Cardinal Fifth Wheel

lhcrider1 · 06-27-2009, 09:57 AM

We ordered a new Cardinal in 2001. It's 30 ft. w/2 slides. We had enjoyed it until the front cap started popping off. We had purchased the extended warranty but when we went back to the dealer he said it wasn't covered and suggested I contact Forest River. I tried and tried and tried. I would leave messages with no returns, etc. Finally I got frustrated and wrote a letter to the editor of a camping magazine. The magazine even contacted Forst River and I FINALLY got a call. I live in Virginia. Forest River said I would have to bring the fifth wheel to them in Indiana. I made arrangements to be off work and my husband(who is disabled) and I went to Indiana. They looked at it and said it was unfortunate but they could fix it within the week. We had to get a motel which we had to pay for and wait for them to call. Finally they called and said they had completely redone the front cap and it was fixed. That was in 2005 and it's doing the very same thing again and now the back part is doing the very same thing! Believe me if I could afford it I would get rid of it and replace it with something else!!!!
And as for Concertone, our system has high fidelity sound but that doesn't matter because the THING will not even come on! Some great system, huh!!!!

PS: While we were waiting at the Forest River place another couple from Canada came in with their Cardinal almost identical to ours even the problems. They told us this was their thrid trip for the very same thing!!!

grhodes50 · 06-27-2009, 11:29 AM

Sorry to hear about the re-occuring problems with your Cardinal. Hopefully things will work out.

As far as your concertone. I bought my tt new this past Feb. The concertone worked perfect until last month. I tried everything, but the darn thing just wouldn't turn on. I don't really know why, but I thought about taking the batteries out of the remote. I did and the darn thing started working again. I put the batteries back in the remote and everything works like it did before!!

I don't know, go figure. Anyway, you might try what I did. You never know.

Good luck.

dezolen · 06-27-2009, 04:39 PM

2001 is old unit by today's stds. We are really enjoying ours

lhcrider1 · 06-28-2009, 06:02 PM

Thanks so much for the encouraging words to grhodes50. At least you offered some help. It's nice to know that some people are still willing to listen and help. And to dezolen I realize that 2001 in old by a lot of people's standards but since my husband is totally disabled and I work for the state of VA and haven't had a raise in anything buy my insurance premiums I don't have the luxury of trading up like most of you. I just have to be content and work with what I have. Camping is my therapy and I do it for my grandchildren who love it so much. We don't go far from home but it's still camping. May each and everyone of you have safe traveling mercies.

grhodes50 · 06-29-2009, 04:37 PM

lhcrider1,

I don't think dezolen meant it the way you took it. I'm guessing he meant the older a rv gets, more problems will start to show. There are lots of people on here with very good knowledge and are more than willing to help.

I understand how you feel about camping with the grand kids. Years ago I had a pup. I would probably still have it except my wife wanted to start camping with me and she wanted more comforts. We bought a tt that fit us well, but then the grand children (2 sets - 2 girls each) decided they like camping too. I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a new tt last Feb. Lots more room for the grand kids.

At times I miss the pup and the amount of fishing I could do when camping by myself, but I have to admit, it's alot more adventuresome with the grand kids.

Oh yeah, we usually camp about 15 miles from the house. Great state park with swiming, fishing, boating, nature center, hiking trails, etc...

Good luck and enjoy it all while you can.

dezolen · 06-29-2009, 07:14 PM

No malise intended. I sent PM to give some suggestions. Please feel free to ask anything.
Love to help out if I can. Not sure what you mean in regards to fiberglass ends opening up. If possible some pictures would help. Sounds like moisture is getting in behind. Got to stay on top of caulking and sealing any unit no matter who makes it.
Maybe some folks on the Cardinal RV Club can offer suggestions. Well worth checking it http://www.cardinalrvclub.org/redbird/index.php

lhcrider1 · 07-02-2009, 05:34 AM

I'm hoping that I got this pic downloaded correctly. On the left side you can side the wide black tape we had to put over it to bring the camper home from a 30 mile camping trip. My son-in-laws have caulked it as well as the dealer and when we went to Indiana to the factory the manager asked if we thought it was caulked enough! I could actually put hand between the camper side and the front cap! They have since changed the front cap on them and I understand that took care of the problem on the front but now the back is doing the same thing. Maybe you are right, it's just old and I need to park it.
Thanks, guys for your suggestions. It's nice to share with fellow campers.
My grandkids have me into fishing with them also. The 3 year old caught one Sunday that was so big his little pole wouldn't wind it in and I had to grab the line and pull it in. The way their faces light up keeps me going all week.
Blessings and safe traveling mercies

grhodes50 · 07-02-2009, 06:21 AM

I wasn't able to view your pic. I'm not sure I would be of any help anyway. Don't give up. If they figured out how to build it then someone must be able to figure out how to fix it.

My grandkids enjoy fishing too. Last time out the oldest, they range in age 2 to 7, caught a small bass on her "Barbie" fishing pole. She was so excited that she barely stood still long enough to reel it in. I told her she flopped around more than the fish did.

Good luck and best wishes. Remember, don't give up!

lhcrider1 · 08-23-2009, 06:03 PM

My son-in-law who is also a carpenter came to help me check out our Cardinal Fifth Wheel since the frame separaton is only getting worse. He took off several pieces to get under the fiber glass; when he took the one part off water ran and ran out from between the fiberglass and the inside frame; there is a thin piece of plywood inside and it is so soaked and swollen with water you would not believe not to mention that it is also rotting. Upon further checking he found that the manufacturer had caulked on the wrong side! go figure.
[IMG]http:C:my documents/my pictures/camper views[/IMG] We have contacted the dealer many, many times and they say they don't work on the kind of thing and when we call Forest River we get a voice mail and no return calls.
Any advice would surely be appreciated. And to the person that said those that holler ae the ones with the lemons-YA THINK? If it wasn't messed up we wouldn't have to complain and if you it was yours it would be you complaining. Thanks for your input.
Safe traveling mercies
Once again I have tried to upload pictures of the mess and it didn't work. Maybe someone would be kind enough to give me advise on doing that.

Bird Hauler · 12-27-2009, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezolen

2001 is old unit by today's stds. We are really enjoying ours

Now there's a helpful comment.

Larry

NWJeeper · 12-27-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bird Hauler

Now there's a helpful comment.

Larry

Yes, theres a usefull comment on a DEAD THREAD GOING BACK TO AUGUST! If you aren't going to post a usefull comment then don't post and especially on a dead thread!

Bird Hauler · 12-28-2009, 06:29 AM

So NWJeeper, you are still monitoring and responding to "dead threads" for what reason? If it's all that important that it not be done your response makes it even more confusing.

L

NWJeeper · 12-28-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bird Hauler

So NWJeeper, you are still monitoring and responding to "dead threads" for what reason? If it's all that important that it not be done your response makes it even more confusing.

L

Yeah, whats your point. Just keep on bringing up old posts to the ire of everyone here.... Why don't you get a new hobby, rather than wasting our time bringing up old threads and not contributing anything new rather than argument. Enough said on the subject!

aintgotnun · 12-28-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWJeeper

Yeah, whats your point. Just keep on bringing up old posts to the ire of everyone here.... Why don't you get a new hobby, rather than wasting our time bringing up old threads and not contributing anything new rather than argument. Enough said on the subject!

Yup and hence banned.

hadn't had to ban anyone in a while

attitude was crappy from the get go

geeze

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