Walkthrough: New Lacrosse Luxury Lite 318BHS Travel Trailer is Designed for a Variety of Audiences
RVing with the entire clan in tow can be a challenge when it comes to making everybody happy. The campsites may be gorgeous, the meals delicious and the family and friend time fulfilling, but inevitably there is always the down time when it’s up to Mom and Dad (or Grandma and Grandpa) to provide entertainment for everybody on board. Let’s face it; times being what they are, “Go outside and explore or play with a stick” doesn’t always seem to cut it for the generation of handheld gaming, smart phones and residential home-theater systems. That’s when a trailer like the Prime Time Lacrosse truly shines, with floorplans designed to offer something for everyone, even if it’s merely providing a “private” place for adventurers old and young.
With the Max Slide Room deployed, the interior of the trailer feels wide open and breezy.
The Lacrosse 318BHS offers no less than three distinct zones inside, and one out — and that’s not even counting the surrounding campsite and/or recreational opportunities.
The front door of the dual-entry Lacrosse opens to the living area, with a not-too-impressive side view of the pillared entertainment center. Take a few steps into zone number one, however, and prepare to be impressed, as the enormous Max Slide Room in the living room, coupled with the 82-inch ceiling height, make for an incredibly open feeling. This configuration allows for a large 87-inch U-shape dinette, which boasts not one, but two, deep 12-by-19-inch drawers for storing pots and pans. And, claims Prime Time, the Max Slide Room offers owners 40 more cubic feet of living space than a traditional slide. The slide also houses the comfortable Lane residential sofa bed, which, as its description implies, is far more comfortable than most RV sleepers we have encountered.
The outdoor kitchen is enhanced by the bumper-mount grill hookups, meaning campsite cooks can orchestrate barbecue entreés and gourmet sides in one cooking area.
Both seating areas offer a nice viewing area for the 32-inch LED TV, which is also enhanced by the requisite AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3 stereo system. As part of the Touring Edition 4.0 Package (a so-called “mandatory option,” or in other words, a standard feature, $1,450), owners also get an electric fireplace below the TV, which further helps transform the traditional living area into a cozier “den” like hideaway.
The galley area also benefits from the Max Slide Room, as the traffic flow through the heart of the 318BHS allows plenty of room for meal prep and cooking. The hardwood cherry cabinet doors and solid-surface countertops lend a high-end feeling, while the 8-cubic-foot refrigerator and oversized pantry and spice rack are nice features. There’s also ample overhead and under-sink storage to swallow whatever doesn’t fit in that cavernous pantry.
The Max Slide Room contains the large U-shape dinette and comfortable sofa, both of which are great locations for viewing the 32-inch LED TV, plus the
dinette houses dual 12-by-19-inch pots-and-pans drawers for super-handy storage.
The lav in the Lacrosse truly fits the trailer, in that the Tough Guard vinyl flooring, large sink and tub/36-inch shower combo are all clearly intended for a tribe including little ones. And for the not-so-little ones, a skylight above the shower offers headroom for RVers up to 6 feet 4 inches tall, while a high-rise porcelain toilet offers residential comfort for all.
The master bedroom area is rather Spartan, with a Select Foam queen mattress with underbed storage, dual shirt closets and dual windows, along with an overhead cabinet (featuring attractive etched glass in the doors) and an in-wall shelf unit highlighting zone number two. What changes these modest quarters into a regal retreat, however, is the use of pocket sliders on either side of the entertainment center rather than the traditional accordion door. Though it may not seem like much at first, this simple trick lends itself to a level of privacy not often found in a trailer that houses a bunk area (we’ll get to that in a moment), and that small nod to the grown-ups may offer a modicum of peace when the crowd gets unruly.
And now, the star of the Lacrosse, and zone number three: the rear bunk area, complete with a mammoth 70-by-731/2-inch trifold sofa, which easily converts into a sleeping space for two or three. Above this sleeper is another bunk, while still another bunk unit lies across the aisle — all of which are cordoned off from the main trailer. A built-in bunk ladder makes bedding down a breeze, and the quilted bunk pads make sleeping through the night hassle-free for even the lightest-sleeping tots. Oh, and did we mention the super-cool “treasure chest” in the floor, perfect for keeping the area neat and tidy by storing toys while not in use? We truly had a blast with this little bit of flair that enchanted our test group of kids ranging in age from 2 to 10.
The trailer-design fun continues outside, as Prime Time delivers on its exterior kitchen compartment. And, this is no run-of-the mill sink and ice box; there’s full power, running water, a small fridge and even a two-burner LP-gas stove, all centered around a solid-surface countertop with an absolutely gorgeous stone veneer backdrop. Now, this is how you tailgate!
What the master bedroom lacks in frills it makes up for in privacy.
In addition to the aforementioned mandatory Towing Edition 4.0 Package that also includes a high-gloss fiberglass exterior, electric A-frame jack and LED interior lighting, buyers must also “opt” for the mandatory Advantage Package ($4,350), featuring aluminum wheels, a universal docking center, an electric awning and electric stab jacks (to name but a few add-ons). The Lacrosse is also outfitted with the Thermal Package Plus, netting heated and enclosed underbellies, heated holding tanks and heated and enclosed dump valves. Regardless of your definition of “options,” these features are wonderful add-ons to an already competent trailer package.
With three distinct “activity zones” inside and one out, we have found it difficult to overlook the Lacrosse 318BHS when it comes to shopping for a family trailer. We think you will, too.
