 2 horse with dressingroom. Need steel 'cos alumininum doesn't hold up on our washboard gravel and sometimes dirt "roads".

Pulling it with a Dodge V-10. One of my horses weights 1200 lbs, the other 1000.

Need switch to something that doesn't drink gas.

I could sell horses and buy miniatures. Put them in the back of the station wagon, but then we couldn't ride them.

Or have the horses pull the trailer. Take too long to get anywhere

Or just ride the horses to the mountains where we ride. (It'd take a day to get there

Or trade everything for stick horses, and gallop down the roads while patting our butts and yelling "Yippee" or "Hi Yo Silver."

We could syphon our neighbors gas when they are at work.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I use an F250 with the 7.1 liter engine to pull my 4 horse steel stock trailer.  It inhales gas.  We only get double digit gas mileage going downhill with a tail wind pushing.

If I had it to do over again, I'd get the same truck with the overdrive transmission option.  That saves a lot of gas.

In the meanswhile...  turn off the a/c.  Empty the dressing room and truck of all unnecessary stuff.  Put the horses on diets - every  pound counts.

Attach a giant sail to the roof.  With good tacking, you can get extra power no matter the wind direction.  

And invest in a manure to methane conversion facility, then a methane powered vehicle!

That's my plan.  I'm working on the sail now.  ;)

Answer 2

If you do get a new truck to tow your wheel base has to be a min on 114' wheel base!!!! Most SUV can NOT handle the trailer loaded correctly!! & yes you want your truck to weigh more than your trailer loaded. Go with Diesel for gas milage. I would keep your Dodge V10. It can safly tow & handle your trailer. That should be the MOST imporant part of hauling!!! NOT tring to cut corners. A Toyota can NOT safely handle a loaded horse trailer!!!! They are a joke!!! I agree with American they are not a safe truck for hauling!!! Safely & Toyota do not go together when hauling livestock!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Many Aqha trainers, breeders and just private citizens pull their trailers with either a F350 or F450 duallys, at least they do where we live....cowboy country; it really depends on how much time you spend going down the road..you won't need as much truck if you're making short hops..I hear what you're saying about fuel consumption...we plan our trips, try not to do too much last minute stuff.  And we don't make super long distance trips anymore...at least not without someone to share the cost of fuel ... a "rider".

We've got one horse that is 1300 lbs and the other is 1,000.  We pull a Trails West diagonal (steel) I don't care for the trailer now, crappy paint job.  

  

We like a larger truck for it's anti sway properties..we feel we have a lot more control over the trailer with dual wheels.

PS...I think Dodge makes a super running tough truck; hang onto it!

Answer 4

The new Toyota Tundras pull 10,600 lbs (I have the long bed and I lost 100 lbs so its at 10,500) but that's if you want to pay for regular gas! If you don't mind diesel prices I'd do the Chevy 3/4 ton.

Answer 5

I am not going to tell you what you need to buy (I prefer Ford or Dodge), but I will tell you what the SMALLEST vehicle you should use.  You should use nothing less than a 3/4 ton.  That would be either an F-250, Dodge 2500, or Chevy 2500.  While smaller trucks can pull the trailer, its about safety.  Most smaller trucks are rated to pull 10,000 lbs.  But as my truck driving fiance says, "you should never pull anything that weighs more than the vehicle towing it."  For me thats a little extreme, but the smaller trucks are not designed to pull and stop heavy loads as your heavier trucks are.  The transmissions are also not designed to handle the heavy loads.  Its all about safety.

As for fuel cost, you get more MPG's with diesels.  I know it is even more expensive than gas, but if you only use it for hauling, it is definently worth it.

Answer 6

ford f-150

Answer 7

I don't think it's about what vehicle is good to PULL a trailer, rather than what type of vehicle is able to STOP a trailer. Most any truck can pull a trailer, but you should consider the weight of the trailer compared to the truck. In my experience, I wouldn't use anything less than a 1 ton (dually). I know we're all hurting because of gas prices, but it really is  all about the safety. I knew someone who was pulling a 3 horse stock trailer w/ 2 horses in a 1/2 ton truck. Someone cut him off on the road and the trailer started to fish tail. The trailer was heavier than the truck and even with trailer breaks, it pulled him into the ditch and the trailer flipped over in the median. On a lighter note, maybe we'll get rid of the trucks altogether and use the horses for transportation!

Answer 8

Your asking if you should get ride of your truck & buy minis?? I'm sorry I'm ost on the question...... If not just stick to your Dodge!! That is what I use, Diesel 3500 4x4, I ave 28 miles per gallon.

****edit****

A Toyota can NOT handle large loads!!!! Read the top weight it can handle!!!!! They are a joke as a towing truck!!!! I would not be caught dead in one!!!!! LOL

Answer 9

Honestly, I think your ideas are pretty inovative!!  I have a Dodge Cummins Diesel, and though the mileage is real good (19-23 mpg) diesel in our area is up to $5.04 a gallon.....so I don't think that's a solution!  I used to have a 3/4 ton Chev that I used to pulled my 3 horse (w/dressing room) and I found that going over the passes it just didn't have the umph!  needed.  So you gain in one place and lose in the other.  Good luck with this one!!

Answer 10

Yeah, I'm cryin' too about gas.  For the past 33 years I've used 3/4 ton pickups to haul my 2 horse King around and outside of the '72 chevy that threw water pumps every 2 years like clockwork, I've always had enough power to take my trailer anywhere it needed to be with a couple of big QHs or med sized ones in it.

IF you're NOT hauling for your business than a 3/4 ton is really all the power you need and I have friends who've used 1/2 tons and NEVER had a power issue.

But for all of us right now, GAS is the BIG Issue, but I LOVE my 1995 Ford XLT Lariat extended cab, I LOVE the 460 hp engine...I HATE the $100.00 plus it now takes to fill the tanks up.

Answer 11

If it is the price of gas that is bothering you and the truck using up too much gas, then You really got to sit back and do some calculating here.  First of all the steel trailer is heavier than an aluminum one so there is some weight that adds to the equation of guzzling gas.  I live on a gravel road and travel all over the continent, mountains, dirt roads, hilly bumpy etc etc...and have not wrecked an aluminum trailer yet and I don't pamper them. Aluminum trailers are put together the same way that the steel ones are so I don't really agree with your theory there...but that is ok...your choice.  If you want a good truck to pull the trailer with two horses of a decent size with hay and water tack etc and do a good job of it..you will have to have either a gas or diesel engine.  I have diesels, they do the best job and maybe do not use as much fuel but then again the fuel is more expensive that the gas right now.,..it wasn't a few years back.  What you should do is check out the schematics of GM, Dodge, Ford who are at the top of the list of best hauling vehicles for the job.  What are they designed to haul as far as weight is concerned.  You can find this information on the internet at each companies own website or you can talk to the dealers in person, they can give the same information.

Answer 12

I pull mine with a Semi truck

Answer 13

Dodge ram diesel 3/4 ton.

Answer 14

Well I am a Ford man, but if you are in to Dodge, trade for a Dodge Diesel, for you pulling, they seam to have the best mileage posted in the truck magazine. Or make more money. You seam to have a good sense of humor, make gas out of horse manure, like they do out of pig sh**. In the news on yahoo, somebody is making a car that will run on water. Wait to see what the price of water will be. they are already telling us we are running out of water.

Answer 15

sell the truck and trailer and get a brenderup and a smaller suv. check out a brenderup at the web site. awsome trailers i think.

lol! 8 td! a new record! Brendrups are great trailers.