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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
   
Location: Kansas | I have a 3 horse slant stock combo with a dressing room in the front and I pull it with a half ton Dodge truck. I don't go crazy with speed (I rarely even hit 65 mph with 3 horses) and I slow down super early. (basically I drive like a little old lady) I know it's not an ideal towing vehicle especially when I put 3 horses and a weekend worth of hay in it. I'd love to upgrade trucks but can't find a truck that would be an upgrade for less than $10K and with the job I have now, I can't afford even a couple hundred a month in truck payments. I will say that my stock combo trailer is a lot lighter than my boyfriend's 3-horse with weekend living quarters and I'd never try to pull his trailer with my truck. My parents have an older half ton Ford that could not possibly handle my trailer so it definitely depends on the exact truck and trailer. |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
 
| The top picture is my trailer same brand everything. The dressing room is finished out with 3/8 inch paneling and a fiber glass ceiling. There is a refrigerator and one of those triangular water tanks that fit into the corner which holds 33 gallons. (8 pounds/gallon). I pull mine with a 3/4 ton dodge diesel. I have been through three sets of tires on my trailer so it does get used. My truck is an automatic and I never have any problems with towing or stopping. You should have your trailer brakes working and stopping a trailer this size should not be a problem. The ONLY problem that I see is what rear end you have in any truck. If a half ton has a rear end that is geared low it will not put such a strain in the transmission. if the half ton comes with a towing package the rear end should be geared lower. If new the rear end should be on the sticker. If used it might be on the door. (not sure) |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| barrelracr131 - 2014-01-15 8:54 PM
Just because you can doesn't mean you should! lol
Yes what this poster said. I have seen people do it but should you, no. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I agree with everyone else and wouldn't try to tow that with a half ton unless you have a half ton that's not really a half ton.
When I was selling my trailer last fall, I had a lady call about it who had just bought a half ton rated to tow 10,000 pounds. My trailer was about 7500 empty and I towed it with various 3/4 ton pickups the whole time I owned it. She asked me did I think she could tow it with her new truck as long as she didn't fully load it--my answer was I don't feel comfortable telling you that's a good idea. I wouldn't do it myself. The salesman that sold her the truck didn't do her justice IMO, because she bought it with the intentions of buying a small LQ horse trailer. I probably could have sold her the trailer, one of her family members had already looked in person and loved it but decided it was too small for their needs and thought it was perfect for her, but I just couldn't do that to someone. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Meh....I've seen half tons haul heavier things
Safely no.....but it can be done |
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 Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | barlracr429 - 2014-01-15 7:54 PM
Thanks everybody. right now I have a F350 but we are looking into all our options with downsizing. I do beleive my parents might have pulled something similiar back in the 90s with a half ton truck. The trailer I'm remembering was all steel on top of that. But I do beleive it was tough on the transmission.
I have a 3/4 ton GMC duramax and I pull that same size trailer no problem with 3 horses. I drive it every day to work so a 1 ton is not practical. The 3/4 is just right for our needs. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| if you would wreck and hit someone being overweight like you will be you can bet you will be sued
also if you would get pulled into weight station you are over weight it could get ugly fast
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
Location: Up and over to the right | I pulled a 3h bp for a couple of years w/ a half ton but upgraded to a 3/4 ton diesel. Not only for the concern of stopping with my horses but if I was hauling for a friend and they got hurt… I'd never forgive myself. The newer half tons claim to be able to haul more but again, stopping is the real problem. I think a 1 ton or a dually would be overkill on this trailer. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | hoofs_in_motion - 2014-01-16 7:44 AM Meh....I've seen half tons haul heavier things
Safely no.....but it can be done
You can say that again. I see farmers hook up cattle trailers on sale day to their 1/2 tons, load them plum full of cattle with the back end of the pickup squatting down and putz down the highway headed to town. Is it safe? no. Can they stop safely quickly? no. Will they continue to do it? yes.
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | You could not stop. Trust me it would be a matter of time before some pulled out in front of you and when you go to stop a little quicker than normal you would be pushed forward anyway!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | As others have said...it's not enough truck to be hauling that much trailer/weight. Wear and tear on the rear end etc...and yeah...stopping and stability when the unexpected occurs will sure cause some issues.
I think a lot of folks would be surprised to see how much their rig truly weighs when loaded. Everyone should go hitch up their rig, load it like they would for the weekend with water, horses, hay etc...and go weigh in at one of the truck scales. Knowing how heavy they are may cause some to reconsider their truck/trailer combo.
** edited to say that I have been a lurker for some time...just decided to chime in on this one as I had the same debate with myself years ago. I upgraded trucks before getting the larger trailer. I have never regretted that decision. I just had to be patient and wait on getting the bigger trailer for a while.
Edited by TrailGirl 2014-01-16 9:12 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 220
| Safely no and especially with a full load. I would not risk it. You get to some of those hills and it could get really ugly. And your fuel mileage will probably be like 2 mpg. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Well I'll put on my flame suit and be the odd one out.
I drive my husband's GMC 1500 with my Exiss 3-horse slant. Most of the time, I haul just my 2 horses. But I have hauled 3 horses before. I've got all my tack inside (I've only got 1 saddle for myself) and when going to a show I'll usually have two 5-gallon buckets of water filled. I'm certainly not buzzing 75 or 80 mph down the interstate, though. And the farthest from home I go is 3 hours, mostly flat prairie. I'm mindful of the fact that I'm only driving a 1/2 ton. Doesn't mean accidents can't happen, but I'm probably more watchful than most because of it.
I personally don't like bumper pulls. I've borrowed ones before and I don't like that they can fishtail in a hard wind. I won't own anything but a gooseneck. So I bought a gooseneck. Lady I bought it from pulled it with a 1/2 ton pickup too. I've been super happy with it thus far.
I know it's not ideal. But our financial situation at the moment is going to keep me where we are at, so I'm making do with what we have. First chance I can get, I am getting a 3/4 ton but it might be another year before I can do that.
So to answer your question, yes, you can pull a 3-horse slant trailer with a 1/2 ton. But if you have the money/means, don't go any lower than a 3/4 ton if you have the choice (which in your case sounds like you have a choice). But sometimes you just have to make do with what you've got. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Some people do, but I wouldn't. I see little old men pulling HUGE travel trailers with half tons too. I just cringe. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | I pulled a 4 horse with a hd 1/2. Usually only had 1-2 horses on it. No hills. Yes I pulled fine but the key is do you have the stopping power, No.
Another thing to remember is to upgrade your liscense plates to the correct tonage you are pulling. DOT will get you good if they ever pull you over.
Edited by memory 2014-01-16 1:48 PM
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 Veteran
Posts: 141
Location: College Station, TX | Is it the best idea? NO.
But I did it with an 03 Chevy 1500 and a trailer the same size for years all through high school and college and never had a problem at all. I used what I could afford, and I'm still here to tell about it. Like someone else said, pulling it isn't the problem, stopping it is. Make sure the brakes are in good condition and work.
If you have the option, use a 2500 or 3500. If it's your only choice, yes it is possible. |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| I hauled 2 different 3H goosenecks with my 1/2 ton 5.9L Dodge for years! Even went from Idaho to Texas and back a few times. I went through brake pads a lot quicker than most, but it got better mileage than my diesel on some days. I made sure I kept the truck in good condition and I never had a problem. Just couldn't go up big hills in the summer with the AC blowing on full blast lol! |
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Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| I hauled a 3 horse exiss for years with a half ton truck i never once had an issue, if your concerned just call a truck dealership and they will tell you |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and tells you how you much you can tow if pulling. This is truck and trailer with cargo combined. It should be stamped inside the door frame on the truck. Run across a scale sometime with a rig and see how much it weighs. Like it has been said, if your in an accident even if your not at fault, your over weight, you will pay a stiff penalty.
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | I made the mistake a few years back when I downsized to a half ton & a bumper pull 2 horse. It's so much better to have too much truck than not enough truck. I would never try a half ton again. |
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