Posted 2012-11-14 1:50 PM (#148312) Subject: New truck considerations
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
I am shopping for a new truck. I know that a half-ton is going to make most of you cringe, but this truck is also going to be my commuting vehicle and I do have a limited budget. I have a 2008 Trail- et 2-horse,GN (specs here)
http://www.trailet.com/t_westwind.html
I believe it is 4500# empty. I am currently pulling this trailer with my 2007 Silverado (5.3L with off road package). Typically I haul once a week during the summer, maybe twice-monthly spring and fall and rarely in the winter. Trips are rarely more than 100 miles round trip and mostly less than 20 round trip. I may make one long trip annually (900 miles round trip) The Silverado doesn't seem to have any problem hauling this trailer with two horses and gear.
I am looking at Toyota Tundra Double or Crew Cab or F150 SuperCrew (hate the suicide doors). Understanding that the bulk of you would probably recommend a 3/4 ton, do any of you have a preference on the two half-tons mentioned? Also what length bed should I be looking at so that I don't smash out my back window. (yes I still need a lot of practice backing).
Posted 2012-11-14 4:12 PM (#148315 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
I'd suggest that you look for a used 3/4 ton that in your budget. I have friends that have tried to tow similar trailers with a 1/2 ton, and they have had to move up to a 3/4 ton. One is replacing their rear end in their 1/2 ton this week.
Posted 2012-11-14 6:02 PM (#148317 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Utah
If you go with a half ton go with the F150. They have great pulling power and are great to drive. Another thing that would be good is an older 3/4 ton diesel. No gas engine can pull like a diesel does. Older Dodge diesels are very dependable. After pulling with a gas and a diesel, I would never ever go back to a gas truck.
Posted 2012-11-14 10:23 PM (#148322 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Half ton trucks aren't so much limited by what they can pull as to what they can carry. Many of the new halfs can pull as much as the older 3/4 ton trucks. Their rear axle loadings are the limiting factor in many instances.
If you can measure the pin weight of your loaded trailer and compare that to the manufacturer's axle's specifications, you will have a better idea of which truck will best suit your needs.
Both trucks are quite capable, and if they can safely carry the weight, should offer some good service.
Posted 2012-11-24 6:46 AM (#148560 - in reply to #148322) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
Thanks everyone for responding. I did go with a 2012 Tundra. Love this truck. 381HP with a 5.7 V8. The salesman said the truck is designed for hauling. That is the "selling point." (Yes, I know they will tell my anything to sell me a truck, but I had already signed, so didn't think he was trying to snow me) So now that I have made that decision, I am reluctant to cut a hole in the bed for my gooseneck hitch. Is the consensus that a GN is easier on a truck than BP still favored? Or with the new design and technology going into these trucks now, would it be the same either way?
Posted 2012-11-24 9:39 AM (#148565 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
A GN trailer is still more stable than a bumper pull.
The biggest problem with GN trailers on half ton pickup is usually the pin weight. A GN transfers more of the trailer weight to the truck hitch than does a Bumper pull. And that gives you the more stable ride. Before you cut a hole in your trailer do the basic research about the trucks capacities and trailer weights. I didn't really notice which toyota you said you bought, But the Tundra 4x4 Crew Max is only rated at 1295lbs load capacity, If you have two people in the cab at 150lbs each, Add in the 100lbs for the GN hitch that leaves you 895lbs of load capacity for your GN trailer.
Look at the trailer you are considering and see what it's empty hitch weight is. Most GN are 20-25% of the trailer weight is on the hitch, So a 4500lb empty trailer is going to be putting 900-1000 lbs on the hitch, Before you load your first horse.If you store a couple of saddles in the front of the trailer in tack room and a bag or two of feed, You can push those numbers right past what your Toyota will haul.
Ultimately, The best research you could do, Would be to load your trailer up the same when you tow and take it across a scale and see just how much weight it transfers to the tow vehicle.
Posted 2012-11-24 2:06 PM (#148568 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
like Gard said...a modern 1/2 ton has experienced performance creep into the realms of OLD 3/4 ton pickups...you'll have no problem pulling that 2 horse bumper pull...:)
Posted 2012-11-24 9:02 PM (#148572 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Wow- for the price that you paid for the Toyota, you could have gone with a nice used 3/4 ton truck..diesel even and a used economical commuter. That Tundra is not going to be nice on fuel for you. Not a good economical commuter in my book.
I pull a 2H GN with a 2010 5.7L 4x4 double cab, 6.5' bed. I did boost the suspension and had a B&W hitch installed. I've been very happy with the way my Tundra pulls.
Posted 2012-11-26 8:08 AM (#148583 - in reply to #148582) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
Thanks for the link - nice rig and truck set up! As for what we paid for the Tundra, it was a lot less than the MSRP and hey, they threw in a free HD flat screen TV and a 3-holer crockpot. What more could a woman ask for?? ;) and I am averaging 15 mph city (not towing), which is better than what I was getting in the Chevy.Now, once I got new truck in my garage, I couldn't bear the thought of ripping out that nice bedliner and cutting holes in the bed for the new hitch. So I ended up opting out of the GN and I am now poised to purchase a 2001 Jamco 2-horse BP with a weekender package. Never new such a thing existed!
Posted 2012-11-26 10:39 AM (#148585 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
a 2 horse bumper pull vs a 2 horse bumper pull with some sort of weekender package is a HUGE difference. I'd NOT pull that personally with your Tundra. Go get a gooseneck hitch, and change the bed liner out to a spray in bed coating. Do a flip down hitch. Then look at 2 horse goosenecks with the weekender packages. You will be happier, and safer for you and the horses. Just my opinion of course.
Posted 2012-11-26 5:33 PM (#148592 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Regular
Posts: 98 Location: MD
Agree with Trot-on and here's my 2 cents. I've pulled a BP fully loaded with my T using a weight distribution hitch. You get a lot of dolphining/sway even without a LQ. It's a safe and more enjoyable difference pulling a GN, like it's part of the truck and not an "out there" load.
As for the bedliner, which I have, there's about a 4" hole but most come with a black cap or cover. You hardly notice it when not in use. I notice the safety chain clips on either side more.
Posted 2012-11-27 3:55 AM (#148599 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
To tell the truth, when I was looking to find a truck for my son, I found the Dodge dealer in Ontario CA., had a nice 3/4 ton DIESEL for 34,000, and it was a nice new truck. I think the dealer in Norco, (Horsecity USA), who deals in horse towing trucks a LOT, has some awsome deals on tow vehicles, and are all set up to tow either BP, or Goose. I bought my 2005, Ram, 3500, crewcab,long bed in 2010 for 16,500, and WOW, what a difference a diesel makes!! I still have my 97 Dodge 4X4, 1500 for towing the 2h BP, and while towing the mileage is only about 10-11, empty it is 16-19 mpg, and it is a V-8, 5.2.Of course you folks don't have the mountains and hills we have here, as we usually go at least 6000 ft to ride, and the "Mountains" in the east are much lower as well as less steep. I know when I was in Mass, and in Penn, the mountains were not even the size of our foothills.
Posted 2012-11-27 5:00 PM (#148613 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
Man, you guys are tough. Ok, I am going to suck it up and install a gooseneck hitch in my beautiful new truck. You've convinced me Safe is better than sorry. Though we are going with a different style, one that can be installed without taking out the bedliner, the rail kind, I guess. I will post a picture of the entire rig when all is done. (A couple of weeks).
Posted 2012-11-27 10:16 PM (#148623 - in reply to #148312) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
Many of us are tough, as we have seen the things that can go wrong. We want you to be safe, and not be crying because your truck broke down again and you can't go anywhere because you worked it to hard. hehe
Posted 2012-11-27 11:54 PM (#148628 - in reply to #148613) Subject: RE: New truck considerations
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
I have a bed-liner in my truck. They just cut a small hole where the Gn ball is. I like a bed-liner cause I can slide the hay in and out of the back of the truck all by myself.
New truck considerations
