considering a 3030RS

[etcmss]

feedback on owner experience on the Cardinal 3030RS, towing with a 2013 F250 6.7L diesel.
goods and bads as I prepare.
Gary

[Big bird]

I have a friend who has the Cedar Creek version of the Cardinal 3030 and they love it. I saw a Cardinal 3030 at the southern Calif. RV show last week and almost bought it. I think it is an ideal unit. The Cardinal rep at the show said this is Cardinals most sold unit.

The 3030 is heavy coming in at nearly 13,000 pounds before you add anything. Your 2013 F250 is strong enough to pull it. I would add air bags to make sure you do not have any squat.

[jtaylor1920]

The 3030 is a great rig.

[Davidceder]

I would check the payload capability versus the rigs pin weight. In the diesel version I think the standard F-250 has about 2650 lbs of payload (the diesel weighs 500 lbs more than the gas). I imagine the pin of your rig is over 2000 lbs. Doesn't leave much room once you put in your hitch, yourself and the DW. I just purchased an F-350 for that very reason. Don't mean to throw cold water on your plans but if anything ever happens and liability is an issue you can be sure the lawyers will figure out if a rig was out of spec.

Just say'n

[etcmss]

truck weights are as follows
Payload for 250 4WD and short wheel base is 10,000# GVWR with a 3250# for crew cab
(I think this is the one you had concern about after loading)
the 6th wheel towing is 15,900 for F250 SRW 4x4 and with 3.55 locking axle GCWR is 23,500#
the 33 RL is listed at 14000 total and pin weight of 2015
so where might I have concern?
Gary

[Davidceder]

Don't want to get in any contests here but I thought the same thing until I got on Fords Build & Price site. As you build your car they state & change the Tow capacity and Payload as you add and delete options. I agree about the weight you posted but I think that is for the gas engine. You loose upwards of 500 lbs of payload (I don't remember if tow weight changes) when you add the diesel.

I just did a build and price on a 2014 SD, crew cab, 4X4 with the diesel and the payload is 2620 lbs and tow is 15,900 lbs. Try it. The payload numbers and tow capacity are just to the right of the changing price as you add and delete options. I found this out at the last minute and got a F-350 with an 11,500 GVWR. Not saying your rig wont do the job, just trying to make you aware of the specs.

[jacknife]

I own one and the empty wt is 11360you can look at the specs on fr web and see exactly what they are . I can tell you theyare 37.5ft long from the back. Of the ladder to the tip of the nose . I measured mine 3 times because l was buying a cover for it. Grat trl

[jacknife]

I pull mine with a 06 3500 Dodge no problem

[Jerry01]

We just purchased ours from the So Cal RV show. Took it out on its maiden voyage last week. Great rig, and layout. The full body paint looks great as well. Jerry.

[jacknife]

Your new bird looks great! I found the best place to put the island is where the 2 chairs closest to the tv go. just put a furniture pad over the island and tie it down with the tie down for the chairs or a ratchet strap. put the chairs on the couch and use the couch tie down to keep in place. make sure your slides will clear the chairs on the couch. that way you keep the island from getting beat up and you can access your fridge on the road. Check your reefer drain tube behind slotted access panel. mine was so short it would have been draining into the back area. i got a piece of copper and some plastic tubing and extended it so it comes out just a little bit into the back of the access panel. let me know what problems with systems you have so i can check the same thing out. will do likewise.http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ignhavefun.gifhttp://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ignhavefun.gif

[Jerry01]

Originally Posted by jacknife

Your new bird looks great! I found the best place to put the island is where the 2 chairs closest to the tv go. just put a furniture pad over the island and tie it down with the tie down for the chairs or a ratchet strap. put the chairs on the couch and use the couch tie down to keep in place. make sure your slides will clear the chairs on the couch. that way you keep the island from getting beat up and you can access your fridge on the road. Check your reefer drain tube behind slotted access panel. mine was so short it would have been draining into the back area. i got a piece of copper and some plastic tubing and extended it so it comes out just a little bit into the back of the access panel. let me know what problems with systems you have so i can check the same thing out. will do likewise.http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ignhavefun.gifhttp://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ignhavefun.gif

Jacknife, thanks for the compliments! Sorry for the delayed reply. Great idea on moving the island next to the table! That was one negative that I can take off the list. Will check on the fridge tube. The only other issue we had was the shower head had barely any pressure at all. We bought another shower head and it seems much better. Of course I don't know why I would expect the shower pressure to be checked on a new RV. Jerry.

[jacknife]

There may have been something cloging the head. Went to Cosco and they had some really good looking wooden with padded seats folding dining seats. I bought two ,since it is usually just the wife and l eating l figured why deal with two chairs we hardly use. The chair were only 25 apiece
and look as good as the chairs that came with it. Also look at that plastic battery holder. Mine is in like a well and it is not too thick. I put 2 sixvolts in and am pulling the well out and putting in a piece of steel over the hole and mounting a battery box on top of it. I just think that plastic is way to thin. All it is is the lid reversed and you can feel how thin that is. Let me know if you run into anything l may need to look at. Happy trails.

[etcmss]

still considering a 3030 but we need to get in one and feel it. Haven't found one close to Chicago to go visit. the dealer in Diamond, Ill doesn't have one.
anyone close to let me look?
Gary