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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
  
| I am going to buy a new (to me) trailer soon and I am wondering how big of a short wall I can go with pulling it with my 3/4 ton truck. We want a trailer with full living quarters, 8 ft wide, 4 horse. Anyone have any experience with this?
Edited by horsiace1025 2016-05-31 12:22 PM
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
 
Location: Oklahoma | It's not about what you can pull. It's about what you can safely stop. I personally wouldn't pull a trailer that size with anything less than a dually. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| So, I can speak from experience.
I just bought a 8ft wide 3h with a 9' shortwall.
I had a 3/4ton Duramax 6'6 box. Stop and go was no problem, PLENTY of power.
Issues: stability. Going down the highway at 70mph in any kind of wind the tail started to wag the dog. Having to pull in bad weather concerned me.
Turning radius. 8' wide and a short box will reall limit you. SO busted my rear window out turning around in our driveway the first time. You can turn a 7' wide trailer on a short box around with no issues.
This past weekend I traded up to a 1 ton long box dually. Hauled the trailer on Sunday. HUGE difference. So much more stable, backs great, plenty of turning room.
A 4h is going to be that much longer, no way I would haul on a regular basis any sort of distance without a dually.
Edited by OhMax 2016-05-31 12:47 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Ok, thanks guys! that really does help. We have been trying to figure out how to swing buying a newer truck and a trailer at the same time. It just isnt working in our favor so far so we were trying to see what we could do for the time being. |
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| I currently pull a 3 horse with a 10 ft shortwall, full LQ with a 3/4 ton truck, however it is not 8 wide and the trailer is all aluminum. I have 2 trucks, one is a dodge diesel with a short bed and the other is a chevy gas. Both trucks pull it great.
We previously pulled a 4 horse steel trailer with a weekender 4 ft shortwall. Neither truck had problems pulling it but you could feel it pushing on the truck when stopping.
Like the others have mentioned if you go too big stopping it will be a problem. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Yes we are definately going ALL alluminum. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I pulled a 4-star, all alum. 3 horse, 8 ft wide with 9' full LQ. with both a chevy and a ford 3/4 ton both diesel. I was mainly pulling less the 3 hours from home and pretty flat exway. Both trucks had plenty of power for pulling and stopping. Both trucks squatted pretty good. a one ton would of been better. But I never felt unsafe but I would NOT have wanted any bigger trailer on those trucks. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | I pull my Platinum 8 ft wide 12' short wall 3 horse with a 3/4 ton regular wheel base and have not had any problems. The fartherest I usually go is about 2-4 hours away and mostly only travel within an hour. My husband owns a used car dealership so I am often forced to haul with different trucks since everything we have is for sale and I get kicked out of whatever I am using  . I just went from pulling with a Ford 3/4 ton to a Duramax 3/4 and the difference is dramatic - the Duramax pulls much better. I would really like a Duramax Dually if I ever get something permanent! I do agree on the stopping but I am always very careful to stay far off of other vehicles and I don't speed when pulling. I personally think you could get by with a 3/4ton
Edited by turtleaut 2016-05-31 2:21 PM
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | You need to know fully loaded weight of trailer. And if your truck is rated to haul that weight. If you do get in a wreck, your insurance might not cover it if your truck is not rated to haul that kind of weight.
Hauling in the hills/mountains is vastly different than hauling on flat land.
Third, your combined weight rating could possibly put you in the needing a CDL. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| roxieannie - 2016-05-31 3:54 PM
You need to know fully loaded weight of trailer. And if your truck is rated to haul that weight. If you do get in a wreck, your insurance might not cover it if your truck is not rated to haul that kind of weight.
Hauling in the hills/mountains is vastly different than hauling on flat land.
Third, your combined weight rating could possibly put you in the needing a CDL.
We dont have very many hills. |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| roxieannie - 2016-05-31 1:54 PM
You need to know fully loaded weight of trailer. And if your truck is rated to haul that weight. If you do get in a wreck, your insurance might not cover it if your truck is not rated to haul that kind of weight.
Hauling in the hills/mountains is vastly different than hauling on flat land.
Third, your combined weight rating could possibly put you in the needing a CDL.
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | In addition to stability and stopping issues, you will find in short order that the longevity of the truck will be compromised by pulling a load that large with a 3/4 ton truck. The suspension, rear end, etc are just not built to handle that size of load long term. |
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| horsiace1025 - 2016-05-31 12:21 PM
I am going to buy a new (to me) trailer soon and I am wondering how big of a short wall I can go with pulling it with my 3/4 ton truck. We want a trailer with full living quarters, 8 ft wide, 4 horse. Anyone have any experience with this?
I think you have an itch for a great big trailer that is impossible for an ittybitty truck to pull safely or help stop it ...
Stopping a trailer ... I have never heard anyone tell everyone to adjust your brake box to the trailer so you feel the trailer start braking (pulling on the truck instead of pushing) as you slow down. OR to mount your brake box where it is easily accessible to use the trailer brakes only with the manual lever on the brake box when going down steep grades or if trailer begins to sway or wag the truck. Braking only the trailer will give you a chance to keep from jackknifing..
Everyone should understand under braking a trailer and the momentum of the trailer ... http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Jackknifing
This is a very good article by Featherlite explaining that steel is stronger than aluminum but not as pretty ...... and they are truthful that two identical trailers .. one steel and one aluminum weighs only 10-15% less ... they are a little biased when discussing overall strength of the steel vs aluminum trailers .... if you get in a bad wreck .. a steel trailers strength will help you survive and live to see another day ...
http://www.fthr.com/owner-support/trailer-use-and-care/aluminum-tra...
I see so many 1 ton trucks pulling overloaded LQ horse trailers it isn't even funny .... rule of thumb to use is ... never pull or drag more than 3/4's of the capacity of the pulling vehicle ... buy you a big $60,000 one ton truck first .. then the trailer ...
OR ADD $20K and buy this truck ... $3000 rebate ... https://www.facebook.com/toby.vineyard/posts/768401166593518?pnref=s...
I was going to post some charts on pulling weights vs engines and axle ratios but this Ford book is so exaggerated ... it makes me wonder why no one is suing them for fraud .... you just have to study pages 15-16 .. it has to be common core math ..
https://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/1...
EVERYONE DRIVE DEFENSIVELY WHEN YOU SEE ME COMING... (like take the first exit you see.. lol) ... MY FENDERS RATTLE, ENGINE SMOKES, TIRES ARE WORN, I CAN LOAD 5 HORSES IN 2 HORSE TRAILER WITH NO BRAKES AND PULL A TRAVEL TRAILER(MY LQ) BEHIND IT ... I CAN BACK UP TRAFFIC FOR MILES GOING UP A HILL AND COME IN FIRST AT THE DAYTONA 500 COMING DOWN THE HILL WITH NO BRAKES ... IF YOU SEE A SILVER FLASH GO BY YOU ... LISTEN CLOSELY FOR MY FAMOUS CALL .... HI YO SILVER .. AWAAAAAY ... lol
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2016-05-31 9:58 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Way too big of a trailer for 3/4 ton......
One ton dually is the only way to go to pull something that large.
If money or financing is an issue look into a tote to note lot. I have perfect credit and have just recently bought a dually this way. I didn't have $4,000 cash so I financed it with little interest. I'll pay on it until tax return next year and then I'll pay it off. I needed a dually because we are getting a bigger trailer. Instead of financing a new truck or tradng in my SO's 1500, we decided to get yet another 90s model ford. Couldn't be happier! Now we can start saving for a down payment on the trailer we want instead of having to settle for something smaller had we gotten the new truck. |
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Member
Posts: 32
| Okay- I have a 3/4 ton dodge and I haul a 3 horse, 8ft wide with 10ft LQ. Yes, I want a dually just for the stability of weight. However, if people are saying about stopping that is where you haul smart! I drive the speed limit, give plenty of room to stop, and Yes people cut me off but, if I'm not riding someones butt I have time to stop. I will say I would not go any bigger with a trailer with a 3/4 ton.
Good luck with what you decide.
and yes trailer brakes do work!! LOL You can use that to help stop you! LOL
Edited by Polly05 2016-06-01 10:34 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Thanks for all the help! I knew you guys would have some insight! Im glad to know it is possible if I have to for a short time, but I promise, I wont push my luck with safety. |
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  Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | Until One has a trailer (32' Cattle Trailer to be exact), push their 3/4 ton diesel pickup through an intersection, One has not experienced life.....................I speak from experience and the trailer disappeared very shortly after that episode. Then the truck was upgraded to a dually. The difference between a single wheel 3/4 ton and a dually is like night and day! ALWAYS overtruck whatever One is towing! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| you can add to this conversation, how much trailor for a 3/4 and how much is too much for a dually, there are trailers with large lq and large like 5 or 8 horse with big dressing room. |
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Member
Posts: 36
Location: Delaware | Polly05 - 2016-06-01 11:30 AM
Okay- I have a 3/4 ton dodge and I haul a 3 horse, 8ft wide with 10ft LQ. Yes, I want a dually just for the stability of weight. However, if people are saying about stopping that is where you haul smart! I drive the speed limit, give plenty of room to stop, and Yes people cut me off but, if I'm not riding someones butt I have time to stop. I will say I would not go any bigger with a trailer with a 3/4 ton.
Good luck with what you decide.
and yes trailer brakes do work!! LOL You can use that to help stop you! LOL
Exactly!
I drive a 2500 hd duramax and currently haul an all aluminum 8' wide, 11 ft living quarters 3 horse trailer. I do not haul three horses but I adjust my breaks according to the load I'm hauling. Yes I would like to get a dually for more stability but my truck does the job currently just fine.
Drive accordingly to the load you carry and you should be just fine. |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | megsm - 2016-06-04 1:43 AM
Polly05 - 2016-06-01 11:30 AM
Okay- I have a 3/4 ton dodge and I haul a 3 horse, 8ft wide with 10ft LQ. Yes, I want a dually just for the stability of weight. However, if people are saying about stopping that is where you haul smart! I drive the speed limit, give plenty of room to stop, and Yes people cut me off but, if I'm not riding someones butt I have time to stop. I will say I would not go any bigger with a trailer with a 3/4 ton.
Good luck with what you decide.
and yes trailer brakes do work!! LOL You can use that to help stop you! LOL
Exactly!
I drive a 2500 hd duramax and currently haul an all aluminum 8' wide, 11 ft living quarters 3 horse trailer. I do not haul three horses but I adjust my breaks according to the load I'm hauling. Yes I would like to get a dually for more stability but my truck does the job currently just fine.
Drive accordingly to the load you carry and you should be just fine.
Until the unexpected happens that is............................I.E. Something running out in front of One causing a panic stop. |
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