i had a Brenderup for about 10 years and I loved it. I had a big warmblood mare and later an almost-as-big TB ; they both self loaded, never had an issue. It is now very hard to get any parts, etc as they dont sell in US anymore. That was partially why I traded mine in. Bockmann makes a nice one that is fairly lightweight. If I were younger and still towing regularly, I would have one of those instead of my current boxy, heavier bumperpull. I tow w/ a Tahoe; have always hauled mostly on country type roads; only highway when absolutely necessary…
2 Likes
Having four vehicles hits my sweet spot. (1) sports car for fun, (2) EV for local errands, (3) pickup truck for farm chores and trailer towing, and (4) big comfortable SUV for long trips and transporting people and luggage, and as a backup for trailer towing. I finally have reached that goal.
The downsides of course are tags, ad valorem taxes, insurance, parking, and maintenance and repairs for multiple vehicles.
3 more and you could drive a different vehicle very day of the week! This made me laugh. I barely have enough room for my 2 and no ability to park the pick up that i’ve lusted over for years, and no longer have much use for. Also no room for the vintage VW bug that I would love to own.
1 Like
Mr LS and I are the only people in our household. We have 6 vehicles.
5 Likes
After years of driving a big diesel everywhere as my tow vehicle and my daily driver- I got a smaller car with awesome gas mileage and a separate tow vehicle
The payment (although it’s now paid off), gas and insurance on my Fiat cost less than what I was spending in diesel and maintenance on using that as my daily driver. Plus I can fit anywhere with my car and if I’m trailering several days in a row I don’t have to unhook now
2 Likes
lol- this is pretty much my DH and I also
2 Likes
I’ve always done a single vehicle. I lived in an apartment when I got my first trailer and we had no ability to get extra garage spots there so I didn’t have a choice. 14 years later, I’ve just stayed that way. I board, so have no use for the truck as a farm vehicle. It would sit for many months outside show season, which can’t be good for it. I bought a Brenderup, and had loved the SUVs I’ve have over the years (V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango V8 Tow N Go Edition). I’m probably going to go up a step in wheelbase this year (Toyota Sequoia or maybe Jeep Grand Wagoneer, TBD) as I’m considering trading the B’Up in for a 2-horse with a bigger dressing room now that we’re showing off the trailer more often. I’ll really miss it though - it’s a phenomenal trailer.
Not claustrophobic at all. Depending on the model, the horse has several windows. The Baron that I had had two side windows (one at each head) and then a big picture window in the front. The trailers a super light and airy, very horse friendly. If you have 18h beasts they may be a bit tight but my regular sized TBs and WB fit no problem.
1 Like
As lots of others have said, if you can afford it, having a separate truck for towing is definitely the way to go!
I have my big ol’ Cummins 2500 for towing and whatever house stuff we need it for, but it mostly hangs out in my driveway looking cool. 
I commute too much to drive my diesel every day, but I need it for hauling my 2+1. My husband and I both have EVs for our everyday cars. Until recently we drove Priuses, which were great, but now that we have EVs we are completely hooked.
1 Like
Thanks everyone! Still waffling back and forth but at the moment I’m leaning towards a single, larger SUV that I can haul with but not feel massive in. Two vehicles feels a little excessive for where I am in life… even with the added convenience of a second car. I wish I could make it work with my LC, but I worry about it even with a lightweight euro trailer. It’s also at 250k miles and ready to be with someone who enjoys working on cars 
Maybe if I found a great deal on a truck AND economy car…
2 Likes
Are you towing now with your Land Cruiser? I towed with the Lexus version of that generation for years (2 horse Gore with 5’ DR) and it got the job done. I can understand wanting to move on since it is long in the tooth, though when I replaced my old Lexus I replaced it with a new model which had a slightly larger engine and did an even better job towing. I am now on a third one, and I choose it to tow the horses over my GMC2500HD pickup. It is just more comfortable and maneuverable than the truck, which I bought primarily to tow a bigger equipment trailer.
For you non-car folks, the Toyota Land Cruiser (LC) is essentially the same Toyota built vehicle as a Lexus LX. At least until now. I believe the new 2024 Land Cruiser is the same as the Lexus GX.
I’ve never towed with it, and I think the only thing it has ever towed was a flatbed and some kayaks. I worry about the transmission, and about stability. It just doesn’t feel large enough (112" wheelbase), even though it seems like it could do the job. I would love to get into the nitty gritty about your experiences with the LX though. Not against keeping the LC around another 20 years! Can I PM you?
I am single with two vehicles. I have my little compact car for daily driving and I have an F250 for hauling. I did not optimize for cost I optimized for convenience and comfort. I wanted a 3/4 ton and I definitely do not want to drive it daily - too big. And it has been convenient to have a second car - when my compact broke it took over a month to get the part and it was nice to have the truck to drive in the meantime.
I bought a used truck that I paid cash for ($25k). Maybe a different situation if you are looking at taking out a loan for something $50k+.
I have an F250 for hauling big stuff like a trailer or water tank, a Toyota RAV4 for town driving and comfort, AND an 03 Ford Ranger I can drive all over my place and get hay I can actually unload since it’s low (getting old…). Can’t get anything for it, license and insurance are very low.
Mr asterix foxhunts and we live 30 miles from the barn, so we have a truck optimized for towing (longer wheelbase etc) and each have an efficient low maintenance daily driver. Truck lives at the farm thanks to generous parking area for boarder trailers. I haul out once a week or at worst every other week for a dressage lesson, and husband hauls out to hunt things at least once a week most months of the year, and that’s before you add in showing for me, so we don’t need to worry about keeping the truck active - but most of our hauling is very local so mileage stays low.
If you can afford it this is super convenient - we keep it hitched so getting off the farm with the horse is pretty simple.
2 Likes
They’re actually MUCH taller inside than a typical 2-horse, and they have windows on both sides and in the front.
First off, I have a BrenderUp and adore it, not at all claustrophobic. It’s tall, white roof, it feels quite open, IMO, and none of my horses have trouble loading, from my 11.2hh weanling to my 17.2hh Shire. I have a single Tacoma, it’s big enough to tow the BUp, small enough to get into little parking spaces and garages. At 16 years and 328k miles, I still get 22 mpg average (without the trailer). My future plan is to get a full sized truck when the Taco dies (let that be many years from now), I’ve thought about getting a compact car for daily driving, but for me, the gas mileage would not make up for insurance, maintenance fees, and straight up payments on two vehicles. I can’t do my own maintenance, so an old truck that constantly needs work just isn’t a good option for me. My need for a full sized truck stems from the fact that I now have 3 horses and sometimes would like to haul all 3, my truck can’t do that. But for now, it’s not worth bringing on a car payment for the once a year I want to take all 3 to the vet. I have my sights on my own horse property and am pulling every penny towards that.
I am a single driver. I used to have a mid-sized SUV as my daily driver and an older, regular cab F-150 for towing and dirty jobs. When I moved, I sold the truck and traded the SUV in on a new, 4-door truck.
I started regretting it about 6 months later and still, 5 years later, am sorry I did it.
2 Likes
