Ok , I already did a search for this info here but could not find it so here goes...

I have a 2500 Quad Cab Dodge diesel, I have decided to buy a Cherokee Tomahawk ( thank you guys for the input from a previous post about them) I am trying to decide which one to get. I would really like to get the 4 horse with the 7'10" shortwall. We are wanting to ad in the living quarters as we go. I am just wondering if I have enough truck to do the job?

You haven't posted enough info, but I'll guess you're over the edge of enough truck   Four horses and a LQ are a lot of weight on only two rear tires.  Don't only think total trailer weight.  You have to consider the hitch weight too.

Hi again,

I have single wheels with a 4.10 ratio. I am a little confused by what you mean on hitch weight? We are not wanting to put in full living quarters more of a weekend package with a little more room, as I have two young daughters I travel with and just want more space. Probably just a cowboy shower in the first stall and porta potty, small frig and a little bit of storage. from what I understand their 3 horse with this size short wall is about 4400lbs and the fourth stall is about 400 more pounds. I really usually haul 3 horses but would like the option to haul a fourth if need be. We evacuate for hurricanes often. Cant really find a straight answer anywhere about the actuall towing capacity. Kind of wanted to put this out there to see if anyone else with this truck had an idea.

Thanks again for your help.

HD.. You might have missed it.  The OP has said he has a 4.10 rear axle ratio.

Copper...

In the GN trailer towing world, three pieces of information rule.  One has to include a generous "option"  weight or it will become the "straw" that breaks your truck.  You will bring everything not nailed down with you in an evacuation ...  A break down in that situation becomes a greater disaster

1 - The GCVWR, or Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating.  This is the total max weight your loaded truck and loaded trailer may scale.  I say scale, since the only way to find this is to actually drive the loaded rig to a scale.  Most people are quite surprized at how fast the accumulated "stuff " totals up.

2 - The Rear axle weight rating.  You don't want to exceed this.  Besides making the truck look like its dragging the tail end, the consequences usually include being stuck on the side of the road or worse.

3 - Hitch weight.  This is the amount of weight the trailer places on the truck.   It greatly affects the truck's rear axle loading. Again, an unknown weight  without a scale.  Best estimated as 25% of the total loaded trailer weight.  Compare this with your payload capacity.  Remember your published payload capacity is reduced by the weight of the installed options, (even the gn ball hitch itself) your cargo, AND the weight of your passengers.  Little girls become big girls too quickly.  I know this for a fact.

Okay I just found my book. My GCWR is 18,000 pounds. I have a two wheel drive though have wished more than one time that I had 4 wheel drive. A new truck is not an option as I am pretty attached to this one and really can't justify spending 45,000 on a new one right now. My max trailer rating is 11,900 pds. My GVWR is 8,800. My original shipping order has my truck weight at 6018 pds. I have an automatic with a 4.10 ratio. I also have 10 ply tires all the way around.

 When we evacuate we take our other truck with us loaded with clothes, documents and feed. I am not too concerned about the evacuation deal at this point as we are hoping to move north before next season. However I would like to haul safely when showing. So with the trailer 4800 pds, extra equipment and tack, feed 1500pds and 4200 pds of horse I'll be at approx 10,500. With a prodigy brake control, B&W hitch and regular maintenance on my truck would this be a safe setup? Thanks guys with all your help.....No matter what they say us GALS can't get along without you men to help us figure some of this stuff out.

Good job on the numbers...  All the other info is extraneous... you need 10 ply tires to gross 8800 pounds.  This is how I would use the numbers:

Your GVWR 8,800 minus shipping weight 6018 lbs = payload of 2782 ... Since you weren't included at the factory minus 150 pounds (Pardon my assumption, it's a # the factory uses) minus 200 pounds of hitch+hardware , minus 300 pounds of daughters (they always have their own stuff), minus 200 pounds of fuel, minus 200 pounds misc stuff leaves you with a payload of 1732 pounds.

 Trailer of 10,500 pounds take 25% = 2625 pounds on the hitch.  Be aware that taking only three horses may increase the hitch weight depending on stall position you load them in. 

Seems like You're very close to overloaded by 900 pounds.  You'll need a scale to adjust the trailer load positions to make this truck work safely. 

I thought about this too... After posting, I did a quick search.  Four horse trailer with center walk through weighed 7420 pounds.  http://www.equispirit.com/products/4horse.htm

hank you guys again for the info. I have decided to get the 3 horse with the 7'10" short wall. I called the manufacturer about the weight on the 7'10" again and it was 4600lbs. I am not sure what the equispirit trailers are made of but appeared to be aluminum over steel frame. The Cherrokee I am looking at is all aluminum slant load so maybe that is where the difference is. And I do understand that the manufactures weight can be off so I won't truly know the weight of the trailer until I can hit a scale with one which I plan to do before purchase.  So we shall see.

Thanks again for all of your help