Lacrosse 318BHS Questions

HondoPatrick · 06-10-2012, 12:24 AM

My wife and I are contemplating upgrading from a PT Tracer 2670BHS to a Lacrosse 318BHS. I learned today that I can get the unit equipped with 30 amp service that has a single 15K BTU AC unit or 50 amp service that is equipped with two AC units. Looks like the price point is about $2K more for the 50 amp setup which I prefer not to pay but, I'm concerned that a single 15K BTU AC unit won't cool the travel trailer sufficiently in the Texas summer heat. Can anybody offer up some suggestions or opinions on this?

6.4 tow rig · 06-10-2012, 08:10 AM

We went out Memorial Day and it was in the mid 90's at Lake Cumberland with high humidity. The sites were shadey so that helps, but the inside stayed nice and cool. We actually both thought the inside stayed cooler and AC cycled less than it did in our 27ft Wildwood.

phone man · 06-10-2012, 06:39 PM

I have a Lacrosse 296BHS which came from the factory with only a 13.5K BTU AC and it has been adequate for us in the Texas heat. We went out last year with the record breaking heat and were comfortable even without any shade. We ran a few small fans inside and as long as we did not cook inside or run in and out of the trailer it was good enough.

rracer5 · 06-11-2012, 10:09 AM

Hondo, if you have the choice, pay the extra and have piece of mind. We have done 2 summer trips to Myrtle Beach in July with temps on many days in the mid to high 90's. Although the single 13.5 BTU was adequate on our 303RKS, it ran ALL the time. So, if you can, go for the extra AC. You may not need both all the time but it's there if needed.

ironj · 06-11-2012, 11:16 AM

funny you should ask this, as just this weekend my wife and inlaws and i were shaking down our new 318 and filing it up with new stuff for its maiden voyage. I had it parked in front of our shop, and the temp here in west texas hit 104 that day. Initially i was plugged into 20amp service (i have the 50amp dual a/c package you speak of) but only plugged into the 20amp service because it was right there, and i figured it would be plenty.

well, it worked fine to power the one front a/c....and it DID cool the unit considerably (down to about 75 degrees, from 114 inside) after about 3hrs of continuous running....

BUT....with that said, i can say that having 4 moving bodies in the trailer puts out quite a bit of btu's....also, with said 4 bodies and NO OTHER heat generating appliances running, i never saw less than 75 on the t stat.....

later i wanted to program my tv, and ended up going back out in the heat of the shop to set up trailer to 50amp service.....30min later inside temp was 68 degrees, WITH 4 bodies, television, AND those surface of the sun hot 12volt lights running everywhere.....and i had to set the t stat to 72 because DW was "cold"...lol

So...from what i can tell, one of the 15k a/c units on 30amp service could and will do the job im sure.... if you had a family in there with tv, lights, and oven going it would probably warm up a little.....especially if its 104 degrees out!

For me, it was really not an option...i WANTED the 50amp dual a/c. I fully understand this is supposed to be "camping", but with a family of 3, new one on the way, the size of the unit, and living in WEST TEXAS (where it was 113 or near it on many days last year) i felt it was better to err on the side of caution (or comfort, however you want to look at it).

I always say you can never have too much tow vehicle, OR A/C BTU's!!!

of course this is just my OPINION, all last year we camped in a jayco 298rls with a single 13.5 btu blower, and it worked just fine for all but the HOTTEST days....and even then, it wasnt bad....but you had to be mindful of lights and cooking during the day or it would heat up. It did run non stop from about 10am till about 3am though..set to about 75 degrees...

in the end i see no disadvantage to 50amp service other than cost..and if i was already spending ~30k its a moot point!...

sorry for the long reply...just trying to be helpful!

HondoPatrick · 06-11-2012, 06:43 PM

Folks, I really do appreciate the feedback. We have decided to go with the 50 amp service and err on the side of caution. Most of our camping is done in Texas and the summers have been brutal, so ultimately I chose to stay cool no matter what. My dealer in Selma, TX (Crestview RV) is running the numbers and I should know in the next day or so if we can agree on a deal or not. I sure do hope so!

ironj, I sure would like to know about the "tuned" portion of your signature as I have the exact same truck.

ironj · 06-11-2012, 07:18 PM

I always have a hesitation to beat the horse that is known as '6.7 tuning'.....everyone has an opinion and they are right in their minds. Either way, i am running the h&s minimax tuner along with the kem 'green' tunes WITHOUT any deletes...so i still have on the entire stock exhaust and urea injection. The whole tuning thing always seems to degrade to a pissing match of whos has more power or is faster......look if i wanna go fast, i hop in the 600+ hp cobra.....i didnt buy the truck to drag race. So why the setup i picked?
1. I get to keep the nice, quiet, clean diesel i wanted in the first place...i care not about turbo whistle, puffs of black smoke, nor the chatter of a farm tractor.
2. I get the benefit of increased hp (489rw hp/898tq on mustang dyno)
3. I get better mpg city AND hwy ( was seeing 12.2mpg towing the 318 last outing)...get an average of 16.2 stop n go city, and last trip to dallas saw 22.5mpg hwy.....not too shabby for what ammountz to a rolling apartment!....my rig is 4x4 with ultimate package and tips scales at 8200lbs!!!

I know a lot of people really frown on tunes, blah ,blah blah....warranty this or that......but its my truck, my money, and i assure you i wont blame ford if i break my truck putting stuff on it.....my service mgr knows the mods i have and has told me they will warranty anything my tune doesnt cause......so far i have 0 issueswith the truck since delivery....

ironj · 06-11-2012, 07:28 PM

Oh and if your looking at a 2013 model, when i bought mine,i found anything in the 24,500-26,000 to be about the best deal i could find....i ended up paying a tad under 27,000 for my 2012 318bhs touring with wd/anti sway hitch and including tt&l...

Good luck shopping!

HondoPatrick · 06-11-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironj

Oh and if your looking at a 2013 model, when i bought mine,i found anything in the 24,500-26,000 to be about the best deal i could find....i ended up paying a tad under 27,000 for my 2012 318bhs touring with wd/anti sway hitch and including tt&l...

Good luck shopping!

Yep, we're looking at the 2013. Excellent information and thanks so much!

ironj · 06-11-2012, 08:50 PM

No problem.....i read on this forum for weeks before i decided on the lacrosse, so i figure i owe it to help what little i can, when i can.

For what its worth i got a quote of right around 22,500 for a NON 50amp NON touring edition 2013...(plus tt&l and doc fees)... it seems to vary a lot by region. I got mine from southern rv in tyler, but they had like 9 of the 2012 50amp touring editions instock when i was wheeling and dealing. ....i think they had ONE left when i picked mine up!...

Hope you can get the deal u want....i REALLY like the floorplan and quality of mine so far, but it has not left the shop driveway yet either lol....

HondoPatrick · 06-12-2012, 09:47 PM

ironj, what is the touring edition have?

HondoPatrick · 06-12-2012, 09:47 PM

OK... what does the touring edition have?

ironj · 06-12-2012, 10:16 PM

Lol...the 2012 touring had as ' free upgrades' fireplace under tv, high gloss gelcoat, aluminium wheels, 8.3 cube fridge, outdoor grill , fiberglass front cap, and a couple of things i cant remember.....a lot of that stuff is standard on the 2013 i believe.

I dont know if there is a 2013 touring?....or honestly what the diff between the 12 and 13 are if any?

ironj · 06-12-2012, 10:26 PM

Oh, and power tongue jack.....also mine has 50amp dual a/c, but that was an option in addition to the touring....

HondoPatrick · 06-13-2012, 09:04 PM

It's official... after 3 days of going back n forth with my dealer we did the deal today on a new 2013 Lacrosse 318 BHS. 50 amp service with everything but the fireplace under the entertainment center. We really felt like this is a better fit for our family and absolutely love the additional space (over the 2670 BHS) and the fit n finish is just nicer in the 318. I gotta tell you though, I really have to stop doing this... 3rd new travel trailer in 3 years. Hopefully this one will be it for awhile!

ironj · 06-13-2012, 09:41 PM

Ha, awesome! Glad you were able to get the deal you wanted!!!!!. I agree, this floorplan is really family friendly. I havent actually got to use mine yet, but ive spent many o hours modding the things i know i want like
1. Max air covers
2. Led awning lights
3. Drawers with sliders under dinette
4. Pegboard in pass through
5. 24 led replacement lights
6.surround bar and sub in main tv counter (not installed yet)
7. Additional tv's in bunk and bed.
8. Slide toppers (not installed yet)
9. Wire storage racks/bins in pantry and cupboards.

Thats all for now.....i need to get her on the road and see what else i may want.....or need....lol

Post up picks when u got em!

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