Horse Trailers

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Aug 30, 2013 | 04:43 PM

MadogLlewellyn

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Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 43

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From: Farmersburg, Indiana

Horse Trailers

Anyone of you pull horse trailers with living quarters? Wondering what are my size limits and options? I hear a lot about the heavy tongue weight.... I figured I could pull a 16,000 lb max trailer. No more than 36 -39 ft long overall length. Was looking at a 3 Horse with 14-17 ft living quarters. Do any of you pull that size trailer with a SRW? I see 40ft Toy Haulers pulled by F250s all the time on the highway. Was figuring a horse trailer would be lighter and less drag to pull than those.

I have a 2000 F250 7.3L Crew Cab Flat Bed it was a short bed. Upgrades are; Firestone Airbags rear, Timberlin pads front and back, upgraded leaf springs 2500lbs on each side front axle, 4000lbs each side on rear axle, BF Goodrich 285/75/16E All Terrain rated 3750lb each tire, 4in exhaust with pac brake, 38R turbo, Ford AIS intake, over sized tranny cooler, and intercooler. I figured my truck can handle 12500 lb GVWR with all my mods to the axles and tires. I have it plated for such weight now too. I also have a TS tuner and Edge monitoring system. I know my original truck ratings are way under this. lol.

Aug 30, 2013 | 05:14 PM

carltonwebb

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2010

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Spend the extra money and get one with a gooseneck and it will tow much better. I pulled a 3 horse gooseneck with qtrs and it rode very well to kentucky and back. It actually rode much better than my 20 ft car hauler bumper pull does.

Aug 30, 2013 | 05:27 PM

Dan V

Lead Driver

Joined: Jun 2013

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From: north of Minneapolis, MN

Here what I know. I draw the line for a SRW at about 28' on the floor. That's a living quarters trailer. About? you ask? Yeah, depending on how the LQ is finished can really change what they weigh.

Mine, not a true LQ (as it has no bathroom) is 24' on the floor. I can haul 4 head. When I have 4 head in and a bunch of dogs (~8) in roll across the CAT scale at 22k lbs. I'm about 600lbs over on the drive axle, right at the steer axle. Subtract out say, 8000lb, for the truck. That leaves the trailer loaded at 14000lb.

I know people that pull 32' LQ's...and that just isn't right.

I would never try something with a 14'-17' short wall LQ on a SRW...no way.

Toy haulers and RV's are static loads.....Horse are like hauling liquid...the load moves around, and they have a high center of gravity.

Aug 30, 2013 | 06:02 PM

MadogLlewellyn

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Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 43

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From: Farmersburg, Indiana

I will only be hauling 2x Horse in a 3 horse slant... I would only get a gooseneck trailer... never even thought of a bumper pull... I don't like the way they pull...

But a 14ft LQ with 3 Horse slant has a 28ft floor total 36ft trailer with neck... most of the ones I see run between 9-12k empty... I say 2x Horses and gear is 3000lbs, plus 1000lbs of gear for myself and my son. The trailer should be between 14k and 16k loaded. I know I'd be pushing my limits on tongue weight for the truck.

Aug 30, 2013 | 06:33 PM

Stewart_H

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 29,380

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From: Central Coast of CA

I bought a 4-horse bumper pull many years ago. They pull quite nicely.

Stewart

Aug 30, 2013 | 06:49 PM

Torklift Sheryl

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Joined: May 2013

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Hi,
With such a heavy load you will want to be cautious if you are having to pump up airbags to the max.
StableLoads allow you to use less air and engage the lower leaf spring overload sooner. We had a recent example too of a 3-Horse trailer with Dressage horses experience an airbag failure and this product got them home.
RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Truck Campers: Picking up new camper...a little advice.
For drivability and safety while towing these make a considerable difference. Stableload_

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Aug 30, 2013 | 08:11 PM

F350-6

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 26,966

Likes: 50

From: Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torklift Jen

For drivability and safety while towing these make a considerable difference. Stableload_

What an amazingly simple design. Wonder why no one has thought of it sooner? Admittedly, you could build a DIY version, or simply adjust the bump stops for the springs for much cheaper, but for someone who doesn't want to do that, this looks to be a simple, effective solution to help with the loss of sway control caused by adding airbags.