Posted 2012-01-10 6:58 PM (#139941) Subject: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Member
Posts: 5
I am shopping for my first trailer. I have one horse +/-1000 pounds. I want an aluminum or a lighter weight hybrid, 2 horse bumper pull, slant load.Right now we have a Toyota Tacoma 4 cyl (his) and a Subaru Forester 4cyl (mine). The Tacoma gets up to 30 mpg on the highway. The Forester, maybe 20 mpg on a good day. Both need to be replaced within the next few years. I don't expect to haul long distances-- day trips mostly. I live in the northern tundra/prairie so it's doubtful I will pull in the ice and snow unless its an emergency.DH is no car guy and neither am I but we do have a good mechanic and 20 years of good service from him.I think we should buy a third vehicle, older model, safe but who cares if its rusty or beat-up, pickup that I can park with the trailer and use the half-dozen or so times a year when I want or need to haul my horse and perhaps a friend's horse.DH is adamant that this won't work: the vehicle will be more trouble than its worth, according to him. He thinks he should upgrade from the Toyota to something bigger and more capable of hauling a horse and trailer. I cringe at the idea of having two vehicles with crummy gas mileage-- especially since I won't be hauling horses very often. I know if DH had his druthers, he'd just upgrade to another small Toyota pickup.We do need one vehicle that will comfortably and safely carry at least four people, as well as get me to work (60 miles round trip w six months of snow and ice.) We had hoped to trade in my Forester for a Lexus 4wd SUV at some point.I am kind of overwhelmed with all the details one needs to understand to make good decisions about hauling vehicles: weight, tow package, etc. Looking for some good advice from the esteemed car- and trailer-heads on this forum. Safety for me and my horse are the first priority, of course.Please don't tell me I would be better off not getting a trailer at all-- I am tired of relying on others to haul my horse.
Posted 2012-01-10 8:51 PM (#139947 - in reply to #139941) Subject: RE: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Many basic 2H BP trailers can be pulled with medium and large sized SUVs. In addition, the smaller 4D pickups can also be used. Both types of vehicles give decent mileage. The new Ford 150s have a boosted 6cyl motor that delivers both good mileage and power.
Posted 2012-01-10 9:19 PM (#139948 - in reply to #139941) Subject: RE: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
If it were me, I would keep the vehicles you already have. Buy a half-ton truck with no less than a V-8 to pull the trailer with. Get something used. There are many many nice used trucks out there that people are walking away from right now. You are right about not wanting to drive the tow vehicle for your every day driver. With what you are wanting to do... a half ton truck would do just fine. And, would be safer and heavier than an SUV for towing.
Posted 2012-01-10 11:48 PM (#139953 - in reply to #139941) Subject: RE: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Expert
Posts: 2954 Location: North Carolina
I have the extra vehicle to tow with. It is no compromise. It uses a lot of fuel per mile but tows well. When I need a truck to haul something dirty, heavy, large or some combination of these, it's available. I've been satisfied for 15 years.
Commuting is done with cars, hauling is done with the hauler
Posted 2012-01-11 6:34 PM (#139973 - in reply to #139941) Subject: RE: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Member
Posts: 5
Thanks for all the replies. I think I am going to try to go another year without a trailer and use that money to get DH into a vehicle of his choice. Gas is not going back down to $2/gal, that's for sure. Once he has more satisfactory vehicle, then perhaps he'll be more open to having me buy a tow vehicle just for towing.
Posted 2012-01-12 11:45 AM (#139993 - in reply to #139941) Subject: RE: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447 Location: cedar rapids iowa
Originally written by green.willow on 2012-01-10 6:58 PM
I think we should buy a third vehicle, older model, safe but who cares if its rusty or beat-up, pickup that I can park with the trailer and use the half-dozen or so times a year when I want or need to haul my horse and perhaps a friend's horse.DH is adamant that this won't work: the vehicle will be more trouble than its worth, according to him. .
I agree an older vehicle just sitting and waiting could be more trouble than it is worth. You will go to use it and the battery will be dead or something will be froze up from sitting. You have an etra vehicle with maintanance,tags and insurance.
I would opt to upgrade the toyota PU as they have some models that are built for towing and still get good mileage when not towing. My sis has a tundra that has a large towing capacity and they like the mileage when not towing.
Posted 2012-01-12 1:38 PM (#139998 - in reply to #139941) Subject: RE: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
Both Gard and Hosspuller are my thought.A 1/2 ton truck is so much safer, and the newer ford/chevy/dodge dakota all deliver great mileage now. The Nissan Titan is one that I have seen do some very heavy pulling, but the mileage is not as good as the 150 ford. Don't sell the larger suv combo's short. They can deliver some good mileage., and some more weight and larger brakes of the 1/2 ton pickup which is what they are underneath. I have not seen much good pulling or long life out of the toyotas/nissan/mitsu/subaru/small suv's when they are pulling out here in the heat of the high desert. we also have mountains here, unlike the midwest and east where they feel 4000 ft is a huge mountain. Here we regularly go 8000-10,000 Ft.We have a Classic 2h alum slant, with tack room and water tank, which I pull with either my Dodge Ram 1500, or if I am going up the mountains, the Dodge 3500 diesel. Our camping and long term trailer is our Trailswest 4h, w/lq, and full amenities.
Posted 2012-01-12 5:23 PM (#140001 - in reply to #139941) Subject: RE: Disagrement with DH -- need advice
Member
Posts: 24
Location: blacksburg va
I would go with upgrading the toyota.I drive my dodge 2500 diesel 4x4 daily and get 24-25 mpg while driving empty on the road.I am amazed that my mileage is as good or better than friends with smaller vehicles.The upkeep on the diesel is a little more than a gas vehicle but the piece of mind while towing is well worth it to us.and for the record my wife drives a suburban and we also have a jeep wrangler so the dodge is our best vehicle mileage wise.
Disagrement with DH -- need advice
I am shopping for my first trailer. I have one horse +/-1000 pounds. I want an aluminum or a lighter weight hybrid, 2 horse bumper pull, slant load.Right now we have a Toyota Tacoma 4 cyl (his) and a Subaru Forester 4cyl (mine). The Tacoma gets up to 30 mpg on the highway. The Forester, maybe 20 mpg on a good day. Both need to be replaced within the next few years. I don't expect to haul long distances-- day trips mostly. I live in the northern tundra/prairie so it's doubtful I will pull in the ice and snow unless its an emergency.DH is no car guy and neither am I but we do have a good mechanic and 20 years of good service from him.I think we should buy a third vehicle, older model, safe but who cares if its rusty or beat-up, pickup that I can park with the trailer and use the half-dozen or so times a year when I want or need to haul my horse and perhaps a friend's horse.DH is adamant that this won't work: the vehicle will be more trouble than its worth, according to him. He thinks he should upgrade from the Toyota to something bigger and more capable of hauling a horse and trailer. I cringe at the idea of having two vehicles with crummy gas mileage-- especially since I won't be hauling horses very often. I know if DH had his druthers, he'd just upgrade to another small Toyota pickup.We do need one vehicle that will comfortably and safely carry at least four people, as well as get me to work (60 miles round trip w six months of snow and ice.) We had hoped to trade in my Forester for a Lexus 4wd SUV at some point.I am kind of overwhelmed with all the details one needs to understand to make good decisions about hauling vehicles: weight, tow package, etc. Looking for some good advice from the esteemed car- and trailer-heads on this forum. Safety for me and my horse are the first priority, of course.Please don't tell me I would be better off not getting a trailer at all-- I am tired of relying on others to haul my horse. 
I think we should buy a third vehicle, older model, safe but who cares if its rusty or beat-up, pickup that I can park with the trailer and use the half-dozen or so times a year when I want or need to haul my horse and perhaps a friend's horse.DH is adamant that this won't work: the vehicle will be more trouble than its worth, according to him. . 