Horse trailer

[odd-6]

Hey fellas i have a 2011 sport with the towing package. I'm looking to tow my wife's 1100 lb horse and our 2500 lb 2 horse trailer. I just want to clarify a few things. The gcw of the loaded truck and trailer is more than the gvwr of the truck so I need to install a electic brake controller right? But the whole set up will be less than the gcwr of 9500 lb. Is there anything I should be worried about towing with such a short wheel base? Don't have the f350 anymore so I now have to be cautious with weight. Thanks

Does anyone know on a 2011 if the wire that connects to the brake lights when activated by the brake is purple with a white tracer? I read it on another forum but never got a reply.

 

[4.0B2]

1... stopping, yes..brake controller
2. will the truck hold the weight?
3. can the truck control the trailer??? steering/controlling will be a lot different than w/ a f350... been there/done that, won't be doing it again.
4. is this a safe idea?

think about that last one long and hard... just b/c the truck can/will pull the weight, doesn't mean it should pull the weight. think about whose life you have in danger when doing so...

idk what the max tow weight is for your truck, just remember that number is there for a reason.

idk, i'd be leery of doing it for sure. just be safe sir...

 

[a31ford]

.
YUP, 4.0B2 You hit the nail(s) on the head,

I'll also add this.... If the horse moves around in the trailer (even shaking it's head), that is enough mass to "push you around"

DO Some serious research , better yet... rent a larger truck to do this, it's simply the "right thing to do", what if you killed someone because of the handling with a small truck and a horse ? could you sleep at nights ?

Sorry to be a bit of an A#$ on this, but I'm missing fingers on my left hand because of someone ELSE doing something that affected me.....

Greg

 

[rusty ol ranger]

3600lbs? youll be fine, my ol ladies escape will handle that....

 

[adsm08]

I don't know that i would be quick to attempt towing a horse trailer with a Ranger. It's capable of towing the load, but like Greg said, any movement on the part of the horse(s) will have massive effect on the handling.

I towed my tool box on a shorter trailer and if some joker got close enough to the back of the trailer (they really had to be tailgating, but people do that and one guy did get close enough to make this happen) the back of the trailer would drop and lift the rear axle of my truck off the ground. If the horse moves too far to the rear of the trailer, even on a dual axle unit, I can very easily see it having adverse effects on your ability to keep all four wheels on the ground.

I would have no problems towing a 3600Lb setup with a dead horse (or other not-alive things making up the weight), but a living animal that will move around gives me great concern for the safety of this idea.

 

[odd-6]

That's what I was thinking, the trailer weight isn't a problem just the moving live load which I also feel would push the little light ranger around.

Guess the ranger will stay the dd/hunting/ and quad puller.
Thanks guys

 

[Ozwynn]

I would not do it without a weight distribution hitch with a sway control. but I used to use my Tacoma to move my horse in a 2 horse trailer....... knowing what I know now ...... I would not have done it then.

 

[Ranger Kip]

I know a friend of mine went all around the country in her 4-cylinder 85 b2000 pulling 2 horses (top it off, it was a 2wd as well). She went through blizzards, california heat, and even windy (not really relivent) scenarios, and she sold it to a used car dealer with 250,000 miles on it and still running well in 1991

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If it is an actual horse trailer with a stall to contain the horse it probably won't be so bad. If it is like an open livestock trailer then no.

I will never forget how fun it was to haul our cow with a stock rack in the back of dad's light half ton Chevy when I was a kid. She would walk from one side to the other and the truck would flop all over the road. Then she releived herself back there and kept slipping and falling down on the plywood floor... it had to be quite a sight watching a pickup doing bellyflops going down the highway.

We did that once, then we got a trailer and turned the stockrack into gates.

 

[Jraymer360]

i know my parents horses with their old goose neck horse trailer ...you could feel the weight moving and they have a full size diesel truck probably wouldn't attempt it unless it's a short distance that isn't over 45 mph

 

[Will]

Ride the horse. It can move on its own, is my understanding.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Ride the horse. It can move on its own, is my understanding.

I dont think a horse could keep up with traffic on a interstate....but im not sure

 

[suzuki14258]

It should handle it fine as long as the trailer has a wall to keep the horses in place. If its a open horse trailer I could see a issue. My friends mom pulls two horses with a toyota tacoma and its rated for 5000 pounds. 4.0 ranger is rated for 6000, I wouldnt hesistate to hook it to my truck.

 

[andystamey]

scary as ***t

I'm sorry but people on this towing forum scare the ***t out of me when I hear the thing they tow with a ranger...

 

[Captain Ledd]

I'm sorry but people on this towing forum scare the ***t out of me when I hear the thing they tow with a ranger...

Some loads, yes. This load, why?

1. It's a 2 horse trailer, 2500 lbs is a but heavy (for JUST a trailer), but this is not that large of a trailer size wise.

2. The horse weighs 1100 lbs, average quarter horse. We're not talking Clydesdale's here. And it's only ONE.

3600 lbs is easily handled by a Ranger. I agree on the part of there's a stall vs an open trailer, don't do it in an open trailer.

Will it move a Ranger around more than an F350? absolutely, but I can't see it as "uncontrollable". Feeling the trailer load is fine, it'll remind you to keep you from doing things you shouldn't do. Needing a F350 (or even an F150, remember, NEEDING) for 3600 lbs? *shakes head*

I'd absolutely put in a brake controller. That's a no-brainer and makes everything that much safer.

As for sway control, yeah, it'd help in this instance. Keeping your hands on the wheel and paying attention would still do the vast majority of the work. If you can cruise E-bay and score a deal on a decent kit, it may prove itself worthwhile.

I'd pull it.