Trailer advice needed

[wrightp]

Hi all! I want to buy a trailer, and I would like to make sure our 2000 F-150 with a 4.2l 6-cylinder engine can pull it. I'm looking at a 2003 Sundowner 727, an aluminum 2-horse slant load. The info on the truck lists its towing capacity as 8200#, but I can't get a good answer on how much the trailer weighs. It says it has a 3500# axle capacity, and it has 2 axles - so does that mean fully loaded you can hold up to 7000# in it including the trailer weight? And does anyone have experience with an F-150 and towing? I would probably be towing only one horse the vast majority of the time, but it would be nice to be able to take 2 if I wanted. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks.

[20xsweetcowgirl]

Hmmm not my expertise LOL, hopefully someone else can help you out here.

[FlyingCowgirl]

My husband could probably tell us. He's a truck driver and diesel mechanic. However, he's still in bed and I'm pretty sure his answer would be not to tow a horse trailer with a F-150, they are just not built for that kind of hauling. I will ask him though, I can never guess with him.

[RideHappy]

I have a Dodge 1500 with the hemi and steel trailer (much heavier) 3 slant load. I haul three horses at a time, and that's the most I would do. The hemi really helps.

I know the aluminum are lighter. Tiki has an aluminum and she usually pulls one, but sometimes two, horses. Maybe she'd know more--or her husband would. My guess would be that you could tow it with that truck.

[Tiki]

I had the same problem you are having, Mine said towed 3500 but and then in another spot said more that was for boats with no brake system.? Well anyways I had to get a new car. But I can't imagine the ford f150 not able to tow that amount I have a 2 horse slant with tack room and mine is fine, now. Good luck with the trailer search that was tuff for me.

[Laura]

You should be able to get the specs on the weight of the trailer from the manufacturer. I have a Trails West 3-horse bumper pull, and it weighs 2950. We bought the 3-horse because it was only a couple of hundred dollars more than the 2-horse slant at the time we bought it, and we thought, what the heck - might get a bigger truck someday and pull 3. So, with two 1000-pound horses we're at about 5000 pounds -- probably more since my tack room is loaded pretty well, water tank and all. See if you can find a website with your trailer model specs listed. Here's mine:

www.trailswesttrailers.com/trailers.php?mod=71&view=Specs

I have only ever pulled two horses at a time, though. I have a Ford F150, but it's an 8-cylinder, not a 6. We have hauled over the pass to the coast and with two horses with no problem. You have to remember to turn off your overdrive if you have an automatic 5-speed when hauling. But, that said, a larger truck is on our wish list someday.

I read somewhere that when you figure towing weight, when hauling live horses (that move and shift their weight around) it is wise to figure you can only tow about 75% of what your vehicle manufacturer recommends. For instance, if Ford says I can tow 10,000 pounds, then with horses I would be safe to figure about 7500 as a maximum.

[trotterluvr]

My husband is also a long distance driver. He said that a f150 can pull a trailer but in the future you are going to ruin your transmission w/the load capacity. He would not get a 150 as they are not built for that kind of hauling. Spend the extra for a long term use in a heavier model.

[joanne]

I don't think I would pull a trailer with a 150. I have pulled my trailler which is a 2-horse slant with a 1/2 ton truck and it does ok. the problem is the long term effects on the motor and the transmission. Even with electric brakes your truck's brakes still take a lot of wear too. My trailer is an aluminum 2 horse and weighs about 2200 pounds unloaded. Add a horse, saddle and gear and you are easily at 3500 pounds. If you are pulling short distances, no hills, then no problem, your truck will do it.

I guess in the long term, look into getting a 3/4 ton or even a 1 ton for the best, safest and peace of mind hauling.
Oh and just because the 150 may have a bigger motor it may not have the bigger tranny...
Ummm don't tell anyone but I used to work at a car dealership and this was a question that came up OFTEN!

[wrightp]

Thanks everyone. After the research I've done it looks like we should upgrade the truck for hauling. Kind of a bummer. May be next year before I get it all together.