So if it wasnt possible to get another truck, what is the best combination for a trailer to get?

Can my truck tow a gooseneck? Thats what I would prefer. What if the trailer was all aluminum?

My truck is a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. It is Quad Cab, 2WD, short bed.  It has extra leaf springs in the back.  I plan on calling some trailer dealers to ask their opinions as well, but everyone here seems very knowledgeable!

My main thing is I have 3 horses, and a 2 horse trailer. I would rather be able to haul all three if needed.  If that cant be done with my truck, I guess I will be saving for a new one.  Thank you again for your help!

Yes, you'll need to get at least a 3/4 ton to pull 3 horses even if the trailer is aluminum.
A 3/4 ton is all you'd need but for some reason 1 tons are cheaper nowdays (have no idea why?!)

You *should* be able to pull a 2h aluminum (no LQ) with the truck you have now.

Nevermind I found it.

So a 3/4 ton truck is like a Ford F250?

Yes.  Ford F250 or Dodge 2500.  Same thing.

An F250 can have it's payload raised by installing Timbren's etc.  The lower(than F350)payload is due to the longer leaf springs which were changed to increase ride quality.  You'll still need to know exactly the rating on your axle.

I'd warn highly against asking trailer dealers what you can haul on your truck.  THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN SELLING THE TRAILER!  It'll be your faul once the darned truck breaks down!

We had a lady on here a few years ago that was sold an 8'LQ three horse trailer by a dealer, knowing she drove a 1/2 ton truck!  She came here asking questions found out she'd been taken to the bank and was stuck paying on a trailer for which she now couldn't afford a truck to pull it around with.

Keep your eyes open, and if it sounds to good or you have to "do the deal today."  Walk out laughing...

Come on folks - don't scare the lady to death.  Yes a 3/4 ton would be perfect.  However, you can pull a 3 horse (better a BP they are lighter) with little problems if you are not making cross country, over high mountains, etc trips.  Not the best thing but OK.

I have an 02 Ram Quad cab with a 5.9L (360) engine pulling a 05 CM steel 3 horse slant, front dressing, rear tack with three 1200 lb qtr horses.  I haul six saddles and all the garb for my kids to show from halter, performance to speed.

My truck will maintain 70 mph on any hill (sucks gas) and stop the trailer just fine.  My dad was a over-the-road truck driver and I grew up on a commercial farm pulling "lots" of different things.

I would love to have a 3/4 ton - it is INDEED better but not a kill all deal to keep someone sitting on the sidelines because they can't have one.

I can't speak for the 01 Dodge but the new Dodge Ram Quad Cab 1500 4x2 (Dodge Website) states the towing capacity 8,900 pounds.  The gross vehicle GCWR is 14,000 lbs.  I figure 3,500 for the trailer, 3,600 for the horses and that leaves me 1,800 to spare.  Add an extra 1,000 for a gooseneck versus a BP and you are still OK.  No you can't add a LQ with slideouts.

There are people who make do with just under the best.  My advice is check out your vehicle ratings.  Consult a trusted mechanic.  I agree with others DO not ask the trailer seller.

I agree - however from the Dodge website - again I don't know about '01s, the new Dodge with Quad cab (4 doors) and auto tranny has a GVWR of 6650 and a curb weight of 5015.  That leaves 1635 which is under the 1400 that you calculate on the hitch.  This corresponds to the Dogde website that states the payload capacity is 1690.

You still would be within specs on a half ton.  Not by much but still do-able and still affordable for the poster.

Now, given the person is looking for the economy version of this deal I would suppose they might want to consider a BP trailer.  I do no believe that I put 1400 lbs on my bumper when I hook up.  I don't know for sure - but my truck doesn't squat hardly at all when hitched and the trailer is fully loaded.  In fact, I had to go with a 4" drop (male end) to get the trailer tongue low enough to travel level.

Also, for the people like me who are have to consider a half ton.  Forget the 4x4.  The extra differential and suspension adds to the truck weight that Flooper mentioned.  Having 4x4 can add 700-1000 lbs of truck weight over a 4x2.  This cuts your towing capacity by 1 horse.

PS In response to Chadsalt -- Can you imagine that on this website there are Sundowner and 4-Star bumper pull trailers even in 4 horse models?  But then WW still mfgs single axle trailers too.  Go figure...

I agree - however from the Dodge website - again I don't know about '01s, the new Dodge with Quad cab (4 doors) and auto tranny has a GVWR of 6650 and a curb weight of 5015.  That leaves 1635 which is under the 1400 that you calculate on the hitch.  This corresponds to the Dogde website that states the payload capacity is 1690.

You still would be within specs on a half ton.  Not by much but still do-able and still affordable for the poster/QUOTE]


Barry,

Again, please don't think I'm trying to pick a fight. I'm just trying to help people understand this very confusing numbers game. The listed "curb weight" of 5015 lbs you mentioned is for a standard truck, no options, stipped to the max....it's another bogus number because most people don't buy a stripped truck with no options at all.

Using my truck, for example again...it has a listed "curb weight" of 5100 lbs in the Dodge Manual. But the actual curb weight of my truck with options, etc. is 5600 lbs...so I actually have 500 lbs less payload than stated in the manual. If you read carefully in the manual, the manufacturer eventually get around to telling you that ANY addditional weight (including options, etc, people over 150 lbs) MUST be added to the stated curb weight and subtracted from payload...they just tend to bury it in the fine print, and so people often aren't even aware of it...and this leads to a lot of miscalculations. That's why you have to know the actual weight of your truck--by going to a scale, etc.

Another way to look at it is to take the truck you used as an example.

Curb weight of 5015lbs...then add a passenger 150 lbs, , a goosneck hitch 150 lbs, power windows and locks 70 lbs, 4wd 200 lbs, "stuff" you carry in the truck 50 lbs, running boards 40 lbs, tranny cooler 15 lbs, heavy duty alternator 10 lbs...and all of a sudden the real curb weight of the truck is around 5700 lbs (a typical weight for these trucks)...which only leaves 950 lbs for payload, not the 1635 lbs listed by the manufacturer. That's where it gets so confusing for people...they forget that every ounce of weight they add to a truck, whether it's cargo, options or whatnot...must be subtracted from the manufacturer's stated "payload".

I think the manufacturer's do a very poor job of explaining this to people.

You are exacly right that you can haul a heavier BP than a gooseneck, because the BP puts less weight on the truck than a goose (10-15% of trailer weight vs 20-25% of trailer weight). I was using the gooseneck example, because the OP was asking about goosenecks, not BPs.

Edited by Flooper 2005-06-24 9:55 AM

No fights -- Just differing opinions.  As grown ups we are supposed to be able to read through all the opinions posted here.  Each of us make our own reasoned decisions which each us then have to deal with.

This forum is better than the news.  There you get one opinion and you don't know what is right.  Here you get your opinion and mine plus others.  That is a good thing!

wow sorry i guess i know where NOT to come from now on.  You cant learn unless you ask, if you didnt want to answer you didnt need to.

Brrlrcer3 .. Don't feel slighted... Like any forum you'll encounter many opinions.  good, bad, indifferent, That's what makes it so valuable and helpful.  Reg is correct, that this discussion has happened many times.   He has pointed you to a source for more opinions than those just on this thread. (you can do a search on this forum for various topics) In that way,  He has  contributed to answering your question. 

So this question is asked many times...But, each time, someone comes away a little more educated on what's important to highway safety.  That affects everyone of us on the road.  Experianced haulers and novices alike...

brrlrcer3!!!

Hold on there! As you can see by all the answers here the question is very debatable! The tow rating is based on the configuration of your truck. Engine size, transmission type, rearend gear ratio, transmission, towing package,ect....the trailer size you are looking at(3h G/N) is on the the edge (over) of unsafe! but not impossible. If the truck has a towing package,and the 360ci(5.9l) I would consider no more than a 2-horse no frills G/N or maybe a 16' B/P stock combo trailer. If your horses get along just a stock trailer big enough to fit all three. I wouldn't omit the bumper pull idea with a weight distributing hitch either. The G/N weighs more. You have to keep the weight of the trailer as little as possible!  Another variable I would consider in your final decision is your hauling distance. National? Reigonial?State?County? The longer the haul the harder on your animals, equipment and driver. I think in your owners manual it will tell you your maximum tow weight. Subtract the weight of the animals plus maybe 500# for tack and stuff. Around maybe 3,500#  If your truck has a tow rating of 7,500# the trailer would have to weigh less than 4000# That would max you out. A little on the stressful side on a long haul. Anyway get your trucks tow rating and equipment and get back and I'm sure you will bunch of good debatable answers!   

{"nice..........another voice of reason. and, if i understand the post correctly, apparently another capable memeber of the "under-trucked club". and you mean they actually make a 3 horse BP? why would they make such a thing, surely it would be an uncontrolable sway monster, unfit to be towed by anything less than a 2 ton....sorry couldnt help myself."}

Wow dude! What a statement! If you didn't know they made one how do you know how it tows?