New Member - Lacrosse owner

[gator14]

Just bought and soon to P/U a '12 PT Lacrosse 318bhs Touring Edition with dealer installed Husky (centerline) WDH. Ford truck specialist said I should have no issues pulling with my '09 F150 S-Crew XLT; 5.4L and 3.55 LS. Do I still need air bags to help with the load? All computations are well within restrictive limits, to include GCVWR and payload. But being new to camping, and reading blogs about sagging rear ends and air bags, would I need them as well?
After I drive the PT awhile, I'll decide on whether to change out to a 3.73 to better the pull. Thanks.

[MtnGuy]

to the forum !!!

That is a lot of camper for a 1/2 ton truck. Looking up the "dry" stats, it lists a 797 lb. tongue weight, and a base weight of 7729 lbs. Looks like your truck is rated to tow 9700 or 9600 lbs, depending on the bed length....in this case the 6.5' bed is a better option for a 35.5' trailer....that is 1 long trailer.

You should be within the tow rating of your truck if you keep the camper loaded lite. The empty weight is probably going to be in the 8100 lb. area by the time you add propane tanks, a battery, and all of the options, so you have some leeway there with loading up supplies.

You need to be concerned with the GVWR of the truck. That 797 lb. tongue weight is going to grow significantly, to probably over 1000 lbs. when you load the camper. You will be able to transfer about 200 lbs. back to the trailer axle with a WDH, but that is still 800 lbs. left on the truck. Depending on passenger load (bunkhouse model = kids, + mom, dad, and pet?), as well as camping supplies, you may well exceed the GVWR of your truck. I know that I am near the limit of my 1/2 ton truck with the GVWR pulling my camper with a 700 lb. tongue weight....and I only have a 410 lbs. of me, wife, and dog (if the missus is telling the truth about her weight ).

Also, you need to check your hitch stats. There should be a sticker on the hitch somewhere with "weight carrying capacity" as well as "weight distributing capacity". Make sure that the tongue weight of the loaded camper does not exceed the capacity of the hitch.

[gator14]

Super!! Thanks for the FYI and caution about the tongue weight concerns. The hitch installed is a V-5 with a WDH max of 10500#. I do have a 157' wheel base and a 6.5 bed. My max load cap is 1660#. I weighed the F150 with full fuel/spare tire/tri-fold hard cover, and just me @ 5760. With the Missus, daughter, and 3 grandsons weighing in at 720# and cargo misc. @ 150, my GVW is 6620#, which is 480#s below my GVWR of 7100#. The GVWR of the "long" trailer is 9538, which is below my max tow rating of 9700#. I weighed the rear axle @ 2480 and front @3220#, with my rear GAWR @ 3,850#. At this point in time my real concern is not to exceed my GCVWR of 15,300#.
The 318BHS is at Salem, VA. so I guess I'll be testing the hills up to Stauton and road up through Orange.
Again thanks for the input and concern. I'll monitor the trans cooler and tow cap of my F150. I'm having the Ford integrated brake system installed, ready this Friday. The wife is concerned that we will be about the same size as the 16 wheelers. Oh well, just ensuring SAFETY with the haul. Will post pics of the truck and monster trailer.
Only disconserting issue is my HOA. I have to park my RV at a storage facility some 23 miles in Spottsy.

2012 PT Lacrosse 318BHS Touring Edition
2009 F150 S-Crew XLT
5.4L; 3.55 LS; 157" base; & 6.5 bed; w/V-5 hitch.
Husky Center Line Tow System rated up to 12,000#

[MtnGuy]

gator, looks like you are set to go, and are well informed with your vehicle and trailer stats. That is always a good thing.

If you live in Orange, then we are county neighbors, as I live in Greene. Some of my bicycle trips leaving from the house include roads in southwestern Orange, although if you are storing your trailer in Spotsylvania County, you are probably located in the northwestern part of Orange.

[gator14]

Thanks....That's correct, the northwestern corner of Orange County about 5 miles south of Lake of the Woods. Locust Grove is mostly country and we're in a small subdivision; However, the HOA does not allow for any RVs to be parked in view of the public, so I have to parked the Lacrosse in a storage facility. But we'll manage.....cost of having an HOA out in the country.
Looking forward to Spring and hit the road.
Have a joyous Christmas and best of health always.

2012 PT Lacrosse 318BHS Touring Edition
2009 Ford F150 S-crew XLT 5.4L;3.55 LS;6.5 bed;157'WB;Class IV hitch;
Husky (centerline) WDH

[Glenn5995]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new trailer!

[gator14]

Looking forward to doing what you all enjoy/enjoyed throughout your travels. Our grandsons are already looking forward to the camping scene. However, we are at a disadvantage in that our HOA does not allow any form of RV, so we have the Lacrosse parked in a storage facility, but will deal with it.
Again thanks for the greetings and a Safe Happy New Year.

Gator14
2012 PT Lacrosse 318BHS Touring Ed.

[SALTY]

Congratulations on your new trailer ! welcome