What is the smallest Tow Vehicle ya all are towing with. Currently own a Youkon 2005 and can’t afford a new one. I love GMC, however this is also my commuter vehicle. I am way over what I need. My trailer weighs 2500 lbs, and my new horse will be smaller side… 900 lbs or less. What are you all using for a smaller vehicle? I was thinking about the GMC Terrain. any thoughts?
I would not tow a horse trailer or livestock trailer with anything other than a properly rated pick-up truck or “body on frame” SUV (Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon, etc.). I just don’t think it’s safe.
Cars that can tow (various amounts) are fine for hauling a flat bed to get hay or transport your mower for repair, but not to pull a horse trailer.
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I test drove a Terrain last time I was car shopping. No way would I tow a horse trailer with it.
The Equispirit horse trailer site has a bunch of good articles on towing and safety, including a couple on choosing a tow vehicle. I’d check those out. https://equispirit.com/info/articles.htm
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I used to use a Ford Ranger for towing one horse. But I didn’t take highways or drive over 45mph. Depends if you live somewhere flat or with mountains.
For towing with a small vehicle you want a weight distribution system and anti sway bars. Make sure your hitch and all parts are rated for the weight you are towing.
You want a good proportional or inertia based braking system on your trailer. You do not want a timed delay breaking system.
check the manual on the vehicle you are looking at. For example a F150 is limited to towing 5000 lbs unless you get a maximum tow package and a weight distribution system.
Tongue weight is another limiting factor. Smaller vehicles need a lighter tongue weight.
If your trailer is a standard size (not a Brenderup or one of the other European ones designed to be pulled by a car) I would go with at least a half ton truck or similar SUV just for the wheelbase.
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I bought a Brenderup so I could tow it with my V8 Hemi Jeep Grand Cherokee with factory tow. While my rig works beautifully, I wouldn’t pull a standard American trailer with it.
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A quick Google search lists the MAXIMUM tow capacity of 3500 lbs. Please DO NOT attempt to pull a horse trailer with one. That is a disaster waiting to happen. Not mention too short of a wheelbase, too top-heavy, no stopping power (best of luck if you get into trouble), you will kill the transmission in no time at all, etc.
I currently have a RAM quad cab HEMI V8 engine with a tow capacity of just over 8,000 lbs. My trailer weighs 2320 lbs empty. No way in hell would I tow with anything less. I had a 2500 before this truck and if I actually towed on a regular basis (my mare hasn’t been on my trailer in almost four years) I’d get another 2500. I can definitely feel the difference between the two vehicles.
Unfortunately good commuter vehicles do not go with good tow vehicles.
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I realize I tend to over-vehicle vs under-vehicle, but my parents have a Terrain that I have driven a bit. I cannot imagine towing a loaded horse trailer with it. And I’ve towed a lot of trailers over the years. My SO has a 45 foot enclosed race car trailer that I’m the only one who is allowed to tow it. MAYBE a euro style trailer - but I’ve never towed one so I don’t know how I feel about that.
I know pretty much every time we talk about small tow vehicles here there is two very passionate groups - the huge vehicle group and the tiny vehicle group. Here is my 2 cents - and it is two pronged,
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We had a old small steel trailer when I was a kid that we towed with a full sized station wagon (the modern day equivalent of a SUV). We had several very close calls as the trailer with one horse in it was at the max weight for the car.
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And this is more important to me today - It is not just you out there on the road. We are surrounded by distracted drivers. You can do your absolute best to protect yourself, but as is demonstrated over and over - you leave a good following distance for your vehicle and weight and someone will move into that space. Accelerating is optional - stopping is not. I’ve seem too many over-weighted cars/trucks get pushed around by a trailer if they have to slam on the brakes. We owe it our horses that trust us to put them in a metal box and protect them to give them the best possible chance.
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I used to tow with a Chevy Astro. I think it was rated to tow 5000 lbs. My trailer was 2500 lbs, and I could easily haul 1 horse in it no problem. Check the tow capacity.
VW Tuareg… Love it…
Don’t you have a Bockmann? not the same thing.
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You can tow a horse trailer with a VW Beetle under the right circumstances. But is it a smart idea?
Always remember that when towing anything starting is optional, stopping is not. So while engine and drive-train are important, brakes are even more so.
Every vehicle made has a GCVWR in the Owner’s Manual. Find that number, know the weight of your tow components, and do the math. That will give you The Answer to the question.
G.
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Not picking on you directly OP, but why does it seem like so many people fall into the “how much can I get away with catagorey” when it comes to trailering??? when the real question should be “what do I need to in order to make the drive safest for me and my horse”
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tabula rashah I hear what you are saying… I’ve always had an enormous vehicle to tow. Caddilac Esclade, Chevy Avalanche, and a Youkon currently. The prices of SUV’s have skyrocketed… I can always find another used one that will be safe… and honestly I won’t feel safe in something smaller. I drive 70 miles to and from work a day and it’s so costly compared to the amount of time I tow… I was looking to save money not so much on gas, as buying something new, that would give me both ( affordable and better gas mileage ) I assume a newer vehicle will be better on gas. I noticed the VW Tuareg and it looks good… but as soloudinhear mentioned, you would need a Bockmann or something 1 horse, really light for a trailer. I guess I can always trade my trailer in and look for a 1 horse…Well, thank you everyone you’ve given me a lot to think about… I’ll probably go with a Pickup or used SUV like my Youkon. ( currently have 225,000 on my current Youkon. )
I did a fair bit of research on this recently. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the best bang for your buck with SUVs and towing power. They also make a diesel version. After careful consideration I ended up going the pickup truck route so that I would have gooseneck towing as an option…but the Jeep GC is a solid option.
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I do a lot of commuting too (a minimum of 100 miles a day if I don’t have to go to any of my other job locations) and when I actually did the math (because I used to use my Dodge 2500 diesel as my daily vehicle yikes) it’s cheaper and easier for me to have 2 vehicles- a small car and my big 3500 Dually, Getting 40 mpg+ with my car, the fuel savings alone covers the car and insurance payments and bonus!! I can now fit in parking garages lol.
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Yes I do have a boeckman…
A Tuareg with a Boeckman tows 2 horses very safe… In Europe it’s considered to be the #1 Tow vehicle :). And I have been towing 2 horses in the last 5;years without even the slightest problem… And BTW my Tuareg was a bargain… because of all the scandals around VW and the Diesels the dealer had him for a long time… he was 2 years old had the towing package 4 wheel drive and everything I wanted and I got it for 20.000 😊. I have had him for 3 years now and still love him!!! BTW not sure where you are located but if you are thinking about a Boeckman. I might be able to help you…
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I tow a Brenderup with an Acura MDX (tow rating 5,000lbs). Hauls great, stops great, horses love it.
If your current truck is paid for (assuming it is) and still runs well, I would keep it around just for towing and buy a smaller vehicle for commuting. Otherwise, as everyone else noted, you’d really need to downsize to a Euro trailer (Bockmann, Brenderup, Fautras) to safely pull with a smaller vehicle. It can be a perfect solution if you NEED just one vehicle and are in the market for a trailer as well, but given that you already have a trailer, just purchasing a smaller “daily driver” would likely be the most cost effective choice. And it doesn’t have to be a tiny car since you’re used to something larger…even a compact SUV will get great gas mileage compared to your Yukon and still offer lots of safety features.
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