Finding Towing Vehicle for Horse Trailer

Angst, you'll have to filter through the responses from our "weight cops" and, as you are, consider the duty cycle of your trailer use.
Yes, horse are a live load. Can be tougher than hauling half full water tanks, but for your use, a full size half ton anything will be sufficient For occasional use without question.
If you have working trailer brakes and do a test load/run to make sure loading the hay burners doesn't bottom out the rear suspension, those IMO are your main concerns.

Are they the "ideal" tow vehicles for 7500lbs of moving horse trailer? Some are, some aren't, but virtually any Expedition, Tahoe, suburban or half ton truck will work.

The other question, is do you intend to drive the vehicle regularly or is it mostly parked waiting for the evacuation? That wasn't discernable in your post. But if the latter, I'd just look for a cheap old pickup that runs well.

Well for a minimum TV our DD has locally towed a two horse TT, with a single horse with a 2006 Honda Ridgeline. In 2006 the Ridgeline had a 5,000# tow rating and about 1,800# payload rating.

On Edit: Keep in mind this was local only, newer F150 would do fine, if to tow a lot and long distance a nice 250/2500 would work nicely.

Angst wrote:

carringb wrote:

Angst wrote:
Thanks for all the feedback!!! Very much appreciated.

One bit of info I forgot to include: this would be strictly for emergency towing.
.

Honestly that makes worried even more. So now besides having an overloaded tow vehicle, you'll have little experience driving it, the rig may not get regular use or maintenance, and you'll be in a high-stress situation with possible adverse environmental or traffic conditions at the same time.

What overloaded tow vehicle? We haven't bought one yet and I'm making inquiry here and elsewhere to be sure we get the appropriate vehicle. Also, you seem to presume that I've never towed a trailer before. That would be a mistake. As to experience with the given trailer/vehicle combo, you seem to think that I won't practice with it or that somehow my 40+ years of driving various rigs won't prefigure in being able/confident in managing our future rig. While I do appreciate your concern, I think perhaps it's a tad misplaced. Though I suppose I could be wrong. Humm, and what's this I hear about the vehicle and/or rig not getting regular maintenance? Please, do pass along that crystal ball of yours, I would come in handy ;)

That is a great response!!!

Good luck on your vehicle search and keeping your property and horses safe.

I towed a stock trailer (which I still have) for years with a Ford half ton right at its max. Hauled drafts in to. As someone said tongue weight could be an issue. When hauling big drafts I installed a removable chest bar and which shifted the horses back from the nose and put them over the axles. This lightened the tongue weight. If you have dressing room up there thats another story.

PDX.Zs wrote:
I think you are on the right path.

I'd have no issue with that load on a daily driver half ton for a once in a lifetime, maybe never use it tow.

If you were running to shows every weekend be a different story.

Thanks, I appreciate that. I've talked with a couple of trailer companies and some folks at San Luis Rey Downs and this seems to be the consensus. Just want to be sure. As one poster pointed out, the primary use for this rig will be under high-stress situations and I just want to be sure.

carringb wrote:

Angst wrote:
Thanks for all the feedback!!! Very much appreciated.

One bit of info I forgot to include: this would be strictly for emergency towing.
.

Honestly that makes worried even more. So now besides having an overloaded tow vehicle, you'll have little experience driving it, the rig may not get regular use or maintenance, and you'll be in a high-stress situation with possible adverse environmental or traffic conditions at the same time.

What overloaded tow vehicle? We haven't bought one yet and I'm making inquiry here and elsewhere to be sure we get the appropriate vehicle. Also, you seem to presume that I've never towed a trailer before. That would be a mistake. As to experience with the given trailer/vehicle combo, you seem to think that I won't practice with it or that somehow my 40+ years of driving various rigs won't prefigure in being able/confident in managing our future rig. While I do appreciate your concern, I think perhaps it's a tad misplaced. Though I suppose I could be wrong. Humm, and what's this I hear about the vehicle and/or rig not getting regular maintenance? Please, do pass along that crystal ball of yours, I would come in handy ;)

I think you are on the right path.

I'd have no issue with that load on a daily driver half ton for a once in a lifetime, maybe never use it tow.

If you were running to shows every weekend be a different story.

Angst wrote:
Thanks for all the feedback!!! Very much appreciated.

One bit of info I forgot to include: this would be strictly for emergency towing.
.

Honestly that makes worried even more. So now besides having an overloaded tow vehicle, you'll have little experience driving it, the rig may not get regular use or maintenance, and you'll be in a high-stress situation with possible adverse environmental or traffic conditions at the same time.

hornet28 wrote:
You own the horse trailer but say this truck would be for emergency only? If so what do you tow it with now and why not use it?

We got a deal on a trailer and have yet to get a truck to tow it...

You own the horse trailer but say this truck would be for emergency only? If so what do you tow it with now and why not use it?