Trucks
I hardly know a Ford from a Chev and couldn’t tell you what kind of truck any of my neighbours drive – I might know the color. And now I am faced with having to get a different truck to pull my horse trailer. I need some advice from some of you with trailer hauling experience
Really it wasn’t me who needed the new bigger, heavier trailer. It was Dave and Keeper. Keeper wasn’t really impressed with the lack of roominess in her stall and Dave kind of had the same problem. Then he saw this trailer on the Northernhorse Classifieds and soon we were off looking at it and he was telling me how our little 3/4 truck (with souped-up something or others that made it tougher) was going to be just loving to pull this thing. And it is only 3 feet longer. And we could get “air bags”.
So we got the air bags and it does pull it down the road but I am a worrier by nature and so now we need a truck that is truly competent at handling our trailer. I see lots of duallys out there pulling horse trailers. Is that the best way to go? Or just a “one ton”? What should I look for specifically in a dually or one ton?
Any and all help would be appreciated. You can just comment below or email me at lynn@northernhorse.com.
Tags: trailer, truck.June 17th, 2009 Lynn 7 comments
Hi Lynn
In order to help, need to know what kind of trailer, how big, how heavy etc.
The biggest problem people forget about is not how your truck hauls the trailer down the road – it is how long it takes to stop.
So give me some details and I’ll try and help.
Liz
The trailer is 7′6″ tall. 6′2″ wide is a Merhow brand. I think it is 10,000 lbs empty and 14000 lbs loaded. 3 stalls for horses and a 12′6″ living quarter with a slide out. I’m not sure of the length but you probably have a good idea. I’m with you – I want to know that it can handle the trailer when we need it to. We have an old 3/4 ton, with extra suspension and airbags. I felt really good pulling our smaller trailer with it but I think it is not enough truck for this trailer although it is apparently legal. I also wonder if having a dually is not a better idea – more tire surface on the road, less weight per tire, better if a tire blows out? You would be surprised at how hard it is to get this kind of information. Even the folks who you think should know have been giving me wishy-washy and conflicting information. I also know that the trailer has its own brakes so does that take a lot of the stopping pressure off the truck? What I don’t know about trucks and trailers could fill a book. I really appreciate any help you can give me. Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Dont forget about all of your ’stuff’ when loaded. Loading three horses will add 1200lbs (average) each so there is another 3600lbs plus saddles, water, tack, food , blankets, hay, etc. Loaded you are likely adding another 2000-3000lbs depending on how much ’stuff’ you add. Another question for you. Do you haul to the mountains? or into BC? Legal in Alberta is not in BC. If you are doing BC or a ton of steep hills you will want more weight and power (down and up). Also the states can be a little different. For legal requirements my dad (a trucker from BC) always said if your legal in BC your legal anywhere! Safe than sorry would be a mini freight (if you haul a ton and go into BC) or a Diesel 1 ton dually. Duals can be really nice for blow outs. They are rough to ride in unhooked. If you are a competent 5 speed driver a manual can have some advantages as well. Hope that helps.
Adrienne.
The other factor is how the trailer pulls but Merhow are good trailers and track along great. If you were just tooling around on the flat with this trailer and a 3/4 ton you would probably be okay but god forbid if you had to stop quickly going downhill. Think you woul have a problem. Given the weight of the trailer loaded with water, horses, stuff etc my comfort level would want a one ton at least – dually preferably.
We very seldom use our trailer brakes, have them set fairly low – if you have to hit the brakes suddenly and you have your trailer brakes set to the max – a jacknife situation is highly possible and I much prefer to keep the trailer behind me, not beside me. LOL
Good time to buy a dually with the economy not being so great.
Re; airbags – we’ve put them on a couple of trucks – not impressed. Besides not seeing any difference really in the ride (one ton ford dually) one bag blew out in 4 months and yes, it was warranty but should last a little longer than that. Beefing up the suspension is a better bang for your dollar but not really necessary unless you are hauling this trailer a lot.
Hey Lynn…..just something you might want to check out….lots of duallies on the market, but not for a great reason. Apparently, if you haul through BC, and you have a duallie, you are considered “commercial”, and need to stop at all weigh scales…..just a thought. You also have more fuel consumed…dragging that extra set of tires, and the expense of replacing that extra set of tires. Deb
Deb
Been hauling thru BC for 20+ years with a dually – never been thru a scale yet because of it nor have any of my friends.
You use a dually to better distribute the weight you’re hauling and for STOPPING power –
BC will pull you over and check your trailer brakes and if you don’t have brakes on all axles – you won’t go anywhere until you do
Liz
we used to own a chevy 4×4 silverado with a long box on it and it never let us down