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Half-Ton Truck and Gooseneck Trailer - Am I Looking For a Unicorn??

Around The Farm
#1

I currently have a 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 with a V8 that has over 200,000 miles on it. I pull a 2011 3 Horse BP Eclipse trailer with it.

I’ve been wanting to get a different trailer for a while now - a 2H (ideally) or 3H with a weekender package - electricity, a way to get AC/heat, mini fridge, possible microwave, and storage. I would LOVE a toilet but know that isn’t ideal…now here’s the kicker…I’m on a budget of MAXIMUM $11,000. I had my trailer appraised at $8,000, and while I’m hoping to get that for it, I would be willing to get $6,000 or $7,000 for it and have money to put $5,000 towards a different trailer. MAX.

…is this even doable? I feel like I’ve been looking through trailers forever! Getting a different truck is out of the question right now for the most part.

I am in love with this trailer - http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/hom…asp?ID=1135765 - he says the empty weight is 6000 lbs and that his father has pulled it, loaded, with a half ton truck. My truck towing capacity, according to Google, is 8700 - 9400.

#2

Update: Google says my towing capacity is 8700 - 9400 lbs.

#3

Before buying I would weigh it to make sure. That seems light for a steel trailer. If you decide to go this route at least ad airbags to the truck

#4

If it’s 6,000lbs empty you are going to be overloaded as soon as you put horses on it. Even before you get tack on, stuff in the dressing room, etc. It’s going to be way WAY to heavy for your 1/2 ton

Keep looking for a 2 horse goose neck with just a weekender package on a 4 foot short wall in aluminum. You can get all the way down to 3,000lbs for a two or three horse.

I saw a two horse aluminum sundowner with AC and insulation for $6,000 in Louisiana.

1 Like
#5

Many here pull safely with 1/2 ton pickups 16’ gn steel stock trailers, with up to 4 horses or more than that cattle.

Now, you are talking a 20’ gn with living quarters?
That is way more than a 1/2 ton should be pulling, I think, to be safe.
Loaded, you will struggle on hills, never mind mountains.

GNs pull much better than bp, but they still have limits.

#6

I’m from Iowa, and it seems like all of these good 1/2 ton weekenders are across the country. :frowning:

Did you see my updated towing capacity - my guess was a little low. Just wondering if your comment was to my 6400 lbs guess or the actual 8700-9400 towing capacity. Still, that was unfortunately what I was thinking. How in the world did this guy’s dad pull it fully loaded with a half ton (it wasn’t even a heavy half ton!!)?!?!?

#7

Lots of people successfully do things that are maybe not a good idea.

Lots of things work until they don’t.

I have a 2002 GMC half ton with the vortec 6L and the pin weight of a gooseneck with weekender would exceed my max payload. Even a 3k trailer, assume 25% on the pin to be safe is 750 plus fuel and water, and that’s without horses on. That’s not an option for me. If this is a must have for you - you’re going to need a bigger truck and to be a very handy person because what you find in that price range is going to be O-L-D.

1 Like
#8

6000lb empty is going to be closer to 8000lb by the time you load up one horse and all the stuff you would need for a weekend away in your LQ. Water, hay, tack, gear for your living comfort…

If your truck is closer to the 8700lb end of that towing capacity range, that is awfully close to your max capacity. And it pretty much guarantees you’d go over with a second horse.

1 Like
#9

I did see your updated capacity. The trailer you are looking at is heavy, it is three horses. is steel, and has a big living quarters on it. You will be overloaded.

I am a big fan of 1/2 ton trucks but your 1/2 ton is underrated for your trailer and I think most half tons would be. You may find yourself going out of state to get a lighter trailer, but they do exist. You may need to pass up on a full living quarters to get it but you will find it.

1 Like
#10

Your truck is 17 years old, which makes it vastly different from the half-tons of today you see pulling goosenecks. I know this because I just moved up from a one ton 2001 Ford to a one ton 2016 RAM, and they are day and night difference.

That being said, my money would be on the fact you would pull a 2-3 horse LQ once with a half-ton truck and either park it permanently or realize you need a bigger truck. Stopping is INCREDIBLY important, and if you have any kind of failure with your brake box or trailer brakes you will be very sorry. Wear and tear on a piece of equipment not meant to do the job it is being asked to do can add up to huge bills. Just ask the people who have replaced transmissions on trucks that have been over loaded.

Just because you can, does not mean you should. NEVER believe what a salesman of any kind tells you, especially when it comes to towing a live load. Most people selling vehicles have never pulled a horse trailer loaded with horses.

1 Like
#11

I wouldn’t do any living quarters with a half ton. Too much total loaded weight and just not safe. Your truck will probably not survive without mechanical issues unless it’s set up with heavy duty suspension and towing package which should include a more robust transmission and water pump and brakes.

Personally I think you’re asking for trouble. I had a 1/2 ton Chevy and hauled a 3 horse gooseneck Elite aluminum trailer that was built like a tank. Extra tall, extra wide stalls extra large dressing room. It was too much trailer for that truck. After a year I upgraded to a 3/4 ton Chevy diesel. Holy cow what a difference in hauling comfort, capacity and braking power. I upgraded while the 1/2 ton was in the shop for a new water pump.

3 Likes
#12

Advice from someone who had (< note “had”) a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 with the 5.3L V8 engine and was hauling a SilverStar 3H slant gooseneck WITHOUT any sort of living quarters…

Don’t do it.

I just traded (as in, less than a week ago) for a 2016 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD because 2 horses in my trailer put me at maximum towing capacity in my half-ton and it’s not a good feeling, nevermind once you add the weight of LQ, potentially a 3rd horse, and all your gear.

1 Like
#13

Try driving it down the highway and then have a blow out- you’ll change your mind in about 5 secs. No way I’d haul that much trailer with a 1500- you’re just begging for trouble.

1 Like
#14

I have a GMC 1/2 ton rated to tow 11,000 lbs. It has a max tow package and 6.2 V8. It is night and day from a 5.3 (I’ve used both). It can tow more than the 6.0 gas 3/4 ton when you just look at stright tow capacity. But there is one key difference. It’s not the tow weight, its the tongue weight on the payload from the gooseneck where it isn’t designed to handle as much weight as the 3/4 ton.

1 Like
#15

Okay, so I need some clarification here:

Are we talking about a weekender being a no-go or an LQ? When I say weekender, I mean maybe some storage (closet, cupboard, I don’t know…), perhaps a table or dinette, and definitely electricity. I would add a mini fridge and maybe a microwave. While I dream of a toilet, I understand it’s probably a pipe dream.

But really, what CAN I tow with my half ton then?

There is a reason I am asking the horse people - because I truly don’t know that much about it. I am much more familiar with bumper pulls.

Oh, and @soloudinhere…I’ve seen a lot of nice, small, aluminum, but used LQ trailers go for $20,000 and under around here. I know my budget is a little tight on the trailer, but if the weight wasn’t an issue (which clearly it is) I don’t think that is necessarily a true statement around this area.

#16

One more thing…I only ever haul 2 horses max, if that is useful information. Usually it’s just one. I suppose that doesn’t really help though, does it. But anyway, give me an idea of what a half-ton IS able to tow.

Currently wishing I had the money for a new truck…

#17

I meant assuming you replaced the truck, whatever HD pickup you got was going to be old.

#18

I think it’s generally recommended not to exceed 80% of your vehicle’s towing capacity. Meaning you would want to keep your entire trailer + horses + gear just under 7000lb if your capacity truly is 8700lb. You should be able to get a more exact tow capacity on your truck if you know your truck’s model + engine + transmission + rear axle differential.

I don’t think a gooseneck is completely out of the question, but it will need to be a lightweight one. Two horses and their supplies for a weekend trip can easily weigh 3000lbs, which doesn’t leave much wiggle room.

1 Like
#19

I still think payload is going to be a bigger issue than towing capacity.

The max payload on my 2002 GMC half ton is 1391lbs. That number has to include fuel, passengers, fluids of various kinds, stuff you put in the truck, etc. The pin weight of even a lightweight gooseneck trailer can hit 1000lbs no problem (often 1/4 to 1/3 of the total trailer weight, empty). Things like AC units, batteries, water tanks under the goose, propane tanks, etc all add to the pin weight because they are in the goose and not over the axles. Full water tanks can add 150 pounds to a pin weight. Putting horses up usually doesn’t change the pin weight much because their weight is over the axles.

Assuming you’re an average weight human of roughly 140-170 pounds, and a 1000lb pin weight, you have roughly 221 pounds to cover your fuel, fluids, those extra floormats you put in, your CD collection, any people you might want to take along, food, etc. It’s just too close to max especially on an older truck.

4 Likes
#20

@soloudinhere I didn’t realize payload was so low on many half tons!

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