Can a van pull a horse trailer?

Question

I am seriously thinking about buying a horse. I have been riding for several years, and am looking at a trailer. I was wondering if a Oddesy Van could pull a 2 horse trailer. It's made of steel, and is fairly small. Do you think a van could pull it? (For a picture of the trailer go to http://www.trailerwest.com/inventory.php?conditionID=1&inventoryType=HorseTrailer ) Please try to give your best answer- make sure it's correct :) It's an easy couple of points!!

Answer 1

You really should not consider pulling a trialer with a van. Quite frankly, that's not what they were designed for. If you have a 1500lb trailer with two 1500lb horses in it, your looking at over two tons of dead weight behind a mini van. You need a vehicle that has a high torque to horsepower ratio, like a pickup with a Diesel, in order to safely handle the weight. Don't try it, please. It's not safe, not to mention damaging to the van.

Answer 2

I too have a horse and been shopping for trailers, basic bumper ones like you are. But I don't need the changing room. The newer trailers like that in the picture (only bumper one, the rest were 5th wheel) are actually not steel, but aluminum. So they are light weight. The older, 2 horse only ones are the metal ones (image: http://dynacarehorseranch.com/db4/00313/dynacarehorseranch.com/_uimages/BlueTrailer-2horse.jpg)

To be sure you need to check the towing capacity of your vehicle to make sure it can handle the weight of the trailer AND the horses and gear.

Right off hand, if I was in your shoes and had this. I would put a extra strong hitch on the van linked to frame, not just cheap one on the bumper. Then put a transmission cooler on the transmission. Just another small radiator like your normal one. I myself have a Chevy Blazer, will easily pull about any bumper trailer there is. Being a van, and not a van with a big V8, I'd get the lightest trailer possible and keep gear to a minimum for weight load.

Answer 3

My wife and I have hauled multiple horses in gooseneck trailers for years using 3/4 ton trucks and one ton duallys, the movement of the animal(s) will cause problems for small vehicles like front drive minivans. We have seen transmissions in four/six cylinder compact trucks give up trying to move a trailer and one 1200 pound horse and some did not have the power to pull out of dry fields onto the roadway without the help of a 4x4 or tractor. You will not be hauling dead weight, you will be hauling live weight that you can throw off balance in the blink of an eye if not careful. I think you will have trouble using a small vehicle. Good Luck.

Answer 4

no it would not i have tried and blew out the transmission for pulling a trailer with a horse or two i would suggest a truck with at least a v 8 in it like a ford f-150

Answer 5

ahh I'm not too sure that that would be a good idea. It could pull an empty one but if you had a trailer with that much weight in it behind a minivan it probably wouldn't go too well.
it would put a lot of stress on the transmission. I would say no.

Answer 6

Probably not without serious damage. Honda Odyssey already has transmission trouble. Honda increased the tranny warranty to 100,000 miles because of shifting problems. A guy I work with has 137,000 miles and his tranny went out and all he hauls is his wife and 4 kids.

Answer 7

i'm sorry but i don't understand :)
by the way,i like horses too:d
last summer i took a ride through the mountains:)

Answer 8

I don't think so but check your vehicle's specs. you might have the HP in the Ody, but it's torque that counts.

Answer 9

it's going to depend on the horsepower(no pun intended) of your van.