Welcome to the forum  

I hate to rain on your parade, but that's an awfull lot of trailer for a 1/2 ton truck.  Before you buy that trailer I suggest that you look at the GCVWR for your truck.  I'll bet that the trailer loaded with two horses, feed & tack and your truck loaded with fuel, passengers etc. is at or over your GCVWR.

A 4 horse bumper pull trailer should really be pulled with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

Howdy,

  What color is the truck? That will make a difference in towing capabilities also!!  Does it have a bedliner or just a bed mat?  What about tinted windows, a slider?  WE NEED DETAILS!!!  LOL  Just kiddin ya, I knew ya had a sense of humor from your post.  Here's a pretty good web site that may have some of the stuff that you will need for your trailer, I've used them, they're worth a look,  http://www.horsetraileraccessorystore.com/  I'm not sure what kind of latches and so forth they used on that kind of trailer so I can't say weather or not you'll be able to get more like them or not, BUT, seems like you can find about anything with enough good brains workin' on a situation, and there are alot of smart folks with good info. on this forum.  Good luck and talk to ya later.......

P.S.  DO NOT leave the goats to home, they will hate ya for it and you know how goats can hold a grudge!!  Besides there's always room on the trail for a good goat or two! (although some others horses may NOT see it that way) lol

I'm pretty sure Trail-et is still in business, so google them and see if you can find a website to find out about replacement parts.  Trail-et makes aluminum skin trailers, so it might be surface rust now, but it will get worse and they are very heavy trailers.  

 I'm betting that trailer weighs around 4,000 lbs with nothing in it, add 2 horses, tack, hay, people, etc and you're at 6,500 lbs. 

Something else to consider. Brakes are heavy duty on 3/4 and 1 ton. 1/2 ton brakes ..........................iffy pulling a big load.

Happy hunting. Stay safe

Yep....and the trailer axles  have brakes rated for the load they are rated at to haul.

Exactly my point.  Half ton will stop half ton load. I'm speaking of 4-horse trailer,loaded, 4 horses, tack, etc, with a 1/2 ton, might be too much for brakes.

We had a half ton and now have a 3/4 diesel, huge difference in brakes, suspension, etc.' First thing hubby noticed was stopping power of heavy duty brakes.

Just want driver and load to be safe. 2 horses , no problem.

Nanny you are so right about the brakes, I've hauled with 1/2, 3/4 and one ton trucks.  The 1/2 ton isn't even in the same league as a 3/4 ton in stability and braking power.  Unless it was an emergency and I had no other choice, I wouldn't haul anything bigger than a two horse bumper pull with a 1/2 ton truck.  The other issue, besides the brakes, is the suspension.  Because the hitch point is on the back of the truck, bumper pull trailers have a lot of leverage on the truck, if the horses get moving around in the trailer, it isn't hard for the trailer to get the truck moving around.  If the suspension isn't heavy enough to handle it, it can cause a wreck.  The size of the engine is always the last thing I consider when hauling, wheelbase, suspension and brakes are of greater concern to me.

Roper Chick

Couldn't agree more. We've been hauling horses for 30 years, and there is a HUGE difference between 1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks. We driven them all. The feel behind the wheel tells the story. As soon as we moved up to hauling 3 and four horses, we moved up to a 3/4 ton diesel (chevy, duramax with allison.  Pulled many a 2horse with 1/2 ton. Safety is paramount.

Ride on

6t8stang,

  I did a bit of investigating, after several phone calls, some computer work, and a LOT of asking around I've come up with the answer to your original question!  It's YES you will be O.K. with the four horse on your '96 Taurus sedan. Isn't that great! you don't need to buy a 3/4 ton truck!!!!  You will, however, need a weight distributing hitch and anti-sway bar, and for heavens sake get a Prodigy brake controller for safe (and smooth) stoping.  I figured you should be able to afford one now that you don't have to upgrade tow vehicles.  The great part is that there should (if properly loaded) be room for Ralphie and Isabelle (the goats) in the backseat of the car.   You are beyond set, buddy!  With the money that you saved at the website that I so kindly directed you to, you should be able to get an x-tra case of adult refreshments!

  Say, that reminds me... if you don't feel quite comfortable with the rear of the Taurus setting a couple of inches lower than the front you may want to look into a set of air bags to help with that good ole' Ford suspension.  Just an idea.

  Well, that's about all for now, good luck with everything and obey the speed limits, a outfit like that will sure be apt to get away from ya before ya know it... feels like 55 but the speedo. shows 82  hmmmmmm           talk to ya later..........

I once went on a trail ride with my friends three dogs (uninvited of course) and after about 20 minutes, heard a noise, looked back, and OH MY LORD their GOAT was following me too.  What to do ??   Contemplated turning back, naw, didn't want too.  Hmmm.  Decided if goat wanted to follow then have at it!  Just was hoping that I didn't meet anyone on the trail, so embarrassing trying to explain the three dogs and a goat....  That dang goat followed me and my horse for 2 hours on that trail, followed me right back to the barn, the dogs?  Took off and went home halfway through.....  lol, good times!

6t8stang,

  Check your mailbox, you've got a P.M.

4 Horse BUMPER pull with a half ton truck.  My advice is to stay away.  If you ever get into a sway situation with that trailer on your truck, you're done.  It'd be safer if it were a 4-horse gooseneck on your pickup.

Here's a little story.  I was pulling a loaded car trailer (U-haul), about 6300 pounds, with my '91 F-350 DUALLY.  Going through Oklahoma City at 12:30 in the morning, I encountered a construction zone on the interstate with those STUPID DADGUMMED cement dividers placed where the lines on the road normally would have been.  There was NO room for error.

Needless to say, after some miles of doing okay, I ran over the edge of one of those dividers with the truck's right/rear outer tire.  The truck pitched violenty to the left, then the right.  I thought I was going to roll the entire rig but stayed calm and saved her.

Any less of a truck and we'd have been through.  I had a truck that was more than adequate for the trailer I was pulling in normal situations, and that was capable of getting me out of a bad situation.  You don't have that luxury with your half ton pulling that big trailer.  I don't care if it will pull it.  It WILL NOT stop it nor will it MANEUVER IT if you get into a bad situation.  Besides, your insurance won't stand up if you're over your truck's ratings.  My wife's 2000 Silverado half ton would barely handle her 2 horse bumper pull trailer... didn't feel safe because that trailer pulled the truck, not the other way around.  Handling/steering were vague at best.

i do love "little stories", but i am really curious as to what you pull the 3H GN in your sig with?  if the 8000# dually is what it takes to get a 6000# trailer out of trouble, what are you going to do when it hits the fan with the bigger trailer? or is this just another case of the majic dust involved with the 2500/3500 being "oh so much better" than the 1500?