That is literally what I said in my comment.
Ok, since there seems to be no clear answer to the truck vs trailer decision, I think we are going to start looking for a trailer first. Once we choose a trailer we will know exactly how much it weighs and can find a truck that can comfortably and safely pull that amount. So the next question I need to answer is whether we buy a new trailer and get exactly what we want knowing it could likely last me the rest of my trailering life, or find a used one. It seems to me like trailers hold their value so well they really aren’t a whole lot cheaper unless you go back a decade or more so might as well get a new one. No?
Now, if we want to talk about the new long arm suspensions, I will drool and be green with envy.
Not sure I quoted correctly, I do want to talk about long arm suspension since I don’t know what that is. A google search made it seem like air ride, is that correct? If so who makes trailers with that?
No long arms are for the truck. It’s not air ride - it’s a change in the geometry of the suspension, which affords a nicer ride without giving up other qualities (tow capacity). A handful of new trucks come stock with it. Any truck can be retrofitted with it, but it’s not cheap.
Thanks for the explanation. Is the nicer ride for the people, the horses or both?
Primarily for the people. It won’t matter if you’re hauling literally all the time, as all work trucks drive better when loaded. It’s when you’re driving unloaded that you’ll feel the long arm improvement.
I was looking at the description of the Hawk and one of the features is a “nose storage cage” and I immediately thought “why would you need to store the horse’s nose?” 
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I’ll share my experience and hopefully you can gather some useful info.
I wanted to start shopping for a truck and trailer so I went down the rabbit hole of research. I knew I wanted a 2H GN (only needed 2H; definitely wanted a GN). From there I began to research trucks with the intention of purchasing that first because I knew I would be buying a used trailer and I wanted to be able to pick it up and have it inspected! I generally knew I wanted a 3/4 ton diesel Ford and went from there. My research led me to decide on a 7.3 L Ford 3/4 ton, touted as the best towing engine Ford ever made and easy to work on. So I set my mind to finding that truck.
I found it (mine is a '97 that I bought in 2017; I realize many folks wouldn’t want to buy a truck that old but mine only had 130K miles on it [barely broken in for a diesel], would not be a daily driver, and I have a mechanic who is THE BEST). Fortuitously, I found the trailer within a few months and I was on the road.
I will say, my truck is not an easy ride and doesn’t go fast. Unloaded, it will rattle out my teeth, as @endlessclimb alluded to. But man, I love it with my trailer attached. I would eventually like to by an LQ, so I may buy a newer 3/4 ton Ford at some point. But, I think I’ll always buy the TV first and then buy the trailer.
Good luck in your search. I’ve recently started following Hitch & Tow in SC; they have a great trailer inventory.
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I think part of what you need depends on where you are located and how far you are going and the terrain you are covering. Everyone I know that has a 2H BP has a 1/2 ton truck. BUT, we are in MA, it’s a small state, relatively flat, and no one goes more than 3 hours to a show, mostly much less. The people I know with larger trailers, or that go farther away for shows, to VT with lots of hills or to Area II, have 3/4 tons trucks. I don’t think I know anyone with a 1 ton truck but I don’t think I know anyone with more than a 4H GN with DR.
So those are some things to keep in mind. When I went to VT with a friend in her 1/2 ton with 2 horses in her BP, no DR, those hills were a bit much. She wanted the DR so she upgraded to a 3/4 ton truck soon after.
I have a question regarding tow vehicles. I was looking at a Charmac LQ with an 8.5’ short wall, 3 horse with a per axle rating of approx. 8,500 lbs. Charmac’s are typically heavier trailers and are very well made and last forever. My husband insisted a tow vehicle would have to be a one ton. I disagree, I rarely haul more than one horse (have three) and already have a 3/4 ton which has hauled a heavy LQ with 3 horses in it and not on level ground, no trouble stopping it or slowing coming down the mountain passes so I’m not sure why he thinks a one ton is necessary.
That is a pretty heavy trailer to need 8500# axles. It might be one horse, but that LQ is heavy.
Why don’t you hitch up to your 3/4 ton and head to the scales to figure out your tongue weight? If it’s well within the rating of the truck, and you’ve got good E rated tires, then it’s up to the brake controller and condition of the trailer brakes to get the job done.
Seems like I picked the worst time to buy a used truck but I finally found one that wasn’t a ridiculous price. Not so fortunate on the used trailer front so I ordered one that will be ready some time this summer. I was shocked at how much harder it was to back my bumper pull with this giant thing but I think I am getting closer to figuring it out.
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It’s gorgeous! Congratulations!!!
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When I first started towin I towed with a Jeep Cherokee. What a mistake. I knew nothing. I cracked the engine block of course. Then got a F150. Nope. That was a long time ago. I had two horse stock trailer. Now I tow with an F250 Super duty, my second one. My first was so wonderful but we sold it because it was 12 years old with 40K miles and got a new one. It was still perfect so I recommend a used one. Boy, they hav figured out that women riders tow! My new one is amazing. I remember buying a truck and getting the brake box put on, then the gooseneck ball, etc. now you can buy it, go home and tow, plus the stuff like heated/air conditioned seats. Go Ford!
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This (including the mistake w the Jeep🤦♀️) ^^^^!
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See, everyone has different experiences.
I started towing with a Jeep Grand Cherokee too - for 80k+ miles, and had absolutely no issues. Of course the rig left a lot to be desired as far as power and who was wagging who, but I never felt like I was going to crash, nor did I break anything drivetrain related.
Now, mind you, I’ve always been a gear head, so knew how to drive to save the engine, and knew when the trans needed my foot to back off to take the line pressure down to allow a soft instead of hard shift, etc.
The fact that the rig was so short made getting in anywhere and everywhere so stinking easy. In a small, tiny, minuscule way - I miss it.
It’s probably somewhat related to the fact that these big trucks have the turning radius of a school bus. 
They are so much longer than the vehicle you’re used to, just keep practicing! Congrats on a fancy new hauling setup!
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