Now..concerning trucks. I have somewhat bad news for you... That trailer
loaded is 13,000 pounds. With ANY pickup on the market, you will scale
total gross weight of 20,000 pounds. There is NO pickup on the market that
is rated to pull that weight.
I pulled that trailer ( and one before it at the same wieght) for 3 years and
TOTALLY, I MEAN TOTALLY, WORE OUT A DODGE DIESEL 4 X 4. The engine was
great, but NEW transmission, NEW rear end, NEW U-loints every 40,000 miles.
I cost me $5000 a year to keep the truck in good enough repair to safely tow
a trailer and not break down...I did anyway.
Now, maybe a BIG difference between you and me. I drive 40,000 to 50,000
miles a year towing a trailer.
SOOOOOOOOOOOO< I bought a Freightliner (FL70 Model). It doesn't even know
the trailer is back there. I have 14,000 miles on it in less than 4 months.
I absolutely LOVE it. I got one rated over 26,000 lbs, but you can get them
rated for less and avoid CDL. The price is GOOD!!! Not that much more than a
fancy pick-up AND, tha warrenty is SUPERB!!!
Checkout the Featherlite brochure and then the Dodeg brochure. They have the
same phot of a Dodge pulled a BIGGER featherlite trailer than you got...yet
it is NOT rated to do the job. DON'T LET DEALERS FOOL YOU!!! They just want
to seel a truck.
I STRONGLY recommend you go to Quaret Horse Congress coming up shortly and
look over all the trucks and the GCWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of each.
NO MATTER WHAT A DEALER SAYS (and they'll ALL tell you it will do the job),
DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!! They are WRONG!!! I paid dearly to learn this.
Also, my Dodge 4x4 is TOO HIGH in th bed to tow a featherlight LEVEL and you
MUST TOW A TRAILER LEVEL!!! I had featherlite AT THE FACTORY block up my
axles 4 inches to make adequate clearance (not ruin my pick-up bed). Then,
realize, if you do that, the horse have a BIG STEP. My mistake..dealer did
NOT give me proper information and I could have had a ramp added at the
factory. So my horses have now learned to back off a step-up trailer almost
18 inches. An add-on ramp is over $1000.
I am going to Congress, probably October 16th. I am having Featherlite make
me a custom trailer and need to check out the various options and new ideas
on the market. Last year someone had Freightliner trucks on display and for
sale all set-up to tow big trailers. They will probably be there again.
In ANY case, PLEASE< PLEASE, ask people who are towing big trailer to tell
you about their problems. Oh, another glitch to make you unhappy (It did
me). Featherlite warranty is VOID if you tow with more than a one ton
truck..READ YOUR WARRANTY!!! I did not GET my warrenty until I paid for the
trailer and I had TOLD the dealer I was getting a Freightliner!!! The good
news is that Featherlite trailer company is very good in customer support. I
got Air-Ride on my truck and even though they didn't put it in writing, they
assured me I'd have no problems (which I am not). But, even though I think
Featherlite is the BEST made traile ron the market, it is FAR farm perfect.
I have had to and still am correcting all kinds of problems from factory
defects to poor design.
My trailer will be for sale as soon as I can get plans drawn up for the
custom trailer I want. Please feel free to ask me ANYTHING about this
trailer and a tow vehicle. I want to rest of the world to not have to learn
the hard expensive way I did.
Telephone if you like...
Teddy
614-533-0154