Hi everyone! I joined this group because I need to buy an older truck to pull my horse trailer loaded with 2 draft horses. The horses weigh about 1900# each. The trailer will be heavy but I don't know the weight yet.

My friend and her husband in California just bought a 1983 F350 (460) with 8 forward gears. I just want to find out what we need to look for in a used truck and if it would be similar to that.

I do not know anything about vehicles, so I am counting on your advice. If you need help with a horse related problem I could advise, but not trucks/transmissions. No problem hauling or backing them up, I just don't know what to buy.

Diesel or gas, Ford or Chevy or other, no dually, nothing new ~ I drive a 1991 Honda ~ and my husband who works at a state prison, drives a 2000 Insight.

Please give me some info!

Thanks
Can Sweaza

 

WELL, it comes down to budget really. i would not buy an 83 anything to tow with!!! might go back as far as 99....

a 99 sd 7.3 psd would be a good way to go, imho....and can be had fairly cheap, not so old you cannot get financed, can get ~18-20mpg unloaded, and has great resale value.
2wd, srw,....say 80k-120k on the odo should be able to ****** one up for ~15k in nice condition.
although your not towing all that much, it would be nice to have a reliable vehicle that could handle the weight.

good luck!

 

DON'T BUY A CHEVY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SORRY!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

 

I'd go for the 7.3 PSD in it (94 1/2 and up), you are going to want a F-350 most likely if you are hauling that much, I like the dulley's personally. I have hauled lots of miles on a 95 F350 7.3L PSD and I've had no problems at all.

As far as older trucks go, 460 will do the job, I personally like Disels, but I'm not as familier with the older disels as I am the newer ones.

 

If you are pulling animals, the dually is the best option, because of it's inherent stability. A gooseneck trailer would be more suitable, and without dual rears, the trailer can rock the truck substantially. The animals in the trailer could get spooked by that.

Theo

 

I have to agree with "theologian" when it comes to duals. First off, with duals you can pull more weight and it provides a more stable platform for the trailer. If you want a Ford, go with a power stroke diesel in an F-350 from 1995 and up. If you want a Dodge, go with a 1996 and up 3500 with a cummins diesel. If you want a Chubby, (which is your choice of course) go with a 3500 with a 6.5 litre diesel. All of these trucks here are short wheelbase, two wheel drive and with dual rear wheels and an automatic transmission, just for the sake of easy driving.

 

Check the search function. The user cross posted into the proper forums and has already purchased a truck.