|
|
 Member
Posts: 8
Location: Missouri | My dad wants me to buy a Toyota Tacoma and I really honestly don't want one. I've read how they just arnt the best trucks to haul with and not always safe for the horses. I am also looking into trailers , I'll get something 2 horse with a dressing room and or living quarters. He thinks a Tacoma will be fine for hauling but I'd rather get a 'real truck' sorta say .. please tell me opinions on the Tacoma's if you have any experience with them or anything that could be helpful in truck and trailer shopping . TIA (: |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 5293
 
| A Tacoma will not be able to safely pull or stop a trailer unless it's a very small and light 2 horse bumper pull. You need to trailer shop first. Find the trailer and weight you want. Then find a truck you like that is rated to tow the weight of that trailer. My guess is you will need minimum a 3/4 to. So a dodge 2500, ford 250, chevy 2500. It's better to have to much truck than not enough. |
|
| |
|
 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | RidingRank - 2017-07-31 5:31 PM
My dad wants me to buy a Toyota Tacoma and I really honestly don't want one. I've read how they just arnt the best trucks to haul with and not always safe for the horses. I am also looking into trailers , I'll get something 2 horse with a dressing room and or living quarters. He thinks a Tacoma will be fine for hauling but I'd rather get a 'real truck' sorta say .. please tell me opinions on the Tacoma's if you have any experience with them or anything that could be helpful in truck and trailer shopping . TIA (:
We hauled some with our Tundra---no way would I go with a lighter Toyota than that. |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Nope.
A tundra is comparable to a 1/2 ton - you do not want to haul with anything lighter than that. Just because so and so's cousins did it just fine doesn't mean it's safe.
A 250/2500 3/4 ton will be suitable to a 2-3horse with a small LQ - my in laws pull a 3 horse elite with a 7' shortwall with a 3/4 ton diesel and it maxes that truck out.
I pulled a 2 horse Titan BP with my 1/2 ton Ford and it was well suited, but nothing heavier. |
|
| |
|
  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | There is a reason you mainly see Ford's, Rams and Chevy 3/4 and 1 tons at horse events. They are build for pulling.
I wouldn't take a chance with anything else. I would always like more truck than I need. |
|
| |
|
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I had a Tacoma and they are OK for pulling a fishing boat but not much more. I had a 2000 Dodge diesel and it was time for a new truck. I bought a gas 3/4 ton ram with a 6.4 Hemi. Love it. I pull a three horse with a 4 foot short wall and loaded it pulls great. |
|
| |
|
 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I feel the same as you regarding the Tundra's. Toyota and horse power just do not go together in my mind! I wouldn't go less then a 3/4 ton for towing.
Depending on what trailer size you are getting you may need to go bigger. We have a 2005 Silverado 3500 dually with the 8.1 Vortec. It pulls our 3H LQ with 8ft short wall without issue.
|
|
| |
|
 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | YEARS & YEARS ago, my family bought a 2 horse trailer and pulled it with a Chevy Luv truck. Talk about not having enough truck to be hauling safely. We would literally have to walk the horses up certain hills, my dad would pull up the trailer and we would reload. Now that that was 1970's and people didn't think about things as much as they do now. My point is, you never want to haul with a vehicle that is to small to handle the load. I would at least want a 1500 to pull a two horse and nothing less than a 2500 for a small, goose neck.
(Happy ending to the story, my parents bought a new truck about 8 mo. later and my mom STILL owns that 1978 Chevy and uses it weekly..lol) |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| If you just need a two horse with a dressing room I would think a dodge 1500 5.7-liter would be fine but do pay attention to the axle ratio. A dodge is the only halfton I would use to haul horses. I was looking for a truck last winter so I went to a mechanic that did not have some dumb truck brand loyalty thing going on. He was very helpful.
Dodge 1500 hemi
3.31 axle ratio is good up to 8550 lbs
3.92 axle ratio is good up to 10,700 lbs
But if you need living quarters I suggest going up to the 2500/250 ect, especially if you will traveling long distances. And stick to lightweight trailers and don't let the trailer sales guy talk you into more than you need or more than your truck can handle.
The Tacoma* is a no go IMO. Test drives said they felt unstable towing at the higher end of their towing capacity.
Best thing you could do in regards to your dad is pull up the charts on each truck. Numbers don't lie. Or visit a mechanic together. He might be more willing to listen to a mechanic.
Edited by SloRide 2017-08-01 8:27 AM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Missouri | My dad really swore by it but I knew better and I guess he needed me to hear it from you all ! Thank you all so much ! You have no idea how much you have helped me out in this situation! God bless (: |
|
| |
|
 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | He also isn't thinking about that transmission tearing up. It just isn't meant to pull that sort of load. |
|
| |
Folks on-line