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Posted on 01/31/2005 8:31:31 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
*New* The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics*
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads . And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in . There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news . Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
That sounds like a better description than worrying, thanks.
Beautiful, stunning horses! I will be waiting anxiously with you till she foals : )
Hello everyone.... this is a vanity ping! I'd like to know about trucks and horse trailers...
As some of you know, we've been without a truck and horse trailer... depending instead on the charity of others to get to go on trail rides. It's been a $$$ignificant $$$etback that we need both the truck and trailer.
My dad has a nice late 80's half-ton Silverado that's been babied. It's in great condition for it's age, he keeps vehicles really immaculate. He wants a new one though, and would consider giving us this truck if it would get us by a few years. That would free us to start looking for a used trailer, which is an acheivable goal!
The question is, is it enough truck to pull a two horse slant or light stock trailer with two horses in it?
It's not ideal, I know, but we need to be able to pull our horses about 7 miles to the state forest, up one hill. Can it do it?
What he wants to know is what they weigh. I know each horse is 1,000 lbs + a couple hundred pounds of gear, but what does the trailer weigh empty? I found weight specs on the Logan coach page, it said 2940 for the 2horse, 3560 for the 3horse. Is this a pretty average weight trailer?
What do your trailers weigh? And would you recommend pulling a 2-3 horse trailer with such a truck? Cindydawg... I'd be particularly curious about your stock trailer, because I think they are lighter, and I could be happy with that.
Well Its nearly 11pm here and I have some laundry to put away and a dishwasher to load again. DJ gets in about 11:45-midnight.
Now i dont have to worry about foals or the after birth, I should sleep well tonight!
Goodnight everyone.
What kind of engine? Transmission? Is it a dually?
No it's not a dually - Automatic transmission... engine ??? - sorry I don't know... V8, but not a super large one... whatever would have come with it. Ramius... do you know what engine is in dad's truck?
Good night :)
Eddie wants to know if it's a standard or automatic and what size motor.
Automatic... 4x4... sorry I don't know what motor, V8.... waiting and hoping my brother is online and knows.
Check on edmund.com for the pulling capacity of the truck. I think a stock trailer would be lighter.
I pulled a two horse enclosed trailer with a '78 Dodge 1/2ton all over the southeast. The Dodge had a 318 engine in it. A horse screwing around in the trailer would really make itself felt in the truck and I had one horse take the rear end of the Dodge off the road.
If it will tow the weight, a gooseneck might be safer since the tongue weight is over the rear wheels not on the bumper. JMO
It's the regular Chev V8, 350 cu in. Automatic, 4x4 with the automatic hubs.
That 350 is pretty much the classic Chevy V8 motor. They made millions of 'em.
I also pulled with an 88 1/2 ton V6 (the large V6) they put in 1/2 ton fords - that worked fine, but I wouldn't win any races.
Steel is heavier than aluminum, but usu. costs less.
http://www.edmunds.com/
It's a 350... automatic transmission... 4x4
Thanks guys :~D
Also to consider is that while it is technically a half-ton truck, it is what chevy used to call a "heavy half", in that they beefed up the suspension a little. It's not a 3/4 ton, but I think it has an extra leaf or two in the springs to take a little more than the ordinary half-ton might.
But this truck is about fifteen years old. It doesn't have the torque or the power it used to, and it needs to be babied a little... but... what I'm thinkin' is that you don't need to tow a 6K boat long distance... you need to take a horse trailer a short distance, and then rarely at freeway speed.
The horses weigh, what? maybe 1,000 and 800? So figure 2K for the horses, and 2K for the trailer (not sure about that?) and there's some good weight there... 4K or so...
But... you're going to be making trips back and forth to Bob's and then up to the Capitol forest... all easy backroad stuff. Slower speeds. It's not like you have to worry about taking a trailer over the pass at 35 mph while everybody around you is doing 70.
...just some random thoughts.
If you really start looking at hauling trucks, make sure you get a strong tranny and larger radiator (these are usually incl. in a towing package). Good luck!
That's kindof what I am thinking. There is one short but steep hill between here and capital forest right out of Littlerock... and I could avoid that by going around the long way. ;~D It's a 35 mph road. ;~D
I think the trailers are heavier than that. about 3,000 empty... 5,000 full.
Note too that the chev is not a bumper-pull mount. It is a towing package mount to the frame. Doesn't matter much other than it passes the tongue weight somewhat better to the frame.
Eventually, we'll get the beefy truck. We just can't right now ;~D
We were thinking we'd get a bumper pull trailer. mostly for ease in that the truck already has a tow hitch installed on it, and there's just more bumper pull trailers out there at the 2-3 horse size to look at.
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