Towing Issues: Towing a mobile grooming trailer, ford f 150, chevy trucks

Question
Don:
I am looking into starting a mobile pet grooming business here in Canada. I am trying to decide whether to go with a conversion Ford van or a conversion trailer pulled behind a pickup. Two conversion trailers Im looking at now are a little different in their specs. One is about 12ft long and 6 ft wide which they say is rated for 7000lbs.,but weighs 3000lbs. with the conversion, comes with tandem axle.
The other advertises a GVWR of 7000lbs.,Unloaded vehicle weight of 3000lbs., and net carrying capacity of 3600lbs.,and a hitch weight of 410lbs.. Overall length on this trailer is 18ft. and width 8ft..
I am wondering if a Ford F-150 4X2 with 4.2 litre v-6 with automatic 5speed with OD is going to be good enough to pull either of these trailers for years to come if I go this route. Could you tell me anything else I should be aware of or ask about when purchasing either the trailer or the truck. If you think you know of a more fuel efficient means of pulling trailers this size could you let me know that too please.
I very much appreciate you taking your time to answer these questions.

Answer
Sounds like both trailers are about the same total weight capacity of 7000 pounds.

The truck you mention has a towing capacity of about 7000 pounds so you are at the limit if you load the trailer fully, but it should do the job.

One thing I have learned from towing over the years is that if you are towing a trailer of 5000 or more pounds, with any frontal area, with ANY type of vehicle that can handle it with a gas engine, you are going to get between 10 and 12 mpg no matter what.  The only real difference is if you are going to be able to pull up and down mountains or big hills with any speed.  

That 6 Cyl will be wheezing if you have big hills/mountains to deal with on a regular basis and you will soon wish for more engine.  

Only with a diesel will you get much better than 12 mpg.  

A 4.6 V8 with the Ford or the 5.3 V8 with the Chevy trucks is a much better engine, and with the OD automatic trannys they will get close to 20 mpg on the highway empty, and 12-14 maybe on the level loaded.  The 6 Cyl may do a couple mpg better empty, but I don't think it is worth it.

If you want to save money, buy a tiny 4 cyl econocar to drive when you don't need the truck!  (but I have looked into that for my son, who gets 12-15 mpg empty with a Durango with 360 engine, and wanted a small car to commute with to save money on gas, but without selling the Durango, the extra cost to buy and insure a 30 mpg car will never be cost effective).

While I love a manual tranny in a car or work truck, the type of business you mention will probably take you into man y driveways and tight neighborhoods.  An automatic will only cost you maybe 1-2 mpg overall and be MUCH easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

Finally, because you WILL be going to peoples houses in residential neighborhoods, I think I would be considering a van instead of a trailer.  That 12 ft trailer will be hard enough, but the first time you try to get into and out of a tight drive with an 18 footer, you will WANT to trade for a van, so take that into careful consideration.  Plus only one vehicle to maintain, insure and license.  If it is a business, and you take a tax deduction, I am sure an accountant will tell you to never use the "work" vehicle for pleasure.  So you will risk your deduction if you drop the trailer and use the truck to tow your boat or just go out to dinner.  Yea people do it, but if you take the business serious, letter up the van (great rolling billboard) and keep it purely business.

Don