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[RC] Re: [RC] Truck Buying Help - Flora Hillman

Val Nicoson wrote:  Quick question for you all.  My husband is looking at replacing our truck and found a used one.  I'm not so sure this is a good deal or not...or whether it could safely haul a 2-horse bp horse trailer carrying 1-2 horses (approx under 1000lbs each).

1994 F-150 Flareside Supercab that was a stepside short bed.  Has a 5.8L V-8 with tow package and 134K
miles for approx $5K
 
I owned a 1988 F-150 8-cyl 2-wheel drive straight side regular bed truck for eons, and it pulled my bumper hitch horse trailer beautifully.  Generally I took only one horse (Thoroughbred) when I went foxhunting, eventing, dressage shows, carriage events, etc.  Traveled close to home mostly, but there were a few "several hour trips" thrown in from time to time for taking the driving horse (or pony pair) and carriage to the annual carriage conferences.  Never had a problem, but I was cautious to never park where the ground was muddy or deep. 
 
Sadly, the truck met it's match when I bought an 18' steel gooseneck stock trailer which would carry both pair of ponies and carriage without us having to lift the carriage into the truck bed. <whew!> The weight of the trailer was a bit too much for the F-150 (it struggled on hills) so I sold it to a guy who uses it to commute, and I now own a bruiser of an F-250 with heavy-duty everything (including a low torque transmission). The new truck is terrific with my big gooseneck, and can pull my friend's 2-horse bumper hitch trailer -- loaded with two big 16.3h Thoroughbred foxhunters -- like it is pulling nothing at all.
 
As long as the F-150 you select is mechanically sound, and you're only pulling a 2-horse bumper hitch, you should be fine. I'd still keep shopping around, though -- $5K for a truck with 134k miles on it sounds a bit high to me. :-)