Posted 2006-08-17 12:17 PM (#46834) Subject: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Utica, NY
Hi - I'm new to this forum; did some reading through previous threads on brenderup trailers - clearly a lot of strong opinions on the subject. I'm not looking to open up the subject again of Brenderup vs. more conventional trailers; I'm satisfied that Brenderup is the trailer that I'm interested in purchasing but before I do I'd like some help from people with experience of towing Brenderups on potential towing vehicles. I will need to get a different vehicle for towing so am researching this side of it.
I live in upstate NY so would want 4WD for occasional winter driving and there are some good hills around. I'm hating the thought of having to trade in my car for a vehicle that uses a lot more gas but realize this is a trade off I have to make. I would want a vehicle that can handle hills without really struggling (I'm ok with going a little below the speed limit). I'm interested in the Royal trailer which I understand is between 1800 - 2000 lbs depending on how it's outfitted. The vast majority of the time I would be hauling just one horse (probably about 1300-1400 lbs). Most trips would be less than 2 hours & on average I would probably use the trailer a couple of times a month. Towing vehicle would be used for everyday driving; work & back etc. Money, of course is an issue so I'm trying to find affordable options.
I'd really like to hear what different vehicles people are using with their Brenderups & if they would recommend them or not. Thanks.
Posted 2006-08-17 12:30 PM (#46836 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Expert
Posts: 1283
Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
I think the recomended tow vehilce for a B-up is a Volvo(white)station wagon, make sure it has the vanity mirror so you can put your lipstick on as you travel down the road with your horse in tow.
Posted 2006-08-17 12:54 PM (#46839 - in reply to #46836) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366
Location: Albany, Oregon
Originally written by HWBar on 2006-08-17 10:30 AM
I think the recomended tow vehilce for a B-up is a Volvo(white)station wagon, make sure it has the vanity mirror so you can put your lipstick on as you travel down the road with your horse in tow.
Hob Nob....ask a legitimate question and look what you get! If it were me I would figure my total weight trailer+horses+misc+saftey factor(you decide that!) Lets say you come up with 5,000 lbs then I would go shopping...You will probably end up in the midsize SUV catagory...Dodge, Chevy, Ford.....then the imports.... You need one with a tow package.....and tow rating of at least 5,000 lbs. Color won't matter....LOL and they make hand held mirrors so you don't really need that either...LOL When you get it narrowed down get back as you can see opinions here are cheap!
Posted 2006-08-17 1:04 PM (#46841 - in reply to #46839) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Utica, NY
Tempting to reply in kind but really a waste of time and energy.. I was hoping for something a little more helpful so thank you for your input. It seems like a truck is probably the better way to go - most of the SUV's that have 5000lb towing capacity are a lot more expensive than a truck & the gas mileage isn't really any better.
Posted 2006-08-17 1:24 PM (#46847 - in reply to #46841) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366
Location: Albany, Oregon
The 5,000#'s was just an example......If you only haul 1 horse(only!) you could get it down to 2000lbs + 1400lbs =3400# + 600lbs(big safty factor)=4000 lbs I'm not sure what vehicles are rated in that area. But you are right you can probably get a midsize truck cheaper than a car. Keep checking this post some Brenderup people will help you out I'm sure.
Posted 2006-08-18 6:31 PM (#46926 - in reply to #46841) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: Salem, CT
Something to consider - I've got a 03 Toyota 4-Runner V6. Without trailer I'm averaging about 20.3 miles per gallon. Add the trailer and I drop to about 15mpg. I don't know a lot about the brand of trailer you mentioned, but as a light tow vehicle the Toyota has worked out very well, and it doesn't kill you at the pump.
Posted 2006-08-18 7:09 PM (#46930 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Expert
Posts: 2689
Hi and Welcome to the Forum.
Just about any vehicle that could be used to tow the BrenderUp could almost as easily tow a conventional full sized 2 horse aluminum bumper-pull trailer.
There isn't THAT MUCH difference in weight.
If you DO find a tow vehicle that can tow ONLY a BrenderUp and not tow a full size aluminum bumper-pull "conventional" trailer - it is so close to it's limit as to be not worth consideration.
Posted 2006-08-18 10:44 PM (#46939 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Member
Posts: 16
Location: Dallas, Texas
We owned a Brenderup and pulled it with a BMW X5 with the V6 engine. Have you gotten the literature from Brenderup? Because of the way the trailer is balanced and the tongue weight all you need is a vehicle that produces at least 125 hp and a minimum of a 93" wheelbase.We sold our Brenderup to purchase a 'conventional' steel horse trailer and have regretted it ever since. We now have our steel trailer up for sale and are going back to the Brenderup.I have spent time in Europe and Brenderup type trailers pulled by Mercedes sedans is ALL you see over there. Unless you want to pull 3 or more horses there is no need (in my opinion) to purchase a heavy steel (or aluminum) trailer and a giant pick-up truck!Plus, the Brenderup is much easier for myself (a woman) to hitch up and tow alone.I'm not sure why so many people make fun of Brenderup trailers, I think for some reason this trailer undermines their masculinity?I would no more make fun of someone who pulled a stock trailer vrs. a fully enclosed trailer, nor would I harrass someone who preferred slant load to strait load. So why should I be ridiculed because I prefer a Brenderup trailer?
Posted 2006-08-18 11:09 PM (#46940 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Northern CA
In my area, I see alot of Toyota Tundra's pulling the Brenderup trailers. Also see them pulling the smaller two horse steel-straight-load trailers around.
Posted 2006-08-19 1:21 AM (#46941 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Veteran
Posts: 171
Location: Liberty Hill Texas
from there website
Mercedes Benz ML Series Lexus LX 470, RX300 Acura- MDX Chevrolet- Astro Van, Venture Van, Blazer, S-Series & Tahoe Dodge- Caravan, Dakota, Durango Ford- Ranger, Explorer Honda- Passport, Pilot Isuzu- Trooper, Axiom, Rodeo Jeeps- ALL Land Rovers- ALL Mazda- MPV Van, B-Series (Most) Mitsubishi- Montero LS Nissan- Pathfinder, Quest Van, Xterra Toyota- 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Highlander Volvo- XC90, V70 Volkswagen- Touareg Porsche- Cayenne
My wife has an RX300 maybe I will get her on so she wont use my truck anymore.
Posted 2006-08-20 11:13 AM (#46974 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Regular
Posts: 65
Location: TN
I have a Baron TC. I pulled it with an Acura MDX for three years. I am now using a Cadillac SRX. Occassionally, I use my husbands Chevy Avalanche. They all do great.
Posted 2006-08-20 8:39 PM (#47011 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Expert
Posts: 2689
I saw one at an event today, Baron model, it was behind a 3/4 ton 4 door chev/gm 2500 D_Max. Their kids were being sent into the Hobbit Hole, I think to retirieve hay so it could be re-stuffed into the nets.
Somebody else showed up with a FIRE ENGINE RED Monroe 5500 4 door GM/Chev, also D-Max, although he had a CAT vanity plate on the front. He had a regular 2-horse bunper-pull Kingston trailer behind that, we did some horse-hubby to horse-hubby chatting (about trucks an' such).
Posted 2006-08-21 2:06 PM (#47076 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
Member
Posts: 28
Location: Illinois
I like my '98 Explorer for my Royal. The one time I encountered hills it slowed down a bit, but made it up okay. Due to the hills I would go with a vehicle rated to pull 4000 lbs--I never did any hills when pulling my Royal with my Mercury Cougar, so I can't testify how that would have worked out (Cougar rated for 2000 lbs did fine on flat IL land, Explorer rated for 4799 lbs a bit slow on hills by Mississippi river, with one horse in the trailer.)
Posted 2006-08-22 12:39 PM (#47128 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Tujunga
Hi! I LOVE my 2004 Brenderup Baron, did a lot of research. I use a 2001 Toyota Tundra, gets 17-18 MPG unhithched and 15-16 MPG hitched. We haul our 2, 1,000 lb horses with no problems. I bought both trailer and truck used. Spent about $25,000.- for truck and trailer combined. We have had a lot of luck with toyotas, my husbands small 85' truck had 250,000 miles on it when we sold it last year. I drive an 89' toyota wagon has 275,000 and still gets 30 MPG. We plan on keeping this rig a long time. A friend of mine hauls her Brenderup with a F-150. Have seen one hauled with a v8 68' convertable mustang. Hope this helps.
Posted 2006-08-24 7:44 PM (#47337 - in reply to #46834) Subject: RE: Towing Vehicle for Brenderup
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Joliet IL
Have had a Brenderup Baron TC for 6 years. Bought it because at the time my tow vehicle was a 6 cyl 93 Dodge Dakota Club Cab. Used it to haul for 5 years and had no problems with either 1 or 2 horses (1100 to 1200 pounds). Also have used a Lincoln Aviator, a Dodge Ram Van and currently using an 05 Toyota Tundra.
So far only 2 problems with the trailer. The floor was just recently replaced. I think water seeped in around one of the weep holes. Right now I am having problems getting the lights to work properly. Have been told that I need a converter. Am still looking into what the problem is and if a converter is the answer. Any suggestions are welcome.
Old Jack