New to the horse world, so any constructive criticism is welcome.   I have a GMC V6 1/2ton (5000 pulling cap).   I trail ride once a month traveling sometime up to 3 hrs (with friends).  

1.Should I get a 1 BP horse trailer or a 2 horse?

2. What questionS should I ask before buying a used trailer?

I'd buy a 2 horse- no sense getting a one horse. Bp are fine but I'd look for a smaller GN. I think your 1/2 ton could pull it. Like terri said, examine it carefully especially the floor. but first- figure out what you need and want. how many horses are you hauling? How often? Over hills or pretty much flat land? Are you going to need some room for tack and people? overnights? Answers to these questions might change your plans a bit. Plus you might want to consider the future- might you plan on showing or overnight trail riding? Can you afford to upgrade truck and trailer in a few years?

a 2H BP will weigh 2,000 to 3,000 lbs, add 2 horses and you're at your limit.  A V6 just doesn't have the power needed, so I'd upgrade your truck first thing if you can.  I had a F150 V8 that was rated to pull 7,300 and it did okay with my rig fully loaded at 6,000, but when the big trucks passed me, I sure felt it.  Course my trailer is 7'9", so that does have an affect in high winds. 

I have a 2500 Dodge Diesel now and am MUCH happier pulling the same trailer and will upgrade in a year or so.

Find a good condition no frills 2 horse B/P..maybe around 2500#'s. You could pull 1 horse anytime and maybe 2 horses on short hauls. If you go to a bigger tow rig you are set....and resale on a 2 horse is better than a 1 horse. Check condition of floor, tires, brakes, axles, latches, electrical and hitch. . Take it for a test drive...Get a brake controller first!

Great advice in previous posts. I think the biggest concern outside of checking over a used trailer very well is the weight factor. Older trailers will more than likely be steel construction and may be heavy. You will probably save quite a bit of trailer weight looking at an aluminum stock combo trailer but you will need to keep the weight as low as possible. Resale on a 1H is probably not very good, so you are much better off getting a 2H if you can keep the weight down. Look for something around #2500 lbs. if you can find it. That way you will be at about #4000 lbs. loaded with a 1200 lb horse, tack, water, hay, etc.

why in the world would you make that kind of ignorant statement?  ("A V6 just doesn't have the power needed")

you dont have any other info, gear ratio, trans, flat or hilly, even what year model.  THE TRUCK WILL PULL ITS MAX RATED LOAD JUST FINE, that is what ratings are for.  it may be a little slow up a hill, and the owner may or may not be satisfied with the performance, but i doubt someone trail riding once a month will be to worried about that. especially if the truck is used as a daily driver.

you do realize you dont "need" a 3/4 ton diesel to pull 6000#  ????

Yes....look here http://tsetruckstuff.com/page/tsetruck/ctgy/TURN

You can add a gooseneck hitch to your truck.....cost will be about $350 - $450. However, you do not have to have a gooseneck trailer. Keep in mind that the longer the trailer gets (and a gooseneck is much longer than a bumper pull) the more weight you keep adding. Now, some of that weight is carried over your truck on a gooseneck where a bumper pull has all the weight behind your truck.

Why in the world would you call someone ignorant?  I think we all are here to ask questions and answer them the best we can.  There are ways to actually educate people without calling them names. 

With that said...  To answer the question about putting a gooseneck hitch in the truck.  I got mine from Kay at Northside Trailer.  I got the hitch that actually flips over so that way I can haul other things in my trailer without a perminate hitch in the middle.  I love the fact I can do that.  I would ask around to your horse friends that have goosenecks and find out where they had theirs in stalled.  It is something that I would have professionally done, but that is my own opinion since I am very cautious of my safety of horses that I am hauling! 

I still have the hitch in the back to haul a bumper pull, that never changes, I just had an additional hitch put in to pull a gooseneck! 

first of all, check the definition of ignorant. second that person was attempting to answer a question, not ask one.

I am fully aware of the definition... and yet you may feel this, there is no need to call another person this.  To many this is a rude and uncalled for comment.  Sorry but that is just plane rude of you.  There are ways to discuss things in a common and rational way... calling people names is NOT a way to get your point across.

That person was attempting to answer the question per his/her own experience.  There is nothing wrong with that.  He/she felt that in their experience a bigger truck was better.  He/she said their peace and now we all can give our opinions reguarding the topic. 

I am fully aware of the definition... and yet you may feel this, there is no need to call another person this.  To many this is a rude and uncalled for comment.  Sorry but that is just plane rude of you.  There are ways to discuss things in a common and rational way... calling people names is NOT a way to get your point across.

That person was attempting to answer the question per his/her own experience.  There is nothing wrong with that.  He/she felt that in their experience a bigger truck was better.  He/she said their peace and now we all can give our opinions reguarding the topic. 

again, look up the definition of ignorant. ignorant is not name calling, dumbass would be name calling, which i would not do. quit trying to make this a PC issue.

the statement "A V6 just doesn't have the power needed" in the context of the post i refered to, is ignorant.  i dont see that i even referenced the person, just the statement.   however the OP came here with a legitimate question, and true to form for the horse world, someone with supposed experiance, basically told them a perfectly useful vehicle was not good enough. i simply called them on it.

although there seems to be quite a change in tone here. there are several people actually trying to help the OP with the GN situation on the v6 1/2 ton, something i likely wouldnt pursue due to a GN eating up most of the 5000#. and as the regulars know, im all about the little trucks.