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Maximizing Fuel Efficiency for Horse TransportBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 20, 2008
You want to take your horse to shows, clinics, trail rides, and other events. It's fun to get together with other horse enthusiasts and put your training to the test in front of an impartial judge. But with fuel prices setting new records every few weeks, it's hard to justify the cost of transportation. Should you just give up travel and learn to enjoy riding around and around your pasture?
Before you and your horse go cross-eyed from boredom as you wear that pasture circumference track deeper and deeper, check this list of suggestions for boosting the fuel efficiency of your truck/trailer combination. You'll possibly save a little money. You'll also gain assurance that you and your horse are traveling in an economical and safe manner.
Making the Most of Your Gasoline Dollars
Engine tune-ups Taking care of small problems promptly and getting the engine serviced at recommended intervals can improve fuel efficiency. Replacing a dirty air filter can add a significant boost, and fixing those “service engine soon” problems (faulty oxygen sensor, for example) might bump up gas mileage by a significant percentage.
Tire care Buy trailer tires that are rated to carry a little more than the combined weight of the trailer plus all the horses it will hold. Know the inflation specs for truck and trailer tires, and check before each trip. Proper inflation saves fuel and will maximize the useful life of the tires by reducing strain and heat. If your truck or trailer has side-by-side “dually” tires, don't forget to check pressure and condition of the inside tires also. A “flat” inside tire may not look bad because it's held up by the outside tire.
Motor oil Check the owner's manual for the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the wrong oil can increase gas consumption by 1 to 2%.
Driving gently Gradual accelerations and decelerations will save gas, help your transmission and brakes last longer, and give your horses a smoother ride. Plan ahead for turns and stops, coasting into them to avoid braking and long periods of idling.
Slowing down At speeds over 60 miles an hour, fuel efficiency drops dramatically. Leave home a little earlier, and take your time on the road.
Cruise control and overdrive gears Both of these features can save fuel. Don't use cruise control on wet roads, however.
Eliminating extra weight Look at the things that you carry in your truck and trailer. If you don't need a particular thing for the trip, take it out of the vehicle. An old saddle, a whole bag of feed instead of a few quarts, the entire bale of hay rather than just the flakes you'll need—these items can soon add up the weight of another passenger! And, you probably needed to clean out that trailer tackroom, anyway.
Sharing rides This isn't always easy to set up, but if you consistently see your neighbors at shows or trail rides, ask if they are interested in hauling your horse one week and riding with you the next time. You'll lose some convenience, but the savings might be worth the effort.
Size and weight It's true that most trucks and larger SUVs get fewer miles per gallon of gas than small, light vehicles. Still, you need a tow vehicle that's fully capable of pulling your trailer. Avoid the temptation to tow with a vehicle that's too small for the job. Lighter vehicles may seem more fuel-efficient, but the engine will have to work at maximum capacity, sucking gasoline and possibly overheating. Also, smaller vehicles can be pushed around by a heavy trailer, especially in windy conditions. Finally, if the trailer's brakes fail, the tow vehicle will need to be heavy enough to control and slow the weight of the horse and trailer.
Trading in your vehicle You might want to take the big step: buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle, maybe even before you're normally scheduled to buy a new truck. This might be worth considering if you're looking at a busy season of many short trips, or if you have one or two especially long trips planned.
Preparing for a Safe Trip
Regardless of how much fuel you will or won't use, you will need to think about a lot of things before you and your horse head out for a weekend trip. Here are a few tips you may not have considered:
• Before loading horses, check the wheel wells and inside the trailer for wasp nests.
• Check the condition of the spare tire and replace it if you find signs of dry rot, even if the tread still looks good. Be sure the spare tire is inflated to the recommended pressure.
• Consider carrying a spare set of trailer wheel bearings in the towing vehicle.
• If possible, select a route that avoids railroad crossings where the tracks are higher than the approaching road. Gooseneck trailers, in particular, are in danger of getting hung up on low-clearance crossings. If your trailer bottoms out on a crossing and you can't move it, unload the horses and take them well away from the crossing. Call 911 and ask the operator to notify the railroad office. Then have someone try to drive the truck and trailer off the crossing, as taking the horses out may have lightened the trailer or shifted the balance enough to allow clearance.
Off-Season Trailer Tips
When the trailer will be stored for a while, these steps will extend its useful years:
• Park the trailer out of the weather if possible. If it must be stored outside, consider getting a cover for the entire trailer, or at least for the tires.
• Clean the trailer inside and outside. Wax painted surfaces. Remove interior mats.
• Store the trailer on jack stands to get the weight off the tires. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for raising and supporting the trailer.
• Remove the battery that powers the trailer brakes and store it indoors.
• Before putting the trailer back into use, go over a checklist of routine maintenance steps to make sure all parts (wiring, hitch, brakes, latches, doors, floorboards, windows) are in safe working order.
