Hello to all Cardinal owners

jcsigler · 08-23-2006, 06:01 PM

I have read on several forums about how bad the Cardinal is and the bad quality that Forest River produces. Well, I have a 2007 Cardinal 31RKLE and have used it only 4 times and we really love it. I had at the dealers for the customary 'punch list' but nothing serious. My DW loves the counter space on this model. I love the KING size bed. I have never had an "Air Pin" before but it seems to help on the Up/down movement. The TrailAir Suspension seems to help with the rough spots. The only thing I can complain about is the Concertone DVD player. The Subwoofer goes in and out as you are viewing a DVD. It does the same thing with a music CD.

I just wanted to say I love my Cardinal!

We are leaving on a 5 week vacation this September that will be approximately 6000 miles with 15 RV parks. I am sure this will do a real good ‘shake down’ of the unit.

Hokiehall · 08-23-2006, 06:20 PM

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you love your Cardinal. I don't own one but wouldn't mind having one. My local dealer sells a lot of them and has very few, if any complaints about them.

When you are reading about the poor quality of FR products, it is likely the very small minority of owners who had the bad luck of purchasing the proverbial lemon that got through QC. These people usually yell the loudest about how sorry their trailer is and the manufacturer should be put out of business. I can understand their frustration, but it blows out of proportion a problem that does not exist. If the manufacturer truly did make the lousy products the post authors suggest, they would have been out long ago. JMO.

squire · 02-06-2007, 10:25 PM

We have a 32FKR on order.

Hokiehall · 02-06-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squire

We have a 32FKR on order.

Welcome to the Forest River Forums Squire. Tell us a little about the new trailer and be sure to post some pictures when it arrives.

milzat · 02-07-2007, 07:24 AM

Hello squire,
Welcome to the Forest River Forums.

squire · 02-07-2007, 09:13 AM

Thanks for the "welcome". I posted about our new diggs on my blog. Feel free to check it out and leave a comment here or on the blog. We have been fulltimers for 6 years. I still work so we are stationary but that will change as soon as I retire.

HTML Code:

http://1948model.blogspot.com/

http://1948model.blogspot.com/

squire · 02-07-2007, 09:24 AM

Sorry I am unsure as how to make my blog url "clickable". We ordered it because we wanted a few things not normally ordered on rigs in this part of the country.
I plan on a few mods when it arrives and will post about them here so everyone can say, "great idea or he must be nuts". hehe
Hope we are not disappointed in the quality of the Cardinal (don't think we will be). Our current rig is an ITASCA motorhome by Winnibago that we love but just needed more room and this rig is 20 years old.

Hokiehall · 02-07-2007, 04:53 PM

Squire, your blog is clickable now.

mn_308 · 02-07-2007, 11:45 PM

Only posting to say:
Welcome to the Forum!!!

bnmiller2 · 07-02-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcsigler

I have read on several forums about how bad the Cardinal is and the bad quality that Forest River produces. Well, I have a 2007 Cardinal 31RKLE and have used it only 4 times and we really love it. I had at the dealers for the customary 'punch list' but nothing serious. My DW loves the counter space on this model. I love the KING size bed. I have never had an "Air Pin" before but it seems to help on the Up/down movement. The TrailAir Suspension seems to help with the rough spots. The only thing I can complain about is the Concertone DVD player. The Subwoofer goes in and out as you are viewing a DVD. It does the same thing with a music CD.

I just wanted to say I love my Cardinal!

We are leaving on a 5 week vacation this September that will be approximately 6000 miles with 15 RV parks. I am sure this will do a real good ‘shake down’ of the unit.

Check your tires, if they are Karrier Loadstars, be very afraid, replace them. They came on my 29RK and I have had 3 blow outs. One resulting in damage to my trailer. I am replacing mine at the present time.

Rthrbcmpin · 08-10-2007, 10:06 PM

We are new 2008 Cardinal LE 30RK owners, just upgraded from a Sierra. We absolutely love our new 5er, it's the new enclosed bath floor plan with the large u shaped kitchen with actual counter space! We had NO problems with our Sierra, including 2 trips to Florida, and are anticipating the same with our Cardinal, we just wanted the tinted windows, better insulation and enclosed bath, not to mention the bedroom slide and large wardrobe.

We do have the Karrier LoadStar tires, I've heard that there have been problems with them. What should we be on the lookout for?

Karen

aintgotnun · 08-13-2007, 07:46 AM

Wow! Lot's of new members posting in this tread.

to FRF everybody!!

greg

lallen2 · 03-10-2008, 10:33 AM

>I have read on several forums about how bad the Cardinal is and the bad quality that Forest River produces.<

My wife and I are looking to up-grade from our ancient 1996 TT to a 5th wheel. There are several models of Cardinal, Seirra and Sandpiper that we really like but the ratings given to all of the Forrest River RV's from the "Consumer RV Group" is pretty dismal. At least the prices of the Sierra and Sandpiper are reasonable. What has been yalls experiences with Forrest River RV's?

Thanks

clymer · 03-11-2008, 02:34 PM

We also are lurking and trying to gather info on a fifth wheel setup vs motorhome. We have a 26ft Winnabago now and are thinking about a new truck and fifth wheel. Love all of the room you have in a fifth but what about not having a generator...important to us because we travel with our dog and if we stop to eat at a restaurant and we needed heat or air...would require a generator. I am only finding generators on toy haulers....any suggestions.
Thanks

steve88 · 03-11-2008, 04:56 PM

I bought a 4000 watt contractor style genny at UFS for 400 dollars. It runs a 30 amp service just fine. Will run 1 roof air and lights and stuff. Furnace runs on 12 volt in campers.

Scuba Stan · 03-13-2008, 11:19 AM

Welcome. We bought a 29LE last September and absolutly love it. As far as the dogs when you stop, the heat runs off of twelve volts, and ours has a twelve volt fan "fantastic fan, I think" in the roof. We leave our dog in the trailer when we go to eat and even though it was "winter" in Florida it is still pretty hot some days. We don't let her ride in the trailer when it's going down the road, so that may come into consideration when shopping for a new unit.

jamesC · 04-17-2008, 11:12 PM

Just wanted to say hi to everyone. I wish I'd found this forum a year ago...

We have a 2006 (purchased new in 2007) Cardinal 34TS. So far, we've run it on one trip of about 7000 miles, and several shorter trips. We've added slide protector awnings and are finishing up on a generator install. All in all, we've liked the trailer.

The bad part? the Karrier Loadstar tires. Like someone else in this forum, we've lost 3 already, resulting in the loss of both fender skirts and damage to both center clearance lights. I discovered that the fender skirts, which are as about as cheap of plastic I have ever seen, cost $100 bucks! Enough to sting, but not enough to get around an insurance deductable.

james

2005 Ford F-350 crew cab dually
6.0; 35K miles

powerboatr · 04-21-2008, 05:58 PM

howdy james
yep those skirts are cheap, i had both replaced under warranty from stress cracks at the attachment screws

give us a shout out at the welcome mat, just in case you havent yet

good to have you here

jchernyb · 06-26-2008, 02:06 PM

Hello to all! Wish I would have found this forum a year ago too. We have a 2007 30TS and absolutely love it...ofcourse those Loadstar tires are on there but so far (knock on wood) no problems....only problems have been with the Concertone but I think we might have the upper hand on that problem finally.

We upgraded from a 24' travel trailer....2 women here figuring out how to travel with this 5th but every trip gets easier.....just wanted to say "hi" to all!

pacernut · 06-27-2008, 03:53 PM

Hi all. New to forum as I have just purchased an 03 Cardinal. It is in great shape except for all the exterior storage doors have turned yellow. They appear to be made of the same fiberglass as the siding and it is nicely white. Is this a common problem and has anyone found something good to turn them back white? It has happened to every single door. I have tried Totally Awesome cleaner, softscrub, detergent, and peroxide. Nothing worked. Any suggestions? I was suprised to read here that Cardinals received bad reviews. I was always under the assumption that they were top of the line. What gives? Thanks for any and all advice.

You may also like: