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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 24, 2014 20:39:53 GMT
Ok, just looking for some input.
What can you recommend that's not too pricey(will buy a couple years old, no more than $25,000)or expensive to run that can easily tow and stop a 2/3 horse trailer.
Im thinking fords are pretty cheap, in the UK I hated them but over here they look better?!
Comments and advice appreciated:)
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Post by Shelly on Sept 24, 2014 21:41:57 GMT
We have an older Ford F250 (it's a 2000) and we love it. Our truck is a beast.. Crew cab with an 8 ft box, you don't see them anymore of if you do it's a custom order through ford.
Mind you we have the suspension of a one ton truck. I feel as if the more you put on it the better it drives. It pulls a two horse bumper pull trailer with ease.
I have seen new F250's in action as well with a 4 horse goose neck trailer filled with large/draft horses and I've seen someone in the area haul some pretty intense loads with them. A farm I used to work at would get their F250 to haul 10 polo ponies in their trailer and it never had issues either.
To me they have proven themselves. On the same note I havent seen many other trucks in action, in this area I find the fords are really popular.
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Post by horselover4life on Sept 24, 2014 22:53:17 GMT
Here comes a book........ready..
With where I live {rural, cattle & horse ranches} everyone but everyone has trucks.
I see Fords, Dodges and Chevy towing goosenecks and bumper pulls.
I do not see foreign makes ever towing live cargo...camping trailers, boats yes, livestock NEVER!
OK...some basics you must consider before looking to purchase anything...
Make and model of the horse trailer so you know the empty and fully loaded weights... Will you be upgrading in size in the near future is something to consider..
What do you need in the truck?
Gas or diesel engine?
4-wheel drive?
Automatic or stick shift{manual transmission}
Size of the truck bed for storage or gooseneck hitch?
Now...take that information and start looking in reputable places for details of the trucks you think you might want. Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds,
Look for engine size large enough to haul a heavy load upgrades and down {yup, your engine is very important going downhill to hold you back!}
Transmission...if a automatic look for something with a transmission cooler installed...over-heating trans. oil is one of the biggest killers of your trans and it doesn't take much to get it red hot towing!
Braking systems...yes you need a trailer brake controller. You also need larger brakes size to handle the excess heat produced when towing, stopping & turning that trailer.
Truck frame..you would like some "beef" to it so a frame hitch {A MUST!} can be installed...that goes for bumper pull OR gooseneck.
Tires...you need a LT load range of "D" or "E" to handle the weight put on your vehicle by that trailer. IF a gooseneck trailer the heavier duty tire... A clue is usually 10 ply tires are standard HD on beefier trucks..
Seating capacity...how many people or how much "stuff" do you need to cart with you and be able to put under lock and key inside your vehicle...
You must drive each brand of truck as each handles very differently than their competitor.
I personally would not tow a loaded 2/3 horse trailer with a 150 or 1500 series truck in any manufacturers brand, period.
I would be looking at 250 or 2500 series trucks as a minimum.
Once you step up in towing class much of what I mentioned above is automatically included as far as frame, brakes, tires being heavier duty.
If a automatic transmission a extra external transmission cooler is the life the life of the trans...usually the HD trucks come with it automatically.
When you go looking at any truck you must look into what size classification that hitch has on that truck. Many trucks today come with a factory installed bumper hitch that is "supposed" to handle 5000 pounds...FORGET IT!! You should be looking at a hitch rating that handles 10,000 pounds. You do not ever want to get near a max weight when delaing with horses. Ever hear or see the horrors of trailer accidents involving horse trailers...leading cause is truck is maxed out and not the right weight ratio equipment used and catastrophe happens...flip over and carnage. Hubby says horse don't have fingers and toes to hold on...they rely on you as the rig driver to tow safely and with a strong enough tow vehicle to handle that live cargo when that idiot just cut you off or slammed his brakes on in front of you...
Ohhh... this goes for everyone....that tow ball you use... make sure it is rated for the weight of what you tow...they come in different strengths.
If it was cheap I can guarantee you have the wrong weight classification ball. Read the label carefully.
BTW...this isn't just from me but from my hubby.
He is a HD truck mechanic and this is how he makes his living...knowing those details to keep you safe on the road.
He and I have towed more than 100,000 miles incident free.
He has seen the carnage first hand of pushing a vehicle to far in their capabilities and seen the horses both dead, alive and so maimed you wanted a bullet for them.
He also has seen the truck that wasn't pushed to the limit with animals uninjured but shaken up, some damage but not carnage...
He said please be very careful in what you buy.
Know your particular details of trailer weights and weight of your horses and then add at least 500 pounds to those numbers...
Then he said... "Happy Shopping and Be safe Enjoying the freedom of your own truck and trailer." 
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320 
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Post by mingiz on Sept 25, 2014 0:06:34 GMT
Mine is a ford also. If you can find an older one with a 7.3 diesel I would go with that. My last one was a ford F250 with A 5.4L gas engine. I pulled a 3h with 4ft DR with it and it did well until I got into good mountain pulls then it was just to much strain on it. Then I had to upgrade to the diesel because of the weight of my LQ. This diesel is the 6.0 and I have had a few costly issues with it. But over all it has been a good pulling truck. I also like the dodge rams Here there are a lot of equal brands. All of them have had there issues. Lints is a 2000 F250 but a extended cab instead of crew cab. Also has the 7.3 with manual. Been a dependable engine. Diesels are high maintenance but if you do good maintenance on them they last forever  |
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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 25, 2014 12:08:34 GMT
Mingiz, Im a big diesel fan, loved them in the UK but I think in canada there's probs with the diesel freezing as it gets so cold here, not sure if it's as bad where if I might be heading east, have to look into it.
Lots of good points made by everyone, thanks so much:)
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Sept 25, 2014 12:22:40 GMT
Mingiz, Im a big diesel fan, loved them in the UK but I think in canada there's probs with the diesel freezing as it gets so cold here, not sure if it's as bad where if I might be heading east, have to look into it. Lots of good points made by everyone, thanks so much:) If you find a diesel make sure you get one with a block heater. then in the colder weather you plug it in and it keeps the block warm so things don't gel up. As far as the fuel you can put a treatment in it to keep that from gelling up. I have one on my truck. But only plug it in when the temps get into the teens. |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Sept 25, 2014 12:43:54 GMT
Well I have a Nissan Titan and it pulls my 16 ft stock trailer pretty well. But you have to remember I'm on fairly flat land. When I start driving north a bit where there are more hills, sometimes it will have to down shift to get up the hill but it has been a good truck for me so far (10 years now).
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Sept 25, 2014 13:51:59 GMT
Nissan Titan and Toyota Tacomas can tow. I'd avoid getting a diesel in Canada, our diesel isn't as good as in the states. I can't remember why but my friend has worked at a Ford dealership for years and she told me that. They require more maintenance here because they get gummed up. And, as you mentioned, the cold is an issue. It's the same price as gas anyway so why go to the expense. Unless you can get one of the new Dodge deisels but they're more than 25 grand. The gas mileage is amazing. My friend bought one and it gets better mileage than the Volkswagen Toureg she had that couldn't tow a trailer. I don't think you'll use a trailer much so I'd go with the minimum truck you can away with. A half ton would be fine. My daughter has a 2012 Dodge half ton with the 5.7 litre engine and it towed our 3 horse steel frame with aluminum bumper pull no problem. We used to two a steel 3 horse stock combo with a 1989 Chev with a 350 and it was okay except for hills. I'd stay away from Chevs or GMCs now, you know why.
The thing is that you need a vehicle you can drive the rest of the time and only use occasionally for towing so why get a huge truck that you can barely park and kills you on fuel? If they're not 4 wheel drive or don't have a back seat they're almost valueless. You can hardly give a way a truck like that. |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Sept 25, 2014 14:33:36 GMT
Great point NHG - for those of us not towing every weekend or going cross-country, it is not really useful to have a gigantic truck.
Although NHG, I do believe you meant to say Toyota Tundras can tow (Tacomas are the smaller pick-ups made by Toyota which can probably pull a utility trailer but I doubt they can pull a horse trailer.).
I've often thought about getting an older model F-250 or equivalent (think 1990s) that is fixed up and I could use just for towing and then get a practical vehicle for everyday driving. Here we can register those trucks as "farm trucks" and I think the insurance would be pretty cheap too.
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Sept 25, 2014 14:49:09 GMT
You're right MM. It's Tundras that can tow. Tacomas are too small. I used to pull a small two horse with my Chev Blazer with the 4.3 litre V-6. But we never went far and it was fine. I wouldn't want to do it on a hill, though, and they're really not long enough for safe towing.
I hated driving my old Dodge if I had to park anywhere. It had the extended cab plus an 8 foot box so I always had to park a mile out and pull through with it's back end sticking into the spot behind me. One time I came out after parking normally and there were cars parked closely on both sides. I actually had some guy stand there and laugh as I maneuvered back and forth over and over to get out. Jerk. I ended up screaming out the window at him. |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Sept 25, 2014 15:02:01 GMT
I don't know how people with dually trucks can go anywhere! My "little" Titan is bad enough to try to park and I almost always try to find a spot to pull through or to back into. Luckily I like parking far from store doors so that I can get a few more steps in but sometimes you have no choice.
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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 25, 2014 15:15:45 GMT
Nissan Titan and Toyota Tacomas can tow. I'd avoid getting a diesel in Canada, our diesel isn't as good as in the states. I can't remember why but my friend has worked at a Ford dealership for years and she told me that. They require more maintenance here because they get gummed up. And, as you mentioned, the cold is an issue. It's the same price as gas anyway so why go to the expense. Unless you can get one of the new Dodge deisels but they're more than 25 grand. The gas mileage is amazing. My friend bought one and it gets better mileage than the Volkswagen Toureg she had that couldn't tow a trailer. I don't think you'll use a trailer much so I'd go with the minimum truck you can away with. A half ton would be fine. My daughter has a 2012 Dodge half ton with the 5.7 litre engine and it towed our 3 horse steel frame with aluminum bumper pull no problem. We used to two a steel 3 horse stock combo with a 1989 Chev with a 350 and it was okay except for hills. I'd stay away from Chevs or GMCs now, you know why.
The thing is that you need a vehicle you can drive the rest of the time and only use occasionally for towing so why get a huge truck that you can barely park and kills you on fuel? If they're not 4 wheel drive or don't have a back seat they're almost valueless. You can hardly give a way a truck like that. Yes that's what Im worried about, I dont want the upkeep of two vehicles, is the dodge a V6 or V8? |
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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 25, 2014 15:18:56 GMT
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Sept 25, 2014 15:44:53 GMT
Our old Dodge was the 5.9 litre and the truck was a 3/4 ton. I like the one you posted.
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Post by horselover4life on Sept 25, 2014 17:46:39 GMT
Here comes another book...... 
Here you go...do some reading.
autos.aol.com/cars-Dodge-Ram+1500-2005/expert-review/
Now...I have a 2003 with the Hemi engine. It is recommended for the best running performance you use mid-grade fuel...add .20 cents per gallon over regular fuel.
That said....our truck kicks butt when we pull. We have a 2500 custom ordered though and my husband choose his gear ratio and all his "toys" to make that truck do what it does with ease. My truck is a 1-ton underneath the skin with the capabilities he put in it.
My understanding though is I think beginning in that year the engine became capable of reducing power and fuel consumption by reducing the number of cylinders that run when highway driving or something like that....
Right now with gas at $3.35 a gallon, if the truck is close to empty {1/4} it costs us near $100 or more to fill it...it has a 35 gallon tank think it is...
When I drove from Long Island to our home in Central Florida we used 7 tanks of fuel towing my husbands loaded car trailer... at 10,500 pounds.
We were hauling down the highway with the truckers who I prefer to travel with when driving with the trailer. Those truckers though were also not flat flying....
Locally around our home on LI the truck got about 15 mpg...no load on it. Towing...I don't want to think about it... 
Our truck is also a manual/stick shift transmission and that does make a difference in many things and capabilities of the truck.
The ride is very comfortable both towing {you don't know it is there!} or just driving around town...mine is HD suspension so has a more bumpy ride than you would have with a 1500.
It is a ***** to park in parking lots,period! Takes much space to park that long, long truck and takes much space to turn it but it turns easy. Our truck has been relatively easy on maintenance and very, very reliable. We have no complaints and I would not hesitate to purchase another in a heartbeat.
We bought our truck new as I said and it has always had good care....
I would suggest no matter what you buy when you think you have found "the one" you have a car report done on it. It is worth the money to know what the truck has been through...
If it was involved in any accidents over $1000 dollars of damage it shows and it also shows repairs were done by a licensed repair facility...means done right or should of been.
I would also keep in mind that many trucks/cars were bought, put under new title and repaired that were damaged in many flooding water conditions that plagued areas of the US and Canada...things to keep in mind and check out when buying used.
Happy searching...truck looks nice. Do have it thoroughly checked out, especially that 4x4 as they cost $$$$$ to fix if not right.
You should be able to with your price range available be able to purchase a very nice truck....
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Sept 25, 2014 18:03:37 GMT
Just make sure that even though it has a hitch on it that it has a towing package to go along with it. Just because it has a hitch attached doesn't mean that it's set up for true towing.
I had a Dodge Ram 1500 with a 5.2 in it and I towed my 16ft steel bp and a 20ft 2h with 4ft dr steel goose neck. Never had any issues with it. Except on big hills. It just took longer to climb them but on the flat it was da bomb. I did add brakes on both axles of GN I also had to add the brake controller. It had the towing package.
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