Wanted to know what was the least amount of truck needed to haul a two horse bumper pull trailer with two horse's all with a combined weight of less than 4,500 lbs. I am looking for something that will have no touble pulling but don't want to be too over trucked. I have been looking at deisel's put I believe a regular engine would do ?  I am having a hard time coming up with the extra cash that diesels require. any thought's?

I forgot to add this link;

http://www.trailerlife.com/

They have tow ratings for cars and trucks going back several model years.  Good luck in your search.

cascadia....remember we are out west...Santiam pass will slow down a big truck if they respect the corners. The OP is in Indiana...basicly flat...Hills make them all work! The bigger trucks just don't appear like they are. You'll pass em at the bank..:)

This topic is on here once a week or so, Don't worry about being over trucked worry about having enough truck to stop your rig if the need arises in a hurry. 

In my 17yrs as a State Trooper in Iowa anyone pulling horses with anything less than a 3/4 ton truck is crazy and just taking an uneccessary risk. I pull horses and have covered numerous accidents involving horse trailers and other types of trailers pulled by too small of a vehicle.

Good luck just my observation and experience.

Rick come on - "Crazy" and "unneccesary Risk" my gosh, you make it sound like death on wheels. I know loads of people who tow with 1/2 ton trucks.  Most of the 1/2 ton trucks currently available will outperform a great many of the 3/4 ton trucks from a generation back.  Ford, Toyota, and Chevy all offer 1/2 ton models with tow capacities in excess of 10,000 lbs - Toyota has larger, more powerful brakes on it's 1/2 ton Tundra 5.7 than any factory 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton currently available.

I understand what you're trying to say - basically you mean to say "err on the side of caution".  But a 4550 lb load really wouldn't tax any new 1/2 ton V8 model.  To get a 3/4 ton model to tow this seems to be taking the concept of "Over Trucking" too far. 

Just my opinion, and I do understand where you're coming from, in this case anyway, I think it's too much truck to recommend.

And I bet you covered lots of situations were someone has taken risks they paid for and they didn't even have a trailer hooked on the vehicle. "Anyone" period regardless of over or under trucked with load pulled or carried that doesn't know it will affect stopping distance handling in an emergancy situation is looking for trouble. It really boils down to experience with a load using the vehicle you choose. There are people that can handle a under trucked situation much better than some do over trucked because they know there configuration limitations. Following to close and speed for the conditions I bet caused most of what you saw, not under trucked. If you are driving correctly and looking far enough ahead and not tailgating you won't even need brakes....but they are handy for the other guy not paying attention! Most people that ask this particular question are aware that there is an issue and are attempting to do there reasearch and I aplaud them. Some people just don't have a clue! 

barstow, were you carrying two horse's with about a 3,000 lb trailer? The reason i ask is I was still wondering if a 1/2 ton would do? I can't afford anything new either, about a 2003 is as late as i can afford.  I am thinking for the area i am in that a 1/2 ton would be sufficent.