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

[dkcbr]

@Palm Beach

If you get an SUV, make sure you can get into the back gate easily while the trailer is hooked up; the hitch does not block access to the gate or keep the gate from fully opening.

This is a good point. I hauled with a couple different SUVs over the years and found that it worked fine to wheel the hitch down low enough after parking to lower the tailgate. I am proud to say that I never once forgot to raise the hitch before pulling forward, but it is definitely something to keep in mind.

OP I would drive a few examples of both pickups and SUVs before starting to narrow the possibilities…Since you are looking for something you will like driving every day in various situations, you may find that pickups and SUVs drive & handle differently enough to factor in your ultimate decision.

I had a 3/4 ton pickup for a few years and it was fun to drive BUT I also had a small commuter car which took the pressure off having to drive and park the honking big thing where it didn’t fit in town, etc. So a capable SUV and appropriate trailer might be a great compromise for you.

[xQHDQ]

Check out some boat towing forums for other ideas. No, a boat doesn’t shift its weight like a live animal, but it does have a water and/or waste tank that sloshes in turns. There are some pretty knowledgeable folks on those BBs. I have an SUV and bought a super light all-aluminum trailer - hauls great and is perfect for every-day use.

[supaflyskye]

While we’re talking towing w/ SUVs, I will also note – my neighbors had a Range Rover for a while, which they purchased specifically to be able to use for towing their large-ish BP trailer (can’t recall at this point if it was either a 2H or 3H, but it had a large dressing room & was fairly good sized all around for a BP). They HATED it. They ended up trading it in for an Excursion in fairly short order, because they quickly reached the point of not feeling safe/comfortable towing w/ the Range Rover & would not do it. According to them, the trouble w/ it was that the “turning radius was too tight.” I guess basically the rig ended up being very easy to jack-knife, even just doing simple things like turning into a driveway or etc. Something like the steering on the Range Rover was way too sensitive? & even just turning the wheel just ever so slightly too much or too quickly around fairly average turns ended up landing them stuck w/ a jack-knifed trailer.

I’m not sure if that whole explanation they gave makes a ton of sense to me, honestly… But they definitely did NOT like the Range Rover or feel safe w/ it for hauling, & had no problems w/ the Excursion after trading it in. I’ve heard other folks say that the full size Range Rovers are great to haul w/…but I’ve never hauled w/ one myself, so can’t speak to that personally.
I just thought I’d share, in case that info may be relevant or helpful to the OP or anyone else on a similar vehicle search.

[OTTBs]

@dkcbr

This is a good point. I hauled with a couple different SUVs over the years and found that it worked fine to wheel the hitch down low enough after parking to lower the tailgate. I am proud to say that I never once forgot to raise the hitch before pulling forward, but it is definitely something to keep in mind.

How does one “wheel a hitch down”??? What kind of funky hitch do you have?

[vali]

I started out with a used F250, later bought a new Chevy 3/4 ton truck, switched to a one year old Ford Expedition that I hauled with for 14 years without problems. I just bought a used F350 to haul a small living quarters trailer, but I think we’ll probably keep the Expedition around because it’s so much more convenient to go skiing, shopping, and when we have to haul a lot of people. It has 145,000 miles but is still running well and has required only routine maintenance. The only vehicle I bought new was the Chevy, and that was the only one that has had significant issues. The Expedition hauled an aluminum two horse trailer easily, but I installed the Equalizer brand weight distribution system with sway bars when I first bought it. I’m a fan of buying used but within the period you can still get an extended warranty from the dealer. So much cheaper than new in my experience, I just got my F350 crew cab with 80,000 miles for under $23,000, and I bought the Expedition when it was a year old but had already depreciated a 1/3. My 1992 Ford 250 is now my mom’s farm truck and still runs well, although it’s a bit unsightly now. I just have a hard time paying new truck prices.

[Risuena]

Thought I’d post an update…the pickup truck won. While there’s no question that the SUVs would be better for routine family stuff, figuring out my priorities nudged me to the truck side. Just got a 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and so far I couldn’t be happier. I really enjoy driving it, and it gets better mileage than my Mazda did!! It wasn’t even on my radar until I stumbled across one. Thanks to everyone for your advice and input on things to think about! Now to start trailer shopping

[Belowthesalt]

@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.

I’ve hauled with Suburbans and have no issue with them BUT…they more often than not require sway bars. I use a 3/4 Silverado HD with a tonneau cover and it does the job with ease, but at one time I worked for an attorney who had a hobby farm. I didn’t have my own rig and he let me borrow his. I never knew whether I’d get a truck or a suburban, a two horse or three horse trailer - I had to take what was available, and I did prefer the trucks, but the Suburban was fine - with sway bars.

[zipperfoot]

@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.

I love our all-wheel drive Yukon XL! We don’t haul our horses a lot, but we use it to haul 5 people AND all their stuff (for 3 weeks) AND a 21-foot boat from Missouri to Canada every summer. It does a great job. It’s also my “farm truck” when we’re not traveling. If I need a “real” truck, I use my husband’s.

[pologirl27]

Well two things I’ve seen that I wouldn’t suggest: a Jeep Cherokee (it matches the trailer it hauls!) and the Tesla SUV hauling a 2 horse.

Seriously though, I haul with a 2 door truck and have a little sedan as my daily and lack of truck cab space is fine by me. That being said I don’t ever plan on having kids, and frankly don’t take people with me anywhere on a regular basis. I think a truck with a cap on the back solves a lot of problems.

[Belowthesalt]

@pologirl27

Well two things I’ve seen that I wouldn’t suggest: a Jeep Cherokee (it matches the trailer it hauls!) and the Tesla SUV hauling a 2 horse.

Some friend/fellow boarders had a Cherokee as their everyday vehicle. They had two horses - a 16 hand lightweight older TB and a small Trakhener (around 15.2). They bought a standard size steel trailer. They then went out and bought - with all dealer assurances that it could do the job - a Grand Cherokee to pull their trailer. The first time they hitched up, the Jeep’s front wheels lifted off the ground. They returned the Jeep and bought an F-250. LOL

[ryansgirl]

@Risuena

Thought I’d post an update…the pickup truck won. While there’s no question that the SUVs would be better for routine family stuff, figuring out my priorities nudged me to the truck side. Just got a 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and so far I couldn’t be happier. I really enjoy driving it, and it gets better mileage than my Mazda did!! It wasn’t even on my radar until I stumbled across one. Thanks to everyone for your advice and input on things to think about! Now to start trailer shopping

Awesome truck! I have a 2008 with 181K on it and its been great (gas - not diesel so much worse gas mileage for me!). Did the dealership warn about the price of oil changes by any chance?? About $170 each time due to the diesel and EPA regs, etc. :eek:That was enough to scare me away last year when I was thinking of upgrading! But its a super nice truck so congrats :).

[WildLittleWren]

I drive a Nissan NV. Of course you probably don’t need as much seating as I do with as many kids as I have…it’s a 12 seater and a V8. Gas guzzler though

[Risuena]

@ryansgirl

Awesome truck! I have a 2008 with 181K on it and its been great (gas - not diesel so much worse gas mileage for me!). Did the dealership warn about the price of oil changes by any chance?? About $170 each time due to the diesel and EPA regs, etc. :eek:That was enough to scare me away last year when I was thinking of upgrading! But its a super nice truck so congrats :).

The dealer didn’t, but in my research I did learn that (before I bought it). But the fact that it can go up to 10K miles between oil changes softens it a bit. I ended up deciding between this one and a gas Ram 1500, and “diesel” was in both the pros and the cons side of this truck! But for my purposes I think the diesel overall is a plus to this truck, and it has a couple extras that I really liked, like the “Ram Box” which is nice for extra storage.

I will add that I think Rams are a good vehicle for people like me who want a dual-purpose vehicle. If I needed a serious towing truck, I would have chosen something else. But for a given price, these trucks seemed to have more of the creature comforts that are nice for everyday driving while having more than enough towing capacity for someone like me.