I'm new to this site but looks like to place to find out some great info!  I am in the market for a pickup, and am looking at an '05 or a possibly an '04 F150 Triton, 5.4L, V8, 4 X 4, auto, with a 3.73.  Probably will be the supercab.  Ford's Towing Guide indicates that with the 144.5" wheelbase, it should pull a max loaded trailer weight of 9,300 lbs. and thats for a bumper pull and a gooseneck.

I plan to pull an old, small steel 2H bumper pull initially that a friend of mine will let me borrow to get my feet wet, and then purchase a new/used lighter trailer.  I am thinking of going with a 2H gooseneck, possibly a slant load, with dressing room, although not sure yet. My horses are on the small side.

My questions are: 1) is the Ford Towing guide accurate that the above described F150 will really pull 9,300 lbs?  Sounds like quite a lot to me.  2) If I go to a gooseneck down the road, within the 9,300 limits, will this truck suit? 3) if so, will the 144.5" bed work with most goosenecks? Can the bend be any smaller or is the 144.5 the smallest? and 4) with a 2H GN slant load, would it be realistic to think that the first horse loaded (again, a very small mare, about 15'1") will be able to get herself turned around and not have to back off of it?  I have had her in my friend's 3H Eby GN and if she's the first one loaded/last to come out, she can turn around; or should I anticipate having to do a 3H slant GN for that?  And if so, will this truck suit a 3H slant gn?  HELP!               

welcome.

1. of course the ford guide is accurate. you may not be satisfied with the performance but the truck will be safe and capable.

2. only you will be able to answer that, being in PA the 5.4l may not be all you hope it will.

3. dont know, ive only pulled GN with 8' bed/flatbed.

4. dont understand the question, the horse furthest in will have the most room to turn around. why is this in question? as for 2h or 3h it depends on the weight of the trailer, not the "horse rating".

on my 6'8" wide 2h slant, the last to load/first to come out, is a 15.2 QH and he has no problems turning around, if this is your actual question. and of course the first to load/last to come out has plenty of room.

Thanks for responding!  I think I have to re-group on this 150 plan; some people say its fine and others say no way. I'm thinking it makes more sense to get the GN trailer first and then get the truck; agree? 

I have a 2H BP slant wiht a rear tack and the horse in the back stall cannot turn around to exit.  They have to back out.  The horse in the first stall has to be pretty small to turn around as well and I make mine back out.  My trailer is 7'9" ht and while I'm not sure of the width, it's a big trailer.  Having a rear tack makes all the difference if they can turn around.  No problem turning them around with a 3H in the first stall.  But it really will depend on the size of the trailer.  Keep in mind the better made trailers are usually wider, stall length is longer, etc.

     I had a F150 and pulled this trailer for 9 years, but now have a 2500 Dodge Diesel and love it.  If you can get more power, do it as you may decide to get a 3H and you will be much better off. 

I have a Toyota Tundra with a V8 and I pull a 2H GN with a dressing room just fine.  My trailer is a 14'6" Ponderosa and is 6 foot wide, I think.  The first time in my horse refused to back off after trying for about 30 min.  The stall divider was in and he ended up falling down and then getting back up facing the other direction.  I took the stall divider out and he has room enough to turn around to walk out even with the rear tack, which is a good bit larger than most rear tacks.  I have a short bed truck and have no problems with clearance of my trailer.  It has a "proto" nose where the corners are chopped off and this helps.  I think the trailer weighs 3500 or so empty and loaded would only be about 6500.  I am within my limits of towing 7500 pounds with the truck.  So, I would think you would be more than ok with the Ford F150 you described pulling a 2HGN.

FYI:  removing the stall divider would give one alot more room to turn the horse around.  With the divider in place, it butts up agains the rear tack, but turning space is lost due to the angle.

    I prefer to keep the divider intact in the trailer and wouldn't want to have to remove it each time.  I have folded up the rear tack a few times when a horse wouldn't back out of the rear stall, but again it's not something I'd want to do everytime.  Though at least with a slant you do have this option, not sure if you would with a straight load unless it was very wide and the horse was very flexible. 

    It's really best for the horse to learn to back out as you never know when this skill could come in handy or you don't have any other choice. 

Yes the Ford guide for the 05 is accurate, will it haul it with authority, no. If you are really considering on upgrading your trailer down the road definitely consider a one ton truck. You can get some very nice deals on them as people who bought them for size/appearance versus using them are bailing out due to gas prices.

If your planning on a Ford my recommendation is you don't even consider the 5.4 liter V-8. Your choice boils down to the V-10 or the PSD. If your not towing every week for long distances with a monster load look at the V-10, it's a great motor and will haul with PSD any day. If your not hauling heavy all the time, it will take you years to recoup the initial price difference buying the diesel as well the cost for maintenance vs. the V-10 gasser.

Looking at mileage with the V-10 is 12-14MPG if you don't race around in it. Loaded expect 9 MPG. The 05 V-10 runs with the torqshift behind it runs very nice, and like I mentioned you can get some good deals.

If I were you I'd buy the Ford 250 with a diesel. That way no matter what terrain you come up  against you'll make it. I came from NY and some of those hills were murder, I'm not sure of PA.