New to the family, Cardinal 3550RL

[1978Bandit]

On to the next adventure. Purchased a 2012 3550RL (full body paint, 6500 Onan), to park at the beach property, and our first retirement travel home in a few more years. Have had numerous other BP trailers, but first 5th wheel.

Anyone know of issues with the Cardinal to watch? I’ll be having my RV guy give it a full going over.

Be putting the Keystone Passport on the market soon.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by 1978Bandit

On to the next adventure. Purchased a 2012 3550RL (full body paint, 6500 Onan), to park at the beach property, and our first retirement travel home in a few more years. Have had numerous other BP trailers, but first 5th wheel.

Anyone know of issues with the Cardinal to watch? I’ll be having my RV guy give it a full going over.

Be putting the Keystone Passport on the market soon.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

I can't see the picture well enough to see if it has radiused roof edge caps or if the roof material itself wraps over onto the sides. We had friends who had a 2013? Cardinal with the radiused roof edge caps. It was a nightmare keeping it sealed AND a nightmare for Cardinal also. It got to the point that Cardinal took the unit back in 2017 (after several attempts to keep the edge caps sealed) and completely replaced the roof & ultimately at least one complete side wall due to water intrusion. Needless to say it came back with the standard tried & true wrap over roof installation, no more edge caps & no more leaks!

[1978Bandit]

Racer,
Thanks for the tip. It does have the radius roof edge where the roofing material comes down about 6 inches onto the sides (is this what you mean). I’ll make sure my RV guy looks real good at that.
Thanks, Jim

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by 1978Bandit

Racer,
Thanks for the tip. It does have the radius roof edge where the roofing material comes down about 6 inches onto the sides (is this what you mean). I’ll make sure my RV guy looks real good at that.
Thanks, Jim

No. What you're looking at is a plastic or more likely fiberglass curved cap that requires that it be attached & sealed up on the flat part of the roof the entire length of the RV (this is where the leaks originated) as well as along the sides where it comes over the side.

EDIT: Now that I've looked at your pic again, due to the full body paint, I can see that the front roof edge is black but the rear portion is the light tan color. This leads me to believe that there is a fiberglass radiused cap up there that they painted. Be very vigilant during your roof inspections & touch up any sealant that looks even slightly suspicious!

[AntonJ]

On our 2015 Cardinal 3875FB the front support for the water tank was weak. It flexed enough under load that the water tank fell down.I think the mod shown a while back by Titan Mike would resolve the issue nicely. I think the product was super strut.

Also our sewer lines are unusually low. I have to be very vigilant on transition dips to make sure that I don’t catch the line. All in all, we have enjoyed ours for 3 years as full timers. Good Luck!

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by rracer5

I can't see the picture well enough to see if it has radiused roof edge caps or if the roof material itself wraps over onto the sides. We had friends who had a 2013? Cardinal with the radiused roof edge caps. It was a nightmare keeping it sealed AND a nightmare for Cardinal also. It got to the point that Cardinal took the unit back in 2017 (after several attempts to keep the edge caps sealed) and completely replaced the roof & ultimately at least one complete side wall due to water intrusion. Needless to say it came back with the standard tried & true wrap over roof installation, no more edge caps & no more leaks!

Couldn't you just use Eternabond to seal those seams? Use the 4" wide version, with 2" on the fiberglass two on the roof membrane. Clean everything first, and use a roller to press the tape down well. Good for at least ten years.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Couldn't you just use Eternabond to seal those seams? Use the 4" wide version, with 2" on the fiberglass two on the roof membrane. Clean everything first, and use a roller to press the tape down well. Good for at least ten years.

That's a real good idea. I don't know why our friends repair shop(s) didn't try that. If flexing of the edge cap was the issue, I think the Eternabond would have flexed better & not opened up voids in the sealant.

[1978Bandit]

Picked up, and hauled to my RV shop for a better inspection then I can do.

[jacknife]

I have a 2013 Cardinal with the radius edge . Buy Ertna Bond on line do not use Dycor . Ertna bond will last a minimum of 10 years . Mine has been on for 7 . You don’t need their cleaner it is just brake cleaner that costs more . But the 4 inch width and go around the whole thing . Also a short piece where the radius joins . Get Black . Make sure you do the front and rear edges . Use Black caulking on the leading edges . It’s work but worth it . The plus side of the radius is that tree branches will not tear it like a wrap . Don’t worry about any roof wrinkles . My roof has had them since l have owned it . Best thing you can do is put a disc brake kit on it .

[jacknife]

Be sure to order a steel roller also . Don’t worry about the Black on the white you can’t see it from the ground .

[jacknife]

The water tank on yours has a plywood board under to help with support . I think it was 2015 when the bean counter figures they didn’t need the wood and that is when people started losing them .

[Jusfloors]

We have a 3850 no problems other than normal wear and tear.love the trailer. Good luck with yours.

[Jusfloors]

Beautiful

[1978Bandit]

3550RL owners help.
Finally have the rig back with a new roof, and some other repairs.
Tech showed me that the L in the kitchen counter that the slide comes in over has no floor support. He said to get a block of wood to support the counter but to remove when bringing the slide in.
I’m curious what other owners are doing. Seems to be quite weird not to have support down to the floor.