haha well i will take any and all advice since we are totally new to the whole trailer thing. haha your welcome

http://www.kingstontrailers.com/html/horsetrailers.html

If you got a smaller 2-horse like from someone like these guys...You could get by with a Tahoe or F150 or such...

You can get into the game for fewer bucks...and when you decide to sell your 2 horse...there is always someone ready to buy it...well there was before the run-up in fuel costs...

The other advantage of a smaller 2 horse...people won't be asking you to haul their horses for them...

haha very true about people wanting a ride...im one of those people right now 

and thanks for the link i will look into that. i think we we were if we could not pull it on our suvs we were going to most likely end up with a tahoe or fordf150 or something like a f150. thanks so much!

This dealer was running an ad on TV..... $16,000.00 off the sticker price on F250's - F450's!!.... For what thats worth!

http://tomsmithfordonline.dealerconnection.com/

^^^ wow! but dont 250's take diesal? i dont want to buy a diesal truck if i dont have to obviously because  of gas

okay i have a big question. if im going to buy a f150 can yall give me the details that it would need to have to tow? i was looking at autotrader that someone linked to and i found tons of f150's in my area but i need yall to tell me all the specifics it should have. thanks

No, F250's aren't all diesel. Nor are they dually's. But they are all heavier built to carry more, and tow more than an F150.

GO to this link and find my reply about F150s... not all are created equal. Crew cabs weigh more and can therefore, tow LESS weight.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=9922&posts=12

F250 come in diesel, V8, or V10.

No matter WHAT you tow, if it's a bumper pull, you need a weight distribution hitch on the TRAILER - so you may want to consider that  since you are borrowing the trailer... does it already have one?

Because even though the tow vehicle is rated high enough, your HITCH has to be too. Which is why someone pointed out that your Explorer only has a 1" tube at the back; you'll need a 2" tube...

You need to know how heavy the empty trailer is.

Personally, I would NOT tow a 3H slant BP with anything less than a 3/4 ton with an 8' bed. It's a matter of vehicle length.

I am towing a 3H GOOSENECK with an F150 properly set up... the weight is OVER the rear axle.

That is not exactly accurate.  My Dmax is rated both at the hitch and by GM to tow 1000# tongue weight in WC mode.   I have been to the scales and with my ~900# tongue the front axle on the truck is still a touch heavier than the rear.  A WDH would be a waste of my time/money in this, and similar, situations.

Should the OP end up with a 3/4 ton (other than a GM product) it would be worth mentioning that aftermarket receivers are available with higher WC ratings.........I would go that route before I would lug a WDH around just to "beef up" an OEM receiver.

To the OP; while youre truck shopping I would just go ahead and buy your own 2H BP.  I am one of the aforementioned people (Ive backed a trailer farther than many people have towed one) who have towed successfully with a small suv.  Your Explorer sport MAY be acceptable with a 2H BP but I doubt a 3H would be a good choice.  A 3H BP can be a real PITA in the manners department.......no matter what youre pulling it with.

thanks yall i think i am beginning to understand how different they tow and such. we thought we would just buy a truck so we weould not have to buy a truck AND trailer since our friend doesnt use her 3horse. so now basically yall are saying a 4wd will tow less weight? so does that then mean that for a 3horse a 2wd would be better?

Careful or youll end up with analysis paralysis.  With your friends 3H and your horse youre looking at ~5000 lbs.  Any modern 1/2 ton (F150) will be more than capable, 2wd, 4wd, SC, CC......whatever.  Look for the big V8 and the tow package and youll be fine truck wise.

Here is the Ford tow rating from the past few years.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/default.asp

chadsalt.. thanks for correcting about the WDH... I was thinking 1/2 ton when I wrote that.  But still, many folks forget about what their hitch is rated for.

What's "WC mode" ? 

As you've discovered there are many variables involved. Including where the horse rides!!

There are a couple of books available that are quite helpful - Cherry Hill "Guide to Horse Trailering" (I think that's the title- something close to that) and Neva & Tom Scheve "Guide to Buying, Maintaining, & Servicing your Horse Trailer"... although they go a little overboard on their preferences on ramps.

You might want to either buy these or see if your library has them. The $20 - $25 is an excellent investment as they both discuss caring for your rig and keeping your horse safe.

No, not all F250s will tow more than an F150. The F250 comes with 3 different engines. The F250 with a 5.4l can have less towing capability than an F150 with the same engine, trans, rear end, which is why I'm using an F150. Tow weights in Fords depend on cab, bed size, tire size, etc. Very Frustrating when shopping used.

When I last shopped for a 1/2 ton (2006 model year), I tried the Dodge - but the bed is a tiny bit shorter (few inches) and it's towing capacity is lower than the Ford 1/2 ton I bought. There were a few other considerations there too.

I need to learn all the GM configurations next.

Weight carrying.

I will assume this second half is directed at the OP.

Not to muddy the waters... but there IS at least ONE brand of trailer that you CAN pull with your current vehicles.
http://www.brenderuprealtrailers.com/

I've owned one, and while it didn't work for ME, it has worked well for many others in the US and around the world.  Not every country in the world is full of pickup trucks.

Also...get a towing insurance that will handle yhour truck trailer and horses if there is a breakdown...

http://www.usrider.org/index2.html

Dang! those are pretty cool! i will have to look into that!

oh thanks thats good to know about too!