Variables needed before an opinion can be formed. 1) Engine size 2) auto or stick tranny 3) tow package or not? (tranny cooler is important here) 4) what type rearend gears you have 5) reese style hitch or bumper ball 6) LT tires, or P metric? 7) what is the weight of the empty trailer? 8) what is the weight of your truck 9) GCWR number for your truck off the tag, not the GVWR. 10) combine 7 & 8 and subtract from the GCWR to find out how much horse and tack you can haul.

In addition to the last post... if it is just the age of the vehicle you are worried about - as long as the truck is in good repair it will be fine. Many around here haul with much older (the trucks are only used to haul). My truck is a 1992 and is doing great... as with any vehicle you have to make sure everything is working well, but age alone will not effect the rig.

You'll have to check the weights a such to be sure the truck will handle it but in general, unless your truck is really light duty or the trailer is super heavy for it's size it will likely be fine.

Well, from my experience, if your truck is in good shape, then yes you can.

My husband and I owned an 1989 F150 4x4, with an older body step side bed and hay haulers. The truck was lifted with 33" BFG mud tires. The engine was a rebuilt 305, the small V8. The truck was geared and we had to get a new transmission (due to a problem before ever pulling the trailer) We loaded a ponderosa (all metal) stock trailer with 4 horses. The truck did good, but it was a load. Pulling a two horse stock trailer should be a breeze, only if your truck is mechanically sounds for it. I do not remember if we had trailer brakes on the truck back then, it has been a few years since we owned that truck, but I would sooo suggest them... If you want me to I can scan a picture of the truck hooked up to the trailer and email it or post it...

PS. I don't live in the mountains, so I am sure that will put a bigger strain going up and down the mountains on the truck than me living here on more flat and rolling hill land.

Kelley23,

I'd like to see a picture of the rig. If it was a step side it was a short bed, just the lack of wheel base would keep me from pulling more than a 2 horse with it personally. And the small FORD V-8's were 289 & 302, 305 is a destroked Chevy 350.

While I agree not smart... we've (my family when I was a kid) done it.... 1988 F150 - 302 reg cab long box 2WD, pulled a 4H slant with small dress/LQ Pony Express.... we never had any real problems other than the coolant lines went twice. We were even hauling in a mountainy area. We only hauled that trailer for a year - then bought a 1Ton dually.  Of course that was back when "legal" issues were basically non existent - my firend's and I usually traveled in the LQ. I was only 15 when we had that rig - I only drove that trailer with the 1 ton - glad of that I can imagine the 1/2 ton was scary.

this is just my OPINION (which is of course useless)

short answer, yes.

long answer,  true you can try to find all the info GCVWR, rear end ratio, the list goes on and on..........and im not saying dont try.  however (everyone feel free to flame away) ill make a rather broad statement here,  any half ton with a v8 (and some 6s)will easily and safely pull a "2 horse trailer".  that being said a loaded 2 horse trailer is generally about 5000 pounds with 2 average horses.  youd have to look really hard to find a 1/2 ton not rated to tow 5000 pounds. now how far, how long, and how fast are a whole different story.

i made a little journey to dupont nat forest last weekend (might be in the OP neck of the woods) and yes there was about a dozen or so 3/4 and 1 tons sitting in the parking  lot. but i also saw three 1/2 tons and (gasp) a grand cherokee pulling 2 horse trailers.  i dont remember seeing in the news anyone flipping any trailers.

i say get some pointers from someone experianced, hook it up and start riding.  good luck

Chadsalt,

No flaming, and I would tend to agree that it should pull a 2 horse BP with ease. But in the 80's they had the "Heavy half" and then a light 1/2, that was previously an F100 up until like 79. And the light duty was gutless, I had one.

i understand that, but "gutless" does not mean unsafe.  we in the usa are spoiled in reference to big powerful vehicles and cheap fuel.

In Europe they don't have a lot of gooseneck trailers, mostly, as a matter of fact all I have ever seen, are bumper pulls. Here is a link to a dealer that sells like 9 different brands of "equine" trailers.

http://www.towahorse.co.uk/

Check this out, the only LQ trailer I could find in the UK search I did.

http://www.horsetrailersales.co.uk/NewFautrasOlympusVoyager.htm

Ok, I must admit I am not a specialist with engine sizes, but it was the small v8...

I will scan the picture tomorrow and post it.

I am sure you think it may not have been a good idea, but the truck pulled great... We had gears and all that so it may have made the difference. And it was also years ago too, and I am not sure if that makes a difference either...

However, I will get that picture online tomorrow...

In a 89 Ford you had 3 choices 4.9L=300ci 5.0L=302 5.8L=351 all 3 motors are good old pieces of iron. I used to pull about the same load with a Bronco with a 302 and auto. Your setup is a better configuration. Longer wheel base! Just make sure you have trailer brakes, good tires, and enjoy! 

I have an 85 Chevy 1/2 ton, original motor was a 305, two wheel drive and a high speed rear end (283?).  I used it two pull a two horse side by side for years, right now it is hitched to a 6 x 14 steel stock type slant load. 

You will be able to pull a two horse trailer BUT depending how your truck is equipped, you may have to make some adjustments to your expectations in performance.  I would suggest finding a similar sized trailer you can borrow to try out with you truck, that way you will know what to expect.  My truck did fine for the short hauls.  With the little two horse loaded with two full size horses, 55 mph was just about max on level ground, hills could be a problem as it would lug down to about 45 if the hill was big and steep enough.  The trucks I had prior to this one were also 1/2 tons and did much better at pulling but they had 350 or larger motors and better geared rear ends.