Posted 2006-09-16 6:22 PM (#48641) Subject: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
New User
Posts: 2
It may sound stupid for your guys who've known so much about the horse trailers. Please don't laugh at me. I am interested in a horse trailer and I don't have a truck yet. Do I need a truck to tow the trailer?
Posted 2006-09-16 6:48 PM (#48643 - in reply to #48641) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Member
Posts: 23
Location: Albuquerque, NM
I don't know about others but in my opinion, you need to factor in the weight of the trailer and horse when thinking of pulling one with your car. Most cars are not made to pull anything more than a two horse bumper and even then I'd check to see how well your transmission will react. It's best if you get at least a half ton (F150 or Chevy/Dodge/GMC 1500) pickup especially if you plan on going into the mountains and making those climbs.
Posted 2006-09-16 6:50 PM (#48644 - in reply to #48641) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by seabiscuits on 2006-09-16 7:22 PM
It may sound stupid for your guys who've known so much about the horse trailers. Please don't laugh at me. I am interested in a horse trailer and I don't have a truck yet. Do I need a truck to tow the trailer?
Posted 2006-09-17 8:14 AM (#48655 - in reply to #48645) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by farmboy on 2006-09-16 7:01 PM
No No Its not very safe after you factor your trailer weight and horses you need a heavier vehicle
Heavier than WHAT ?
We don't (yet) know what car the op is considering.
"very safe" ? Do you have units of measure for that ?
I would accept that here is a speed at which it COULD be safe to tow a horse trailer with SOME types of cars - PERHAPS Lincoln Town Cars, Checker Marathon, probably NOT mini cooper.
Posted 2006-09-17 5:21 PM (#48671 - in reply to #48641) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
New User
Posts: 2
Thank you for you all. After posting my question here, I got some information regarding this. I post it here to share with you.13) How do I know I am getting the right tow vehicle for my horse trailer? The most dependable information you can get on tow vehicles is a manufacturer's Trailer Towing Guide. Each manufacturer publishes such a guide that easily explains how each vehicle is rated to tow. Unfortunately, many dealers do not have this towing guide at the dealership. You should insist that your dealer consult this guide before you buy. Many a car salesman has sold an unsuitable vehicle simply because he is not fully informed on the specifics of hauling a horse trailer. The second most reliable source of information is a reputable horse trailer dealer. Towing with a vehicle that is underrated will cause undue strain on the vehicle. Acceleration and deceleration will produce wear and tear that will decrease the life of the vehicle. Also, maneuverability will also be affected, resulting in unsafe operation. 16. I don't want to buy a full size truck to tow my horse trailer. I see people using sport utility vehicles and cars to pull their trailers. Is this OK? You may consider downsizing to a smaller vehicle as long as the vehicle is rated to tow the weight of your trailer with its full load. The weight of the horse(s) you will be hauling is the factor you cannot change in this combination. If you are hauling one 900 lb. horse, you can purchase a lighter trailer and keep your weight down considerably. If you have two 1500 lb. warmbloods, you cannot change the fact that you are hauling 3000 lbs. of horse no matter how much your trailer weighs. In addition, if you want a trailer that is strong enough to hold up to the extra wear and tear of such large horses, you should not have an extra light trailer. This is like carrying bricks in a plastic bag - sooner or later the bricks will break the bag. The wheelbase is usually shorter in a downsized vehicle, which makes it more important to install the proper hitch with weight distribution bars. Because a lighter weight vehicle can be pushed by the trailer when stopping, or pulled out of control by a trailer sway, your trailer brakes must be in working order. See our full line of horse trailers.The above information is from http://www.equispirit.com/info/faq.htm#faq16
Posted 2006-09-18 1:02 PM (#48714 - in reply to #48655) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 167 Location: Monroe, WA
Originally written by Reg on 2006-09-17 8:14 AM
Originally written by farmboy on 2006-09-16 7:01 PMNo No Its not very safe after you factor your trailer weight and horses you need a heavier vehicle
Heavier than WHAT ?We don't (yet) know what car the op is considering."very safe" ? Do you have units of measure for that ?I would accept that here is a speed at which it COULD be safe to tow a horse trailer with SOME types of cars - PERHAPS Lincoln Town Cars, Checker Marathon, probably NOT mini cooper.
I have a LOVELY 1968 Imperial Crown four-doot HT in condition 3, with a stupendous 440, torqueflite tranny, - this bad girl will tow a two-horse BP no sweat, and in major style and comfort. Trying to get my son to put me in for the Overhaulin' TV show - turn ol' Lucille into a luxmobile ElCamino style towing rig! Maybe toss a one-ton Dana dually axle under there, bob that leather-lined cab to a xtra cab configuration, keep those wonderful full-width taillights... Yeah, that would be COOL!
Posted 2006-09-19 2:47 PM (#48797 - in reply to #48730) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 167 Location: Monroe, WA
Originally written by walkin on 2006-09-18 6:15 PM
If tht is so and you do have a crown, I woud say you can tow a brederup no sweat. In the olden day they used to use caddys .
No offense to those who love them - but I wouldn't let a B'rup within spitting distance of my Crown! That big Mopar with the 440 will suck a Caddy up the tailpipe as we go by, in any case I had in mind a little classier rig - remember the full-boat Miley show trailers, with all the CHROME???? yeah.....With overloads and airbags and a good WDH setup, you're good to go.
Posted 2006-09-19 3:30 PM (#48803 - in reply to #48641) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Texas
I know a guy who used to have a '69 Impala with a hitch mounted to the roof. He pulled his 5th wheel camper with it. When backing the trailer into a parking spot, he could just turn the car around and drive the car forward while backing the trailer.
Posted 2006-09-27 4:26 PM (#49237 - in reply to #48641) Subject: RE: can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 671 Location: THE GREAT NORTHWET, OREGON(THE REAL GODS COUNTRY)
Originally written by seabiscuits on 2006-09-16 4:22 PM
It may sound stupid for your guys who've known so much about the horse trailers. Please don't laugh at me. I am interested in a horse trailer and I don't have a truck yet. Do I need a truck to tow the trailer?
Naw.. you can just lift it up and pull it around with your riden mower.
Your goin about it right , get the trailer then get enough vehicle to take care of the trailer.Too many of us have a truck then buy too big of a trailer.
can I use my car to tow a horse trailer?
Yeah, that would be COOL!
I had in mind a little classier rig - remember the full-boat Miley show trailers, with all the CHROME???? yeah.....With overloads and airbags and a good WDH setup, you're good to go.
I'll drink to that! I thought it was just me not getting this thread. 