Vehicle to haul family AND horse: pickup vs. large SUV?

[Risuena]

So I’m (finally! yay!!) starting to shop for my next vehicle, and hubby is on board with a truck so I can eventually buy a trailer too. The issue is that this will also be the main “family” vehicle - used for camping, going hiking or skiing, most road trips for family vacations etc.

My future trailer will be a 2-horse, so I’m thinking a properly equipped half-ton truck will suit my horse-hauling needs. I used to drive a F-150 for work and have a soft spot for them :-). BUT then I started thinking about throwing groceries in the bed of a pickup…or driving with all our luggage in the back through a thunderstorm.

I started thinking that something like a Suburban or Expedition might be better for the non-horsey stuff, and still be able to handle a trailer. My husband is voting for a pickup truck - and I agree that it does have advantages, mainly in being able to pack a lot into the bed more easily and for outdoor activities. When I think about trailering, or going hiking or skiing, I do think a pickup would be better. But even with a full back seat, I’m worried that it won’t be great for everyday life. (While it would solve this problem, we don’t have the budget to keep a smaller daily car and a truck, maybe down the road I can get a smaller commuter car but for now I’ll trade in my current car and will be shopping for a used truck/suv.)

So, how do pickup trucks work for everyday family life/kids/groceries etc? Pros/cons? Perhaps a truck bed cover would do the trick? Or is a large SUV a better compromise for the horse vs. family dilemma?

[Texarkana]

No “family” to worry about, but I have a soft trifold tonneau cover on my truck’s bed and it is awesome. One of the best purchases I have ever made. It keeps the bed dry and turns the area into a more versatile space, yet is super easy to take off (and put back on) when you need to use the truck bed for bigger stuff.

They make handy cargo bars with holders to prevent stuff sliding to the front of the bed, ie groceries.

I had a Suburban for towing once. Yeah, it’s probably more family friendly, but definitely less horse friendly. But they are good vehicles.

[Laurierace]

I am on my 3rd Sequoia at the moment, I have been towing with it and using it as my everyday vehicles since 2001.

[Second_Star_To_The_R]

I’ve never had a problem with my truck being a family car. things to think about… are you always only going to need to pull a two horse? It’s a lot easier to go ahead and over truck than to make up for it later. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to opt for a 3/4 or one ton. Dodge Ram with a factory TOW package (not just a factory hitch) has a 9000 lb tow capacity. And with a 5.9 it will tow it without difficulty even in the mountains.

If you are okay with Japanese products (don’t hate. Idk people’s budgets and am only pointing out things. Lol). I know a guy who’s Nissan Titan has a 10,000 ish pound factory tow package and the largest back seat in a truck I’ve ever seen but his bed is shorter because of it. Still he can haul two 800 lbs round bales in it. Similarly, the Nissan Armada SUV can come with same said package but you’d be relegated to bumper pull only. Toyota Tundra is another that has models that can get you upwards of 10k towing.

My Ram 1500 5.9 with factory upgraded towing and Laramie package was much less expensive than a 2500 or F250 and I got the same towing capabilities. We did change the cat back to dual, upgraded the chip and added helper springs, put some bilstien shocks on it and good E rated tires and added a brake box. You can’t increase the payload in the bed so there is that sacrifice but for my purposes it was worth it. It searved as our family car for hauling children etc. my other car was a Volkswagen Beetle at the time. Lol

[SharonA]

I tow horse and family with Dodge Durango. Very happy with it for pulling, and very happy with its gas mileage (low 20s) for work commute and family chauffeuring/camping trips/carpooling, etc. Easy to park, easy to drive, comfy seats, roomy, can carry seven people and a medium sized dog in the very back.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

I’d vote truck with something to cover the back unless your family is large or you will frequently be hauling more than 4-5 people total. Our first tow vehicle was a Suburban - we wanted the extra space for carpooling for Scouts, sports, etc. It was ok, but we never really loved it - had older leather seats that were slippery as heck - all kinds of nooks and crannies - once lost an old flip phone in it for several days. Our second tow vehicle was and is a Silverado 2500 with crew cab - I like driving and hauling with it a lot better. Heckuva a lot easier to haul a bale of hay or shavings in a truck than in an SUV. With a truck you would also have the flexibility to add a truck camper somewhere down the road if you ever wanted to.

[KittyinAus]

I have a car for towing a two horse trailer. Ford Falcon station wagon. Definitely a family vehicle with heaps of room for shopping. It’s legal to tow 2,300kg. These are an Australian vehicles but proof that you don’t need a large truck to tow.

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[AKB]

I love my Chevrolet Silverado 1/2 ton. However, when I had kids at home, I drove a Tahoe. It had the third row of seats and was a real kid hauler, as well as an adequate towing vehicle. A friend had a Suburban, which worked well. My very affluent friend with two older kids has a big Range Rover. That is a really nice vehicle which tows well and has a huge back seat for the kids or extra adults.

[GoneAway]

@KittyinAus

I have a car for towing a two horse trailer. Ford Falcon station wagon. Definitely a family vehicle with heaps of room for shopping. It’s legal to tow 2,300kg. These are an Australian vehicles but proof that you don’t need a large truck to tow.

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BUT: do you have a lightweight trailer? A vehicle like is NOT safe with a traditional North American style 2H trailer. There was a pretty lively thread about it in Around the Farm a couple weeks ago bickering back and forth between the Euro-style lightweight trailers hauled by small/mid-sized SUVs versus a small SUV towing a bigger, steel 2H trailer (which is not appropriate).

Keep in mind the style of trailers here versus other parts of the world and please be careful about advocating small vehicles towing if you’re not speaking to an audience with lightweight trailers.

Regarding the OP’s question, I agree with @Texarkana about the tonneau cover. I had this debate (truck vs. SUV) two years ago because I have a large amount of pricey hockey gear to cart around, and didn’t want it hanging out in the open in a bed of a truck. But, I didn’t really want an SUV as a tow vehicle either. I also have a tri-fold soft tonneau cover for my truck and it is awesome. Keeps everything dry and secure in the bed and allows for a lot of flexibility with that space. And best of all, I got the tow vehicle I really wanted, which was most important to me.

[clanter]

I’ll trade in my current car and will be shopping for a used truck/suv

I would not discount new as the interest rates on most are now at zero plus incentives

Is there any thought on a lease?

[sisu27]

We have both (F-250 powerstroke and 2500 Yukon XL) and I prefer the Yukon. I find it is more versatile and loads more comfortable. The 3rd row seat was removed and never put back in so lots of space for dogs and stuff where it stays clean and dry (and warm). Both will safely haul any 2 horse.

I hauled a pony and a horse in a 2 horse with a brand new F-150 once with a tow package and V8. On the flat it was ok but we had to traverse some big hills and it made me uncomfortable. Not enough oomph up the hills and I was terrified I may have to brake suddenly on the down hills. I know tons of people do it all the time but unless it were a lightweight trailer I would never again.

[supaflyskye]

@Laurierace

I am on my 3rd Sequoia at the moment, I have been towing with it and using it as my everyday vehicles since 2001.

:yes:
I love my Sequoia. When it finally bites the dust (lord forbid), I will definitely be looking to get another.
Mine is a 2002 w/ almost 300k miles on it & is still going strong as can be, hauling horses (I have 2H BP – CM Odyssey) & carrying my ass around. It’s a great vehicle, has only really needed 2 “major” repairs in it’s lifetime (new ignition system a couple years ago; & recently new yaw rate censor which was a pretty big deal to get sorted out), not too bad considering all the wear & miles it has on it.

[Janet]

I haul with a “fullsized” Ford Econoline van. Plenty of space to store all my gear where it is dry and lockable, and lots of room for passengers. Also a much longer wheelbase than a typical SUV, so much more stable towing a trailer. Similar gas mileage to the equivalent pickup. Mine is an E350. I would have considered an E250, but not an E150. I tow a two horse Hawk, w dressing room. Mine is a '97 and still going strong.

[Jersey_Fresh]

Oh man, don’t mention you are thinking about hauling with a suburban or you will be jumped on and harassed by trolls!!! Trust me, I made the mistake of mentioning the S word on a thread.

[supaflyskye]

@Jersey Fresh

Oh man, don’t mention you are thinking about hauling with a suburban or you will be jumped on and harassed by trolls!!! Trust me, I made the mistake of mentioning the S word on a thread.

Hah, really? I had no idea there was such a bias against Surburbans on COTH.
My mom had one when I was growing up & it was a great car …and had no trouble hauling my horses all over kingdom come. :winkgrin: Finally crapped out w/ like ~340k miles on it.

[mmeqcenter]

As long as the SUV has an adequate tow capacity, SUVs are perfectly fine for towing.

Even if you only have one or two kids, I’d opt for the SUV. Kids have friends that like to tag along/need rides, etc. I don’t even have kids and am considering an SUV instead of a truck when we finally replace our F150. Now, our F150 is a 4-door with seating for six, but it’s not the most comfortable six ever. If we end up with another truck, it will also be 4-door. I’ll only have true 4-door trucks, no 2-door or small doors for me.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/…owing-capacity

[Where_sMyWhite]

@mmeqcenter

As long as the SUV has an adequate tow capacity, SUVs are perfectly fine for towing.

You forgot… and suitable wheelbase.

Just because a manufacturer or sales droid says a specific vehicle can haul a specific weight doesn’t mean it it appropriate for hauling horses which both move around and have a higher center of gravity than dead weight normally loaded in a trailer.

[lilitiger2]

a 3/4 pick up or sure, a 3/4 ton SUV like a Suburban. Just because, technically, I COULD haul with a Jetta doesn’t mean I could STOP with a Jetta or that it would be stable if there is sway. People will tell you they haul with some Rabbit like car, but again, it is NOT a good idea. A woman towing a trailer with a light SUV killed her daughter near us - good weather even but windy. And that was that.

And you do not want to b underpowered. My main (only) vehicle is a dodge 3/4 ton and it is an excellent “family” car. got a quad cab, and a topper (which works with a BP trailer) there is PLENTY of space for other stuff. And it gets decent mileage as well (26-28 mpg)

[Heinz_57]

We have all 3 types of vehicles - a commuter car, a 3/4 ton gas truck, and a 1/2 ton SUV (Durango, for all that care).

The SUV is by far the winner if we’re talking about daily driving with grocery trips and loads of people/stuff. It’s perfectly fine to haul with for regular local/mostly-flat-roads trips. I use DH’s truck when I have to haul over the pass and back, and really have to put it through the paces going up the mountainside fully loaded, despite all the work he’s done on it to increase hp/pulling power. Definitely not something I’d attempt with a smaller truck. I’ve hauled with Suburbans, Excursions, various old 70’s/80’s pickups, and a couple diesels. By far, diesel wins in terms of ease of hauling. I don’t know what year range of vehicles you’re looking for, but if it’s not too old a diesel Excursion might be the best of both worlds (IMO).

SUV is much more convenient than the truck for shopping trips, by far. It’s also way, way easier to park and get kids in/out. :lol: Truck is nice for hauling lumber, hay, fencing, etc. but I assume if you don’t have a truck now, you either don’t need that stuff or already have an alternative method for hauling it.

[Jersey_Fresh]

@supaflyskye

Hah, really? I had no idea there was such a bias against Surburbans on COTH.
My mom had one when I was growing up & it was a great car …and had no trouble hauling my horses all over kingdom come. :winkgrin: Finally crapped out w/ like ~340k miles on it.

I got downright harassed by another poster. And I wasn’t even asking about the vehicle I was asking about sway bars.

I love my surburban. Hauls great!