Conference noted::equitation

    Whoops, I meant to say that my mom's truck is a 4 speed manual!
    I don't even think they make 2 speed manuals any more!
    
    Oops!
    

    RE: .0
    Make sure it's a V8, has the right rear-end gear ratio(3:56,3:73,3:90,
    etc.), you need to be sure that the torque range of the engine is
    high enough to pull the load, especially up hills, stop & go traffic,
    etc. . This will be ecspecially true if you later put a camper on.
    That's the trouble i have, not the right gear ratio, it's to high
    (3:08's, YUK!!), I'm always using 3rd gear on hills, etc. .
    Be chosey(sp), there's alot of trucks out there.
    
                                                       Steve
    
    
    
    

    
    I still have my original rig, and I like it a lot.  I'm hauling
    a 19 ft Hartman, TB size with a 4 ft dressing room.  It's a tag
    along with a GVW of 5400 lbs.  I put my money there and bought
    a used truck.
    
    I have a 1978 Ford 351, manual 4 spd (1st is granny gear). I have
    a weight distributing hitch but probably don't need it due to
    the long wheel base of the truck (it's a camper special, 2 wheel
    drive).  I lose speed on the hills some but rarely have to shift.
    
    Definitely an 8 cylinder for hauling a horse trailer!  A 6 will
    have to work harder and probably not last as long. I am biased 
    towards Ford trucks for hauling.  They seem to do better than 
    the Chevy's in the power department.  
                                        
    I have had great luck with my used truck!
    
    Danielle
    
    
    

    I really have to agree with everyone so far.  You can get yourself into
    a bind with "not enough" truck.  I know several people who decided to
    go with a "small" engine (for fuel economy, etc).  Their poor trucks
    have to work so hard they get poorer mileage and more repairs (like
    tearing out the transmission, or the rear end) than my heavy 3/4 ton
    with 400 cu engine. 
    
    My truck is extra heavy duty everywhere, extra large radiator,
    transmission cooler... and I have towed trailers over 100,000 miles
    with it.  I did have transmission work done at 125,000.  Mine
    happens to be a Dodge--I swear by it.  By the way, with this big
    engine, I get 13 to 15 miles per gallon towing a trailer.                   
    
    Good luck truck hunting. 
    
    Mary Jo

    Hi Linda!
    
    Presently I tow my 2-horse, TB size, Hartman with a 1984, full-size,
    Ford Bronco.  It is an 8-cyl, manual, 4WD, 302 engine.  Does a great
    job.  BUT, it is a short wheel base and therefore can have some
    problems loosing power when fully loaded on hills (especially those
    Vermont ones!).  I have read that ideally that vehicle you tow with
    should be longer than the vehicle you tow.
    
    My last truck was a Ford F250, manual, 4WD, 3/4 ton pick-up.  It
    had a longer wheel base than my Bronco and did a super job hauling
    but it was only a 6-cyl and therefore lost power easily.  I would
    have kept it if it were an 8-cyl.
    
    My husband and I are currently thinking of selling the Bronco and buying
    a Suburban.  They are know to be great for hauling, especially if
    you have the tow package installed.  They have a long wheel base,
    haul easily and are comfortable, but they are expensive and don't
    have too great of gas mileage...sooo...you have to make a big decision
    when purchasing a towing vehicle.
    
    Good luck, and keep us posted on what you end up buying...
    
    Jenny             
    

    Linda,I currently have a 1985 Ford F-150 4X4 with a 351 HO engine
    the truck is a shortbed (that is 6 1/2 ft.bed)and it drive fine
    hauling a Gore 2-horse trailer.I also use a Reese hitch as opposed
    to a bumper setup.Weight distribution is okay and all.I've always
    liked my trucks bigger than the trailer in case one horse comences
    to sway or scramble,you have vehicle stability to compensate.
    Hope this helps.
    P.S. It's also a good thing I work field service so I get a company
    car cause the gas mileage ain't too good w/truck

    We have a GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 with automatic transmission and 350 V8
    engine.  You definitely need the power, but the gas mileage is rotten.
    One thing we did about gas mileage is to get two 20 gal. gas tanks
    on the truck.  There is a switch in the cab to let you switch from
    one tank to the other.  At least it keeps you from having to stop
    at every other gas station!  We can usually do long distance hauls
    (for us that's about 3 hours one way) without using up all the gas
    in both tanks.  I don't think I'd get another truck without 2 tanks.
    
    						Jan
    

    In my opinion you are better off with too much truck than with too
    little.  The gas mileage won't make that much difference (note that
    underpowered engines pulling heavy loads use "MORE" gas than larger
    engines suited for the task).  You should ask for heavy duty everything
    especially now that light trucks are in vogue and are often not
    like they used to be.  I have a Chevy 3/4 ton which I've modified
    to a one ton except for the front axle (added doolies, suspension
    etc).  It has a 350 engine which pulled our old Miley two horse
    with no problems.  Now we have a four horse tracer with living
    quarters, and it is grossly underpowered (needless to say I'm in
    the market for a truck).  I would think about what you plan to do
    in the next five years and let that dictate what you will need in
    a truck but generally I'd get no less than a 3/4 ton set up with
    a camper/tow package (eg Camper Special).  For tag-along's you want
    a long wheel base, but for goosenecks you would rather have a short
    wheel base.  By the way the longer the wheelbase, the harder it
    is for most people to back so you may want to try a friends truck
    for backing first.  Any of the big three US truck makers should
    fit your needs, but I'd be careful of the imported versions because
    even if they are rated for the same load capacity, they just aren't
    big enough.  My preferance is Chevy or GMC but its based on my
    subjective feelings, not an objective advantage.  All in all I don't
    think any American manufacturer has it over any other in this
    department.
    
    Regards,
    
    Bob
    

    The April issue of Consumer Reports has just come out - it's their
    1987 Car Issue. The reliability ratings include pick up trucks.
    These ratings are based on the reported experiences of Counsumers
    Union memebers, although Consumer Reports doesn't test trucks. All
    the three domestic manufacturers get "much worse than average"
    reliability ratings on their full size pick up trucks except for
    Ford which is "worse than average" for its 2WD V8.
    
    The "anecdotal evidence" I have heard suggests that the manufacturers
    are about equal but are probably average overall in reliability.
    Each brand has some problems, but the only universal criticism I
    have heard is of the Jeep Cherokee (bring your own mechanic). Any
    body care to add their comments?
          
    It is extremely important to properly maintain your truck if you
    are using it to haul horses (or anything else that heavy). A fully
    loaded two horse trailer weighs in between two and a half and three
    tons, depending on the brand of trailer and horse. Brakes, suspension
    and transmission are put under high stress when hauling. I agree
    with the previous reply that a V8 heavy duty everything is the way
    to go.

    I have a C-10 longbed, with small V8, transmission cooler, etc.
    It is ok for a 2-horse trailor.  But, in agreement with others,
    I WISH I HAD GOTTEN A LARGER V8.  

    	Yup...  Bigger is better in this case.  I have a Ford F-100
    	(V6) and had a transmission cooler installed.  The only thing
    	that this truck had going for it was - it was all I could afford,
    	the engine was sound and it wasn't a rust bucket.  This truck
    	slows on hills just by itself....  I am buying a trailer and
    	have not hauled with it - yet.  I know that it will be slow
    	hauling the trailer but I look at it this way... I'll git there!!
    
    	But I know that with a smaller engine - it will work harder
    	you do go through (my opinon) more gas.  So it does require
    	that you take the best care of it that you can...  I am by myself
    	most of the time and I have had my brakes lock up on me a couple
    	of times, ran out of oil (garage din't tighten down something)
    	and have had BOTH tires of a trailer go flat on the same side
    	with two horses loaded.  So, it doesn't pay to not take the
    	best care of of them that you can.  I have a honest garage the I can
    	count on - he knows I don't know much about how a engine runs
    	and takes care of my truck for me.  I tell him to do what he
    	has to and if I get stuck I will pull his lips over his face
    	and punch holes in it....  We get along fine.      
    
    	Bottom line is - that I do bring the truck in a couple of times
    	a year and if I am going on a particularly long trip, I will
    	bring it in before I go.  I have found that this has saved me
    	money in the long run.  It is very hard to run around and find
    	someone to fix your truck when you have a nag in the trailer.
    	I know - I spent a nite in a garage parking lot with two of
    	them because there wasn't one open.
    
    	

    Well, to keep anyone updated, at this point with the amount of plain
    commuting miles I do a year (about 20,000 or so) and the fact that
    only about 1/5 of that is hauling, I think I am going to try to
    go with either an F-150 with a small V8 (EFI 302) or a R10 (Chevy)
    with the 305 EFI small V8. I have no preference between Ford or
    Chevy but I am going to get the super engine cooling package on
    either, heavy-duty suspension on either, front and rear stabilizer
    bars and either the 3.42 axle if its a Chevy or the 3.55 axle if
    its a Ford. I'd LOVE to be able to get a 3/4 ton with a big V8 however
    the gas would eat me alive in the long run (which is what I had
    before! heavy sigh!)
    
    Thanks for all the advice and please, I'd still welcome suggestions,
    advice, etc!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Linda
    
    P.S. In reference to .11, I am currently using a 6 cylinder and
    with 1 medium size horse (15.3 hand Appaloosa), I have just barely
    gotten there! I can remember a few occassions of going up hills
    and being in first gear on a manual transmission hoping and praying
    that I wouldn't have to shift into "granny-low"!
    

    Well, thanks everyone for the advice! I finally bought a truck!
    I decided upon a 1/2 ton Chevy with HD everything including springs,
    shocks, radiator, battery, brakes, aux. transmission cooler, etc.
    with an automatic transmission and a 350 fuel-injected engine. Now
    all that is left is to put 500 miles and a hitch before I attempt
    hauling!
    
    Again, thanks for all of the advice and suggestions!
    
    Linda
    
    P.S. Oh yeah, it also has a 3.42 rear axle and a rear axle locking
    differential (which hopefully might come in handy in wet fields!)
     

    Another question about equine transportation, this regarding my 
    towing set up.  Fate has kindly befallen me an awfully nice truck...a
    91 Ford Lariat XLT, 4WD, low mileage, V8 5.0 liter engine, at a price
    I cannot refuse...free! (a gift from my father, the dear man!).  All
    that remains for me to do is have the hitch installed. I have called
    several places and found U-Haul to have the best price around.  This
    is the same place that put the hitch on my last one (which is now
    for sale if anyone needs an inexpensive conversion van with towing
    package), and I was very happy with their work.  So, Im on the right
    track...my question is the neccessity of the weight distribution bars.
    I have never had them on my van and have had no troubles, but Im 
    wondering if they really make a diffence and if it is something I
    *should* invest in to extend the life of my new truck?  The prices
    I've been quoted for this 'kit' have made me gag! Just this alone
    is equal to the total price of everything else put together...hitch,
    wiring harness *and* electric brakes set up! My truck is huge, 4WD,
    with a very large wheelbase. I guess what Im looking for is opinions
    from someone other than the guys who are trying to sell me the weight
    distribution kits. FWIW, I know a lot of other people who tow just
    fine without it...opinions?
    

    Linda,
    
    Never look a gift truck in the mouth! ;-)
    
    A weight distributiing hitch may be necessary or not. It depends on
    what you're going to tow with the truck. If you're going to tow a
    trailer which has a loaded weight of 5,000 pounds or more, I'd
    recommend one. At 6,000 pounds a WD hitch is kind of a necessity. (My
    opinions only)
    
    So, if you're towing an aluminum or fiberglass 2 horse trailer w/o a 
    dressing room, you're probably OK w/o a WD hitch. If you've got a 
    dressing room, a 3 horse trailer or an all steel model like the old 
    Kingstons(which weighed over 4,000 empty!), a WD hitch is indicated. 
    
    There was a recent article in EQUUS(2 months ago?) on trucks and
    hitches which might be useful reading.
    
    John

    Thanks for the tip, John! I have a friend who keeps her back copies
    of Equus, I'll ask her if she remembers the article!
    
    My trailer is an old Miley, the spec sheet (which surprisingly still
    remains on one of the escape doors), say's it's 3000 lbs empty.  I
    usually only haul one horse, approx. 800 lbs.  Sounds like, from
    your input, I would be okay unless I started hauling 2 larger horses
    frequently (which is not likely).   My dad tells me he would expect
    this truck to haul just fine, that the (gear?) ratio is very low and
    the 4WD will help out in a pinch. Still,  I want it to last a quite
    a few years, it's a third car only and won't be used for commuting or
    much else except towing and moving hay/shavings, etc, so I should be
    able to keep the wear/tear it takes to a minimum....I'll never be able
    to buy something this for myself, so this freebie has to last! :-)
    
    Thanks for the input!
    

    If you haven't dug up that EQUUS article yet, it was in the April 1994
    issue(EQUUS 198). I came across it while cleaning up some magazines
    yesterday.
    
    I looked for what they had to say about weight distributiing hitches.
    They say that WD hitches should be used on a full size truck when 
    towing 5,000 pounds(trailer + horses + "stuff") or more. For compact
    trucks and Bronco-type vehicles, they recommend WD hitches for towing 
    3,500 pounds or more.
    
    John

    I did find the article.  Actually, I have since found a few more
    articles about towing as well that were more useful.  The Equus one
    was rather vague to me.  
    
    I HAVE decided to go with the weight distribution set up, though.  My
    truck is full sized, my trailer weighs 2640 empty and my one horse is
    small (about 800 lbs), but I'd rather be safe than sorry and I do want
    my truck to last as long as possible.  Got the truck this weekend, it
    goes in for the hitch installation at the end of the week. 
    

    >The Equus one was rather vague to me.
    
    You have just said out loud my biggest complaint about EQUUS in recent
    years. They go to such extremes to be "fair" and not offend *anyone* 
    that they frequently come off as vague and/or wishy-washy.
    
    That's another subject though and, if there's any more comment, let's
    take it up under the magazine topic....