Posted 2013-04-10 1:08 AM (#151207) Subject: WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Rockaway Beach, OR
WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' NoobHello there!I am beyond ready to get my own rig, and would love some advice from experienced horse hauling people who have been there, done that before I make the plunge and buy & drive something :)Some Background:I have one 15hh, 900 lb, mild mannered arabian. I am going to start grad school in Southern California in a little over a year. I live on the North Oregon coast. I am looking for a safe and affordable (emphasis on affordable) rig that will transport her from point A to point B, and I don't know exactly where to start. I have zero experience with hauling horses (or anything for that matter) besides loading and unloading. I am not looking for commercial transportation because I would love to use the trailer for more than this long trip and would rather use the money toward a rig of my own.What I am looking for/need:Safe and affordable (very basic equipment is just fine, as long as it's dependable).Small, light and basic 2 horse MAYBE 3 horse trailer. Old is fine, it does not need to be roomy, I have a small horse and not a lot of stuff. Easy and safe to haul. Bells and whistles not necessary for this girl, I'm spending enough on school as it is ;).Safe, dependable truck or SUV, daily commuter, used, preferably automatic, somewhat easy on fuel and affordable (have I used that word enough yet? lol.Hoping to spend < $2,000 (including brakes, lights, any work etc.) on a trailer and less than 8,000 or 9,000 on the truck (counting trade in value of current truck which is < $3000) is that even feasible?What we have:my husband has an inherited '94 Ford Ranger (179,000 mi) it is his daily commuter. We would like to trade that in to get a vehicle that can easily pull (and stop) a small trailer. We will be crossing mountains (summer conditions only, this isn't Ice Road Truckers ;).Questions:What should I be looking for as far as absolute requirements to safely and easily pull my horse around?What is a good and affordable vehicle (also will be a daily commuter)?What is the longest lasting vehicle, and that we can look for used (happily works past 250,000 mi w/o major work)?Should we be looking at 4x4 or rear wheel?What are the pro's and con's of using a smaller vehicle (like a 4runner, CRV or Xterra) with a lightweight trailer (ex: used Brenderup)?Do Brenderup's suck in the long run?Bumperpull or Gooseneck? Pro's and con's.Do SUV's work for this without cutting their lives short, if so what kind?Aluminum, composite or steel?Slant or straight load (she will load into anything)?What to look for when getting an old trailer (or truck) on craigslist? What makes a trailer safe? Any books on this subject?Any experience, time-tested wisdom or advice on hauling a horse with safe equipment safely?Anything else you can think of or that you wanted to say to that idiot driver doing something ridiculous on the freeway (It wasn't me I promise!).But really, I need help. Thank you so much. Please help free this girl from the indoor arena so she can see the world!Thanks!~GirlOnAMission
Posted 2013-04-10 6:41 AM (#151209 - in reply to #151207) Subject: RE: WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
Veteran
Posts: 218 Location: Ohio
Wow, you have asked the million dollar question. We all want the most for the least that will get the job done. Most of those questions are pretty subjective...what is the most dependable truck, long lasting etc. I prefer Fords as they have served me well from the Ranger I started with to a F150 to the F250 and now a F350 dually. The key to long life with these trucks is how they are taken care of. As for 2x4 vs 4x4, unless you plan to off road you can easily get by with a 2x4. The 4x4 is nice for getting out of soft ground with your rig but not required. 4x4's will cost more to buy, maintain and insure so if money is that tight go with the 2 wheel drive.
A simple straight load bumper pull will get you what you want. Again, as with the truck, how they are taken care of will say a lot about how long it will last. I would have any trailer inspected before you buy unless you know what you are looking at. Aluminum will be lighter but probably a little more expensive. Breaks, tires, welds and floor boards are the first things you should inspect. If the tires are 5 years old or more, get them replaced as soon as you get the trailer. Even if they look brand new, that is the life expectancy for tires due to simple rot. Surface rust can be cleaned up and paint can make it look nicer, your first goal is safety.
I am not going to tell you what brand to buy, there are too many out there. Search this sight and you will see many trailers. That is how we determined what we wanted and what we bought.
As for an SUV vs pickup, that again is subjective. The SUV can be more versatile for carrying people but the truck bed can haul items as well.
Your ultimate answer will not come from someone answering this post but in what you want and can find in your price range at the time. It will take some homework on your part.
Good luck.
Posted 2013-04-10 10:39 AM (#151211 - in reply to #151207) Subject: RE: WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
Posted 2013-04-10 11:14 AM (#151212 - in reply to #151207) Subject: RE: WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
This is a tough one.Until you really know what you will do its hard to then to go out and buy something that will fit the bill. Any truck/trailer combo will have drawbacks and all will have issues of some sort. safety also depends on YOU- if you don't know what you are doing there is no really fool proof set up. Personally- I'd want a pickup-3/4 ton and a GN ( they simply pull with more stability in any situation) As for mileage- forget about it. They are for pulling and stopping power ( however a solid 1/2 ton can be used with a small 2H GN). To safely pull in any situation you might have to sacrifice something. A larger SUV such as a Suburban will pull a BP but again you won't have the stability nor the mileage. This might take more research on your part-asking people directly, looking at what they are driving and maybe even try it out yourself. Until then you simply won't know and might end up spending money on something that isn't right for you. Another thought- if you aren't sure- buy a trailer from a dealer. They can show you more trailers at one time, answer questions, have things checked out and maybe provide written info that a private seller cannot. This takes time and won't be solved for you by a posting on a message forum.
Posted 2013-04-10 1:00 PM (#151218 - in reply to #151207) Subject: RE: WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
You will see all extremes in what people pull their horses in. In fact I once even say an old travel trailer pull into a trail head., Beat up ugly thing, The owner got out of the truck walked back and opened the door and out came 6 Llamas. It was kinda like watching a magician keep pulling rabbits out of hat and you wonder how he ever got that many in there.
My personal preference is for a 4x4 truck. I am too independent and hate to have to call somebody because I got stuck. I frequent too many off the beaten path trail heads to not have it. But Southern Cal doesn't have a lot of snow or mud, and if you frequent Fairgrounds, Rodeo grounds and other places where shows are held, You will probably not be at risk of getting stuck, So two wheel drive may be just fine. I don't see that a 4x4 truck cost that much more to operate. Maybe 1 or 2 mpg in fuel efficiency. Little extra maintenance and not much in insurance. Here in Utah 4x2 sell cheaper, because nobody will buy a truck with out 4x4. Places like So Cal or Dallas, 4x4 are the exception and most folks drive the 4x2s.
Look at how far you will tow/travel with your rig. Short drives can be done with a smaller rig, Long drive are more comfortable in larger rigs. If you are going to travel 200-300 miles to compete in an endurance ride you will want a bigger rig than 10 miles down the road to the next horse show. Are you going to have to spend a weekend in your trailer? Do you camp? How much tack/feed do you need to haul with you? Will all dictate how big a trailer you will need.
Start on the small side, You can always sell and move up as your career advances. A cheap small horse trailer will not depreciate much below what it already is. I really don't develop attachments to trucks or trailers. Trade them off as your needs change. If you are a savy trader, you won't loose a lot unless you buy new and trade frequently.
Trucks are always going to depreciate. What ever you buy today will be worth less tomorrow. Just plan for it as a cost of ownership. You know that your horses eats $5 hay every day and that means it cost you almost $2000 a year to own a horse even if you never ride it. What every tow vehicle you own will lose money over time. It's just part of the deal. Older trucks don't depreciate as much as new trucks, But older trucks often need more repairs than a newer truck. Evaluate if you would prefer the occasional unexpected repair bill for an older truck or the scheduled monthly payment for a new truck.
My first rig was a 1/2 ton Ford pickup pulling a bumper pull trailer. I got to where I wanted to ride. As time passed, I changed trailers/trucks to meet my changing needs. I got more horses, I started to travel farther from home to ride, and my daughters began coming with me and camping out. Trailers got bigger and bigger. Now my daughters have grown up, I take fewer horses with me when I go, So I have actually downsized a little.
I see this little 2 wheel drive Ford Ranger frequently at a local trail head. The owner probably doesn't drive more than 5 miles and only hauls one horse. So it works fine for him. Would I load 4 horses in it and haul over the mountain to a trail head 100 miles away, Not a chance.
Posted 2013-04-10 8:03 PM (#151222 - in reply to #151207) Subject: RE: WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
You could get a solid used pickup and pull a BP stock trailer, maybe 12 to 14 feet and do this package safe and inexpensively. Just a thought. You will want a towing package on your tow vehicle (cooler on transmission ) and you will want a brake controller in the truck and working brakes on your trailer. If you get a small stock trailer put rubber mats in it for better footing for your horse. Remember you can always trade up over time. We have a 92 Chevy 4x4 2500 that we bought new and it has now 340,000 miles on the original engine which does not use oil or leak. Looks like the farm truck that it now is, but just an example.... look thoroughly and don't necessarily buy the first thing you see. Keep gathering info...
Posted 2013-04-11 2:29 PM (#151231 - in reply to #151207) Subject: RE: WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
Having come back from Grants Pass only 1 week ago, and living in So. Calif. I have needs somewhat different from yours., I have two different trailers and use two different tow vehicles, one an "03" Chev Tahoe, and an "05", Dodge 3500, 1 ton. Two trailers, one is an aluminum 2 horse with lg tack/dressing room, and a 4 horse, with living quarters goose neck. Some of what you will need is on where you go to school. UC Davis, or Cal Poly Pomona are two different areas, and need two different arrangements. UC Davis is close to lots of Agricultural land, the Lake Camanche reservoir, where lots of trails are at.Cal Poly Pomona is surrounded by housing tracts, and two freeways, you must trailer out to the San Gabriel Mtns, or to Bonelli Park. so different areas have different needs, as you may have to board some distance from the trails and areas.My two rigs...
WANTED: Honest & Truthful Truck & Trailering Advice for a TOTAL Horse Haulin' Noob
