Question for any of you who own/transport horses

[Treize69]

Whats the smallest truck you would consider 'safe' (ie-enough HP and braking power) to safely haul a standard sized 1-2 horse trailer? Would the small pickup (Ranger/S10/Dakota size) do it, or would I need something more like an F-150? Looking to pick up a used pickup, and want to make sure I'll be able to haul the horse I plan on getting in the next year or two.

[Strip]

F-150 or similar size vehicle would be much better over the long haul. They can be found for 10% to 20% more than a similar pickup truck. It would be A LOT safer and you wont have to worry about all the other stuff. Tow a trailer with a S-10, Ranger, etc and you will likely need helper springs, tranny cooler bolt on Reese-style hitch and the obligatory prayer.

This comes from towing racecars and enclosed trailers tho weight is weight on a trailer.

Strip

[68ZooM]

I live in a town where just about everyone owns a horse, they mostly use like a 3/4 ton trucks  Ford F250/F350's  i suppose a Ford F-150 would work also, i have one and it tows my mastercraft without a problem , just did a 580 trip one way to pick the boat up...

[gyrene81]

The only way you could get away with it in a Dakota is with the Magnum V8. I think GM now has a pickup in that size now too but...if you're looking for a good used...heavy duty 1/2 ton (i.e. F-150, C-1500)...stick would be better than automatic too...if you can find one.

[Treize69]

Ok, thanks guys. I'm only going to be getting one horse that needs to be transported, but I remember all the problems my dad had towing a boat with a wimpy truck when I was a kid, and wanted to avoid that. F-150 it will probably be, unless I can find one of those rare Rangers or S-10s with the towing package that occasionally comes up on the used market. But no stock light-trucks.

[68ZooM]

If your just going to tow around one horse without a doubt the F-150, Will work great for two horses to. just dont go oversized on the horse trailer, I.E. tackroom, beds, ect.

Heres my F-150 Towing the boat home

[Treize69]

Nah, just gonna probably be a two-horse trailer with one horse and the extra space used for my tack and equipment. My CO has a 4-horse trailer with individual stalls, storage room in front and tack racks and shelves in the back that cost more than the truck he pulls it with.

Plus the horse I'll be hauling will be relatively small, no more than 14 1/2 hands. Just be hauling him to trails and the occasional encampment/event/parade.

[Shuffler]

A half ton truck would suffice. I would go no smaller.

[Stoney]

A half ton truck would suffice. I would go no smaller.

Light-duty trucks mean light duty transmissions, brakes, and suspensions.  Its not just about having the horse-power.  If this is for hobby towing a couple of times a month, 1/2-ton will answer the mail.  Anything more than that, and I'd recommend a 3/4 ton or better.  I used to own an F-150 and now have an F-250 Super Duty.  The difference is night and day.

[RipChord929]

Really, you should look at it the same way ppl look at Power Supplies for computers.. A little overkill is good!!
If I was you, I'd get a 3/4 ton w trailer towing package.. Because you invariably end up towing units that are
bigger and heavier as time goes by.. That is what happened to me... I ended up trading in my 3/4 ton Pickup
on a Chevy dually 6x6.. But I pull a +6 horse 5th wheel trailer, flatbed w big Kubota tractor, boat, and 32ft
travel trailer... Its just the way things always work out!!! You'll wish ya bought bigger later if ya buy a half ton...

RC

[gyrene81]

Guys...he can get a heavy duty half ton with factory towing package...Silverado Z71, Z82...Ford F-150 XL...just have to shop smart is all. I've pulled almost 10k with a 1/2 ton Dodge Ram that came standard with a heavy duty towing package. 3/4 tons are great if you're gonna pull and haul...but the mileage sucks unless you go diesel...even then it's a marginal improvement.

[Treize69]

I'll only ever be pulling the one horse, as I have no need for more than that. And most likely it won't be pulled any more than an hour or two away, almost certainly never be leaving NY with it. Probably won't even have to deal with going up big hills with it, except the once a year or so I go to Saratoga, and even that's almost entirely all highway miles.

And the horses I'm looking at aren't very big, as I said. These are average sized ones, and the guys sitting on them are about 5'5"-5'8". Very small for modern horses (though bigger than they would have been back then).

[ridley1]

OK, 14.2hh pony is what?  No more than 800lbs.  Even if the damn thing is a real disgusting fatbody. Add the weight of the trailer..do you have one now? I'm assuming you're looking at a bumper pull, I beleive that Brenderup trailers are the lightest.  But for the sake of arguement...say 1000lbs for the trailer.  If you might be dragging another horse arong, add another 1000lbs.

So, basically, find something rated for 3500lb towing capacity. Puts you well inside the envelope for dragging the damn thing around.  Get electric brakes...those compression hydraulic brakes actuated through the hitch suck the big one...which you will find the first time you try to back the trailer up a hill.

[rpm]

Get a full size 1/2 ton. You'll need the bigger bed for the hauling feed, tack, ect. I'd also recommend a gooseneck trailer over a bumper pull.

[Shuffler]

For single or dbl horse bumper pull is ok.