Gabz-

I agree that compromise is important, and that's why i said that for those of you that DON'T need a bigger truck, great. I understand what you are saying and i agree, i just think that you misunderstood what i meant.

for someone like you that pulls 10 - 15 times a year, what you have is fine. But for someone like me that shows 40 out of 52 weekends a year, most of the time traveling by interstate, a bigger truck that can safely pull AND STOP my rig is a must. happy trails to you and your horse.

 "So, IMO, buying a vehicle that allows you a greater safety margin is never a bad idea." 

Exactly!  I just can't understand how there is any argument over this! 

 "and im not sure using a malfuctioning trailer is a good example." 

Where in Rich's post does it state that the trailer was malfunctioning?  A trailer can be in perfect shape and still sway if the conditions are right for it.  A driver can't control wind shear, pot holes,  tractor trailer drag, etc.  Antisway bars help but are no guarantee.  As for only driving 55mph, do that in a 65 - 70mph area and you'll be pushed off the road or even ticketed for not going near the speed limit.  A larger tow vehicle does make a difference.  But you'll find that out when you get your 1 T.

 I towed a car trailer that empty, started swaying over 55mph. 

Most car trailers manuels tell you not to go over 50mph.  Some even have a sticker on the fender that you can read in your rear view mirror. 

The trailer was rented from United Rentals, a national equipment rental yard.  Perfectly working bumper pull trailers sometimes sway, for various reasons, it could be speed, the road, highway traffic, wind, load, etc.  This trailer would sway over 55 mph, like at 56 mph.  The point is, we don't live in a perfect world where everything works perfectly and we operate it perfectly.  So allow yourself some wiggle room when you choose a rig for your trailer. Better to have excess capacity than be at or over your limit everytime.   That's an ideal.  Course we have to do the best we can with what we have.   

I've come across alot of wrecks over the years and most are caused by one or a combination of the following:

  Driver inexperience - Countless times I have seen a wheel drop off the side of the pavement and the first thing they do is stand on the brakes. 

Poor maintenance of equipment - either/both the tow or the pulling vehicle 

Improper loading - an imbalanced load and we'll see you in the ditch

know your limitations, have a safe trip

ah yes, ive been waiting for the "red asphalt" approach.

i think its just more opinons. i was only commenting on how the talk had turned "bloody".

what kind of suv? how long is long? is this person qualified to judge a long stopping distance from the side of the road....i doubt anyone is. may have taken longer/gone a little far into intersection for the horses benifit.

as for the wet road on a hill....ill leave the physics out this time and just say, i guess ive got in made in my tractor trailer at work then.  got all those big wheels and brakes, must be like dropping an anchor when i stop. (sarcasm intended)

unlike that person(and some others) i know what happens when i stop in the rain, the truck stops. this is accomplished with adjusted speed for conditions, and has nothing to do with any vehicles capabilitys. and i mean for crying out loud....a wet road!! just about any piece of crap truck/trailer will lock the wheels in the rain, at that point you have little or no slowing of the rig being acomplished.

most of these examples only display the level of skill/understanding of the indiviual doing the talking.

JMO

I understood the "red Asphalt" comment.  But you disregarded the point about the wet roads.  The OP commented that she would rather have more than minimal stopping power, which is provided by having a larger truck, when something cuts in front of you on a wet road.  Of course you should drive for conditions but unexpected things happen which can cause an accident if not properly equipped.  I know my 450 stops my trailer much better than my 350 did but I still drive defensively.  You'll see a huge difference when you tow your 2H with the 1T.  But I doubt that you'll ever admit it.

i still think youre unclear as to my experiance, you seem to be under the impression ive never hauled with anything other than what i have now.....anyhow i dont doubt it will tow "better(definitions will vary)", it will likely be only half the 1 ton capacity.  what happens when i load the 1 ton up with a big GN? ill be right back where i am now. sure id be "safer" with a lawnmower behind me, and id be "safer" yet with no trailer at all, so would your f450.  "saftey", at the level youre trying to discuss it at, is a moot point. 

heres an example, i ride sportbikes, have done so for years. i follow the trends, specs, races etc.  now i frequently engage in discussions with people about which bike in the open class is best.  all these bikes track times are often seperated by less than tenths of a second. does this matter in the real world? absolutly not. is one better than the other? only in the eye of the beholder.

this is the same discussion we keep having, but like i said i dont have anything better to do. its too hot for me to ride.

"The Red asphalt approach"

Chadsalt: either you seem to miss the point or you're inured to highway accidents. 

It's not for the low fuel mileage a larger truck is used to tow with.  Nor is the higher cost of the heavy truck used to impress the neighbors.  Or the hike from the far corners of the parking lot needed for one's health & fitness because the dually doesn't fit the drive through.  The whole point of under using the truck's tow capacity is avoiding the "red asphalt"

I would expect your attitude toward other drivers on your job and hauling your horses as "Me first, the devil take the rest of ..."

To the lurkers and newbies looking for guidance:

Avoiding "red asphalt" is really what we're talking about.  The other drivers on the road don't care that you're hauling 10,000 pounds of horses and trailer behind you.  I've seen many driver's dive into a space in front of OTR semi's just to cut into a line for the exit.  They are oblivious to the semi's 80,000 pounds mere feet away from crushing their car.  

They won't think about you either, maybe less since you're only a little suv.  The horse trailer is not even in their mind.

They WILL pull out in front of you when you least expect it.  You make your choice here and now.  It'll be too late to change when it happens.  And it will.

well now, if i could be offended, that may have done it. my attitude while driving at work is purely professional.....no middle fingers, no air horn blowing, courteous to the fact the 4 wheeler blocking my wide right turn has no idea theyre doing so. i generlly drive well under the speed limit, legally you can not run the speed limit while pulling a trailer(this is a whole other can of worms.)  and i drive the same way no matter what car, truck, etc i happen to be driving.

when i hear someone talking about how they were "pushed" though an intersection, or almost ran into the back of someone, or i just couldnt get stopped, i can all but guarantee that their experiance is lacking. barring equipment failure, they were simply traveling too fast, their attention wandered, or are not used to compenstating for a trailer behind them.

so until someone sets up a scientific test with cones and mesurements, several size test vehicles loaded to their respective GCWR with horse simulators, etc. and puts an end to this speculation and opinon......... ill just have to say, everyone be carefull. and to the guy who just cut me off,  i knew you were going to do that.

I have things I'd rather do... But I believe guidance to newbie’s important enough to sit here and type.  My wife is patiently waiting while I finish this, for us to go to a dinner party.

I'm a sum of my towing experiences like everybody else.  When I first started towing, I didn't know there was a difference in 1/2, 3/4 1 ton pick-ups.  I bought a 3/4 ton pick-up by the grace of God.  The axle ratio was terrible for fuel mileage but right for towing.  I didn't know one could get other axle ratios.  I didn't know the difference between 1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks.

I have since learned, and not been ashamed to learn further.

As for that tenth of second mentioned earlier.

It made a tremendous difference in several lives about seven years ago.  We were driving home from Mose's Cone Park in North Carolina.  The road back was a two lane road.  Out of the mountains, the road is downhill, (Duh!)  On Sunday, the tourist traffic was pretty heavy.  The truck was a C20 (3/4 ton) pulling a 2 horse steel GN straight load trailer with 2 horses.

The opposite lane was full of vehicles bumper to bumper going to the tourist area.  As we came up to the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway (on our right) the traffic was stopped waiting to turn left.  I had as usual, left extra distance between us and the car in front.  Safe and defensive driving you know... I had lots of distance if the traffic suddenly stopped. 

The waiting cars decided my stopping zone was the perfect spot to make their turn.  Two cars made it through; the third car tried, but didn't anticipate the line of cars would stop, putting him stuck in my path.  I can still vividly remember the details. A white Honda Accord, The traffic on the left had started to move, closing off my escape to the left and his reverse escape.  The right was blocked by the cars in the entrance.  There was nothing to do but lay on the horn and stand on the brakes.  I can still see the wide eyes of the passenger in the right rear seat of the Honda.  His eyes and mine were locked together as the Parkway entrance cleared and the Honda moved out of our path.  Several lives and our horses were separated from harm by a tenth of a second and three feet.

I use a dually rated for 22,000 pounds GCVWR to pull a 3 horse gn trailer rated at 9950 pounds.  I am over trucked.  

You make your choices to live with.

im a little unclear as to how being overtrucked had a bearing in that situation.  doesnt sound like you were driving that fast, so it cant be the "little trucks wont stop" theory.  doest look like you performed any death defying slalom manuvers.  please clarify, to me(and it is likely my fault) the moral of the story.

and enjoy your dinner party.

So, Chadsalt, what IS the extent of your horse hauling experiences, i.e. truck/trailer combos and # of years? 

"tow "better(definitions will vary)","

Here's my definition of towing better. With the 1T, which is total overkill with a 2H because even a 3/4T could do the job very nicely, you will have more hauling power, more stability, and more braking power than with your Trailer Blazer.  Your engine and trans will not work nearly as hard, therefore lessening your chance of breakdowns.  Of course, you already know all of this but since you seemed a bit confused... 

I hope the lurkers and newbies pay close attention to what you are saying!  These are my sentiments exactly.  There should be no argument "against" having too much truck.   I'll get blasted for this, but REAL men don't eat quiche, and REAL horse people don't pull trailers with SUV's...no matter what they saw in the movie "The Horse Whisperer". 

ok youre right, im only 12 years old and ive never ever ridden a horse.

im going to take your advice reg, im out too. of course ill be there when the next guy asks if he can pull...........