Posted 2010-08-19 3:06 PM (#123781) Subject: Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
Member
Posts: 12
Due to personal reasons, I recently downsized from my large, very nice gooseneck to a simple 2H aluminum BP with a small dressing room. Empty weight about 3000#. I have an F250 7.3 diesel that I haul with plus a car for daily driving. In the interest of getting down to one vehicle (less to maintain, insure, etc), I've been considering selling both vehicles and buying a large SUV to serve as both my daily driver and tow vehicle. I'm not a fan of the Suburbans, Tahoes, etc but looked at an Infiniti QX56 and a Nissan Armada that I liked. Tow capacity 9000#. I have always towed with a 3/4 ton truck so in my gut I'm not entirely comfortable dropping down to an SUV, but these seem to have more than enough of a tow rating to handle my loaded trailer (which has a GVWR of 7000k anyway). Would this be a safe rig? Am I worrying for nothing or should I stick with my gut feeling of retaining my big truck for hauling? I am a very experienced hauler, but I have never hauled with an SUV. Thanks!
Posted 2010-08-19 3:42 PM (#123790 - in reply to #123781) Subject: RE: Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
One thing that you would probably be safer if you do this, is to use some load leveling air bags or the equivalent, on the rear, with a weight distributing hitch with sway bars also. I couldn't tell you about the ratings etc, just that you want to be able to control this arrangement in an emergency stop. Of course you would get the SUV equipped with a tow package and brake control for the trailer as well. I have a QX4, but would not pull my modest 2 horse with it without all of the above, not anywhere! But we have a 1500(hubby's work truck), a 2500(older 4WD farm truck), and a F350 (for pulling large loads of hay and the LQ trailer) also, so it has not come up that I would use the Infiniti for pulling the 2 horse. I do know that to do so would require load leveling in some manner.
Posted 2010-08-19 9:52 PM (#123815 - in reply to #123781) Subject: RE: Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
Member
Posts: 12
Most QX56s and Armadas come with a tow package which I would verify to make sure the hitch receiver is rated for the amount of weight I want to pull. Both have V8 engines. A brake controller and weight distribution would be a given. Both of these SUVs are much larger than the QX4...I wouldn't consider towing horses with something that small, either. I'm just trying to determine if these SUVs would be large enough to be safe/stable enough to pull horses. As I said, I've got a lot of miles on the road with a horse trailer behind me, but all of them have been in a diesel truck!
Posted 2010-08-19 10:43 PM (#123827 - in reply to #123781) Subject: RE: Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Land Cruisers have a tow rating of 6000 lbs,.. easily enough muscle to pull a 2H BP, and a toyota sequoia has a tow rating same as their 5.7L truck.. 10,000 lbs.. if you are interested in either of those. I think they are in the same general price range as the two SUVs you mentioned.
Posted 2010-08-23 6:17 AM (#123929 - in reply to #123781) Subject: RE: Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
Regular
Posts: 52 Location: East Aurora, NY
I towed my Alum 2H BP w/ tack room with 2003 Tahoe with full tow package & brake controller. That was fine for local shows etc. Then I moved my horses to a different barn farther away with more hills, and started camping more (More hay, water firewood etc) and them blew out the transmission. The tranny shop guy told me not enough truck. Now I have an F250 Diesel. If you are doing the same, I'd stick with the truck! IMHO :)
Posted 2010-08-23 8:46 AM (#123936 - in reply to #123781) Subject: RE: Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Any full size SUV is more than capable of hauling a 2H. The actual question; is the driver capable? Since you have to ask, and the fact you consider yourself "very experienced" despite apparently having only hauled with a 3/4 ton I suspect you would not be comfortable with a smaller rig.
Posted 2010-08-23 8:49 AM (#123937 - in reply to #123929) Subject: RE: Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Tankerbell on 2010-08-23 6:17 AM
I towed my Alum 2H BP w/ tack room with 2003 Tahoe with full tow package & brake controller. That was fine for local shows etc. Then I moved my horses to a different barn farther away with more hills, and started camping more (More hay, water firewood etc) and them blew out the transmission. The tranny shop guy told me not enough truck. Now I have an F250 Diesel. If you are doing the same, I'd stick with the truck! IMHO :)
You need a new tranny shop. The trans in your Tahoe could have been 'built' to heavy duty specs........for much less than a new-to-you pickup would have cost.
Are these SUVs suitable for towing horses?
