Need new truck: Ford? Dodge? Dually?

[equisusan]

We have an old dually that needs to be replaced. I’m not a Chevy/GMC fan. What are people’s thoughts/preferences? Will pull our current gooseneck aluminum 4 horse head to head but may also upgrade trailer to 6 horse head to head. Warmblood sizing with dressing room. Also not a fan of slant loads. Mostly hauling short trips <3 hrs but will make 3 or 4 long trips 8-12 hrs per year.

Ford or Dodge?
Dually or not?
One ton or bigger?
Diesel or gas?
Stripped down or with lots of comfort and/or safety features?
Long or standard bed?
4x4 or not?
What kind of cab?

Thanks

[GoForAGallop]

Are you buying brand new? Budget?

>What kind of cab?
This is most assuredly a personal opinion thing. Do you NEED an extra bench seat? If you don’t, are you willing to pay a premium to get it just because it’s a “nice to have”?

>Stripped down or with lots of comfort and/or safety features?
More personal preference. The safety features are going to be relatively the same across the board. Creature comfort features are a different story. Do you NEED heated seats? Only you and your back know.

[ChocoMare]

Since you’re not a Chevy fan:

Dodge
Cummins Diesel
Long Bed
Dually
On-Demand 4WD (there when you need it, off when you don’t)

[equisusan]

[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7733998]
Are you buying brand new? Budget?
.[/QUOTE]

Yes new. No budget. Will buy what I like and want.

[netg]

How tall are you?

I would absolutely go Dodge, Diesel, if you fit comfortably. I’m too short to drive my trainer’s because I can’t quite get the clutch pushed in all the way with the seat all the way forward. I fit more comfortably in Fords.

I would actually go lightly used so you can check on possible engine issues, too, but DEFINITELY Dodge if going new… I’d look at Consumer Reports and other similar sites to be aware of possible performance concerns.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=netg;7734071]

I would absolutely go Dodge, Diesel [/QUOTE]

Not a single doubt in my mind that if you’re buying brand new, and choosing between Dodge and Ford, you go with a brand new Dodge Cummins diesel. Ford doesn’t make anything that compares to the flawlessness that is the Cummins.

I think the 1-ton will do you just fine (DEFINITELY will for the 4-horse), but get some sample specs for 6-horse trailers to make sure. Dually.

Long bed will give you more wiggle room with the gooseneck.

And girl, if you’re buying brand new, get all the freakin’ bells and whistles. Why not! :lol: Heathed leather, nav, do it up!

[equisusan]

@netg;7734071

How tall are you?

5’10"

[equisusan]

[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7734083]
Not a single doubt in my mind that if you’re buying brand new, and choosing between Dodge and Ford, you go with a brand new Dodge Cummins diesel. Ford doesn’t make anything that compares to the flawlessness that is the Cummins.

I think the 1-ton will do you just fine (DEFINITELY will for the 4-horse), but get some sample specs for 6-horse trailers to make sure. Dually.

Long bed will give you more wiggle room with the gooseneck.

And girl, if you’re buying brand new, get all the freakin’ bells and whistles. Why not! :lol: Heathed leather, nav, do it up![/QUOTE]

LOL I’m so on this. I was surprised how many people were saying Ford F350. I’ve had one before and it was great but all my personal horse friends and trainers have been 100% Ford.

I’ve had two Dodge trucks prior as well but they were not duallys.

[netg]

[QUOTE=equisusan;7734127]
5’10"[/QUOTE]

Then you won’t have my short problem.

Sounds like you need to get to a Dodge dealer! Have fun shopping and playing with options!

[airhorse]

Seriously, you are considering a SRW truck for a 4 horse head to head, or larger.

We pull our 2+1 with a F-450, wouldn’t do it with anything less.

The new F-450 is a beautiful beast, I would not look at anything less for the 6 horse. If you can find a nice used one in the 2008 - 2010 model years, you cannot beat it. Those years came with the 19.5" wheels and tires, and are a very robust tow vehicle.

4X4, diesel, king ranch, long bed, dually, crew cab, yes.

[tangledweb]

@airhorse;7734309

We pull our 2+1 with a F-450, wouldn’t do it with anything less.

I can no longer tell which people in the hauling threads are being serious, and which people are being deliberately hyperbolic to make a point about how crazy people get when talking about trailers.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=tangledweb;7734502]
I can no longer tell which people in the hauling threads are being serious, and which people are being deliberately hyperbolic to make a point about how crazy people get when talking about trailers.[/QUOTE]

:lol: Right?! I am not understanding the prior posters logic.

If a F-450 is the bare minimum for a 2+1, then why is it also the perfect solution for a 6 horse trailer? Following the logic of a F-450 needed for three horses, you better start looking at Freightliners and other semi’s for a six horse trailer. :lol:

[netg]

Or try Dodge, Chevy, GMC…

[airhorse]

Our 2+1 weighs 12K loaded.

I prefer to see max tow capacities as limits, not goals.

Why anyone wants to be beyond, at, or near the limits of their tow rig with live animals on board is beyond me.

And the reality is, the OP probably should be looking at a 650 or small Freightliner for a 6 large horse head to head. That could easily be a 16-18,000 pound trailer.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=airhorse;7734657]
Our 2+1 weighs 12K loaded.

I prefer to see max tow capacities as limits, not goals.

Why anyone wants to be beyond, at, or near the limits of their tow rig with live animals on board is beyond me.

And the reality is, the OP probably should be looking at a 650 or small Freightliner for a 6 horse head to head.[/QUOTE]

My 2005 1-ton GMC with the 8.1 is rated for almost 17,000lbs. It would be fine with a 2+1, in fact, I got it to pull one.

The 2014 Ram 2500 is rated for 18000lbs. Would be TOTALLY fine with a 2+1.

The 2014 Ram 3500 is rated for 30,000lbs. With most six horse head-to-heads coming in at under 10,000lbs, that leaves you 20,000lbs of wiggle room for your six horses and tack. :lol:

Not a single person here is advocating a tow limit as a “goal” or attempting to get near it. Numbers are numbers, and OP doesn’t need a Freightliner for a 6-horse. Not if she’s looking at brand new trucks, which are whole different beasts from older models.

That’s great that you like your crazy big truck for your relatively small trailer…enjoy that 10k worth of safety margin! Heck, I’ve got a similar set-up! But that doesn’t mean other options aren’t just as safe.

[airhorse]

Best also be checking your states requirements for a class A drivers license. Anything over 26K GCWR may qualify. The downside to a 30K tow rating. If taking any prize money at shows, throw in a CDL also.

[Jim_in_PA]

Just a minor point, but “Dodge” no longer makes trucks for folks buying new. RAM is now a separate brand…

[mroades]

I love love love our F-450 dually, can not bring myself to even test drive a dodge…

[ryansgirl]

[QUOTE=Jim_in_PA;7734908]
Just a minor point, but “Dodge” no longer makes trucks for folks buying new. RAM is now a separate brand… ;)[/QUOTE]

Yup - they are not considered “Dodge Ram” anymore…just “Ram”. A whole new brand :yes:. That’s all I’ve driven since 1996 - won’t buy anything else. My current one has 119,000 miles on it and still going strong.

[equisusan]

Well we’ve been pulling our 4 horse with an old Ford F350 gas dually with no problems for a long time and I had a Ford F350 diesel dually that I pulled a 6 horse with for a long time as well. I understand wanting extra oomph but I don’t think we need a 650 or a freightliner.

I would consider a Ford F450 though. With modern trucks do I still really need the 6 wheel dually or is 4 tires really just as fine? For some reason I was thinking the need for a dually was out-dated.