We just bought a 3 horse gooseneck trailer with living quarters(lots of living quarters!). It's 40' long. I have been looking at trucks to tow it. The trailer weighs 13,300# with out horses,(I had it weighed) probably 17,000 to 17,800 with 3 horses and lots of tack. Gooseneck wt is 4300# without horses. I've looked at Chevy, Dodge and Ford. Short of the C4500Chevy, the F350SD 4x2 with tow boss will tow over 18000. The trailer has great electric hydraulic brakes. I've also glanced at the Freightliner FL60, but I may have a hard sell to my wife! I do know the F350 6L T diesel has had many problems and I'm trying to find out what the 2007 will be. We were thinking about the F350 4x2 Lariat Super or Crew cab. Dodge has a 16000# limit...We're open to what is good and safe. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

The C4500 has around a 16,000# trailer limit too, though it should be rated alot higher. For my money, my favorite would be the Freightliner M2. But you need to haul often too justify it. The 07 or 07.5 Ford should be a twin turbo 6.4L diesel, but don't buy the first year. Dodge will have a 6.7L and a new 6-speed cab and chassis for 2007. Story at, http://mrtruck.net/07dodge.htm

Thanks for looking at this.
I agree that the M2 sport chassis or FL60 would do the trick. I do have to look at heights for the gooseneck, etc. A Freightliner is a bit bigger of a proposition and a serious consideration.
I looked at the 2007 Dodge 6 speed cab and chassis, but it's max towing and GCVWR still is too low for safety.(seems that way) The Ford 07 may do the trick. I'm waiting for a call back from a friend who may have an M2 (it may be $90k the way they have it!) but I think my best option short of that would be the 07 F350SD TB 4.30 and do a 2 year lease.(availability is the issue) Normally I buy oughtright. Would you be totally aginast the 2006 with the 6.0? (2 year lease) It's just that there aren't a lot of real options! From CA we have to be a little careful about GCVWR and lawyers! If you think the 2006 -2yr is a real bad choice, I may try to find an 03 or 02 with the earlier engine.
We really appreciate your help on this.

I'm not against the 2006 6.0L. Most folks have no trouble with them. But you know the bigger the trailer the higher the risk. Lease may be wise and now even the excess mileage penalties are lower with Ford. But remember on a leased truck you can't modify as much as in power chips and exhaust brakes.