Need some validation before I buy new trailer--Towing w/ F150

[Bouncingthetrot]

I have a F-150 2014 Lariat 4x4 Ecoboost 3.5L w/ 3.55 axle ratio and 157" wheelbase. The tow capacity listed in the Ford literature is 9500#.
So, I’ve been looking for a new horse trailer and really like the looks of a Hawk–2-Horse Bumper Pull with Dressing room. The unloaded weight IS 3200#, the GVWR IS 7000#. Would mostly be hauling one 1300# horse and 300# in gear.

My truck has a GVWR is 7350#. According to my door sticker I have 1256# of additional capacity. Front GAWR is 3900# and Rear GAWR is 3850#. The GCWR is 15.5k.

Looking for verification that this looks like a sound decision. Also interested in feedback on Hawk trailers.

[RubysMom]

Love my Trail-Et, which is basically a Hawk trailer, only older (2002 2 horse bumper pull with DR) as Hawk bought out Trail-Et. I tow it with a Chevy Silverado 1/2 ton, 5.3 liter and I am happy with it.
My buddy has a Hawk, and she pulls it with the F150 Ecoboost and it is pretty awesome, more power and better gas mileage than my Chevy, despite the smaller engine. I would say go for it.

[AKB]

I think you will be fine. I tow a 2h Sundowner, no dressing room, 2 horses inside, with a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the towing package and V8. It tows well.

[Bluey]

We have pulled our 16’ GN stock trailer full many times, with our 150F 4x4 pickups, without any problems, as most anyone around here has, for decades now.

The latest 150Fs are also way more powerful than the old ones.

As long as you stay within the given limits in weigh and are not driving in extreme conditions, like in the mountains, you should be ok.

[invinoveritas]

You will be OK on flat lands. But for hilly areas, you need and F250.
Hawk Trailers are great. They are made by a man who used to work for Trail-et, which was a great trailer.

[ElementFarm]

We pull our 2H BP (both Equispirit, similar to Hawk) trailers with our 2010 and 2013 F150s no problem. Mostly local trips, but a few longer ones, and while we were slow going up hills, it was not problem. I never felt like the trucks were struggling or unsafe.

[ladymcts]

Sounds like a good match to me. The only thing in all that that makes me slightly hesitant is the ecoboost. I’ve seen rants against ecoboost when it comes to hauling, but most of those rants done by die-hard gearheads who might also think nothing of adding aftermarket accessories to improve performance or just geek out their friends. Personally, I’d try it!

Bought my first Hawk last year. It was a used trailer, so about 10 years old and I love it. The only complaint I have with it is with the ramp. I don’t really like ramps anyway, so that doesn’t help. But this ramp has nothing covering the springs, so I’m always kicking clumps of shavings out from the hinge areas just in order to get the ramp closed. I know this can be easily remedied by finding a rubber mat to go over it, or maybe even roofing shingle type material. I just haven’t gotten around to doing that yet.

But overall, love the hawk and wouldn’t hesitate to buy another.

[Chestnut_Run]

You shouldn’t have any problems at all. That is well within what your truck can pull. I pull with a 2003 F150. When we moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky a few years ago, I made multiple trips hauling horses to the new farm, through the mountains of West Virginia (highway, but still mountains). NEVER an issue with the truck. Go for it.

[Mango20]

I love my Hawk. I bought it new in 2000 and it’s still in great shape, and gets plenty of use.

[ET_s_Home]

I have a 2016 F-150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost and just bought a 2008 GN 2-H Hawk. So far I love both!!! the 150 has better gas mileage that the smaller Nissan truck we traded in, if just driving around town. I normally just haul the one horse, for local trips (< 1 hour). The truck never seems to ‘struggle’. I do use the Tow mode. If I were taking a long haul with two horses and lots of equipment, would borrow my kid’s 350 King Ranch (now THAT’s a beast!)

The GN rides sooo smooth, will never go back to bumper pull. Horse was kicking relentlessly in a borrowed bumper pull. Now she self loads and no kicks yet in my ‘new’ trailer. Love the rumber floor = no heavy mats!

[LetItBe]

I just got my Hawk 2-horse BP and LOVE it though I’ve only driven it to its inspection:) We went with a Chevy 2500HD vs a smaller truck as we wanted a diesel and you can’t even tell the trailer is behind it so I’m sure you’d be fine.

LetItBe

[rb5007]

I’m on my third Hawk trailer and love them. Sold the first one to get a dressing room, and sold the second to get rid of the dressing room. #3 is going on 8 years old and is in great condition. Horses LOVE them and they hold their value really well.

[SonnysMom]

[QUOTE=invinoveritas;8950012]
You will be OK on flat lands. But for hilly areas, you need and F250.
Hawk Trailers are great. They are made by a man who used to work for Trail-et, which was a great trailer.[/QUOTE]

I have a Trail-et with dressing room. I hauled it for many years with a Chevy 1500 extended cab. This was mostly PA but some trips to OH, NY, MA and WV in some pretty hilly areas. I might be concerned with really big hills/mountains if I had two draft horses in there but with one horse or two average sized horses it was fine.

[judybigredpony]

On my #3 Hawke…Sold first one to get a WB w/ Dressing…still have it 16 years later…bought a custom 2+1 BP w/ Dressing room…LOVE it…and the customer service at Factory is Outstanding!!!

[2enduraceriders]

[QUOTE=RubysMom;8949922]
Love my Trail-Et, which is basically a Hawk trailer, only older (2002 2 horse bumper pull with DR) as Hawk bought out Trail-Et…[/QUOTE]
Thank you!!! We love everything about our Trail-et but had no idea who bought them out.

[SonnysMom]

[QUOTE=2enduraceriders;8952337]
Thank you!!! We love everything about our Trail-et but had no idea who bought them out.[/QUOTE]

Trail-et was not bought out. They went out of business. Hawk was in business for many years before Trail-et went out of business around 2010. I remember being told the person who started Hawk used to work at Trail-et so I thank that is the connection between the two companies.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

Depends on the terrain you will usually be hauling in.

[LadyB]

I haul my 2H GN with dress room, with my Dodge Ram 1500 V8 5.7 Hemi. It has the eco as well, where it switches to 4 cylinders. When you use your Tow Haul, the ecoboost is not a selection. Runs on all 8 Cylinders while hauling.

Truck hauls like a dream. Added air bags to the box to help with suspension, not the air bags to create a smoother rider. Since the newer trucks now use spring coils, instead of leaf springs, having the air bags helped support the spring coils.

I think you’ll be fine. If you’re in a very hilly area, I would want something a little bit tougher.

[monstrpony]

I have a Hawk 2h BP DR and am currently hauling it with a '12 F150 with the 5.0L gas engine. Previously, I had an F250 7.3L diesel, so I know what both feel like with the trailer. The F150 does just fine, I’m sure the ecoboost will do as well. I haven’t had reason to haul two horses since I got the F150, but I’m confident that it could get the job done. And I live in the mountains of western NC. Out my driveway, I have a 5 mile climb first thing in order to get most anywhere. The truck does very well, and with the tow-haul mode, it handles coming back down the mountain with comfort. I think you’ll be fine.

[stb]

I have a 2 horse BP with DR Hawk that I bought last Spring. I absolutely love it. I pull it with either a 2014 Toyota Sequoia (mine) or hubby’s Chevy Silverado half ton crew cab with 4wd. Both pull it nicely, although if I lived in the mountains I would want something bigger.