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Hello I'm in search of the perfect truck and need advice. I need it for hauling horses, each horse is about 1000 pounds..except for one who is 2000. The trailer I'm hoping to get will be a gooseneck 3 horse slant so it isn't huge but it's definately not a tiny bumperpull either. So with my biggest horses and the trailer the weight will easily be 5000.

What I need help with is determining what brand I should get I don't know tons about trucks I know I'll need a v8 and I know that I want the half cab with the extended box (which has been hard to find lately!) but the extended box is okay if I can't get that, it would just make it easier to install the gooseneck hitch? I also want bench seats I hate bucket seats! I'm looking for something used, what should I stay away from? What kind of truck will last me? And last but not least what about fuel ecomony? I definately don't want to get a truck that's too small for the job but on the other hand I don't want one that's too big that will just guzzle gas and kill the earth   so any information would be greatly appreihated!  

My advice is go with a 2004 to 2006 2500HD Chevy diesel with the allison transmission.  I have numerous family members and friends who own these trucks and tow gooseneck trailers on a regular basis just fine.  The 2500 provides good enough suspension to tow your trailer.  Diesel will help you save on mileage as well compared to gas in terms of towing and provide you with more torque.  

You are one of those few people that really NEEDS  a work truck.

Forget about the fuel mileage.

You're going to be towing huge amounts of weight.

You did say a gooseneck hitch which I take it to mean what's called a fifth wheel hitch.

You'll probably need a dually pickup truck with a diesel engine.

Any of the American makes-Ford,Dodge or Chevy/GMC should do.

You might want to cruise the internet an find out which one is the least troublesome and what is the closest dealership near you or shop that works on them before yo buy a truck.

You want something you can get worked on close to where you live.

Lastly,buying one of these used is'nt all that hard-if you look around you might get lucky and find one that someone bought just to drive around thinking they'd need something that big and found out they did'nt.

You'd get an almost new truck for a steal of a price!