I have spent some time searching for this information. If this has already been asked and answered, please forgive me, but I was unable to find this.We are looking at a 2002 Cardinal 29LE. There is no sticker in the trailer with the normal specification information. If someone has a similar unit, could you please help me? This unit is fully insulated and has the "Arctic Package" with the insulated basement and holding tanks. Although the current owner told us that he purchased it new and has pulled it with the same truck for the past 10 years (similar to ours) we are concerned that this 5ver's pin weight is too heavy.We have a 2003 GMC 2500HD / Duramax / Allison Trans with a 3.73 gear ratio. It is 4WD with an extended cab (NOT crew cab). Several years ago, we weighed the truck with the hitch installed, full tank of fuel and DH and I, the front axle was 4180 and the rear axle was 2960.We have been pulling a 25 foot Layton Scout that has a 5700 dry weight - so moving up to something this heavy has us concerned. Also - our current hitch is a 16K Husky with manual slider - would this hitch be okay for the Cardinal.We KNEW that we had plenty of truck with our current rig, so all this wasn't really a concern. Without the manufacturer's specifications, we are kind of at a loss as to whether this 5ver is within our capabilities.Thank you in advance for any help.

Our last fiver was a Cardinal 30SE and we pulled it with a 2008 2500 Duramax with no problem. At the time we had a 18K Reese hitch. Cardinal has a great forum with some helpful people that you might want to check:http://www.cardinalrvclub.org

Simple, since you already know the weights of your truck, just take the trailer with your truck attached to a scale and weigh. That will answer your question. If the seller balks, walk away.

Be sure to look at the frame on the I beam behind the top of each wheel for Cracks. They appear about an inch or so above the lower flange of the I-beam. This is where the cross frame lattice racks are welded to the back side of the I-beams. Very common problem and can be fixed better than new for $1K plus or minus. Wehn repair and the cross tubes installed it is better that new. If you do not find the cracks, you should still install the cross tubes. My cracks were just ripples in the paint until I took my knife and scraped the paint away.If you see plates like this, then I has already been repaired. The fish plates may not have the punch weld on top of the cracked area, as that was my addition.Second part of the repair is to install 2x2x.125 tubing between the spring hangers at all three locations.Here is the Lippert bulletin.PM we for more details. Chris

A friend pulled that same 5er with a F-250 Ford V-10. No problems. Easy pull.

BTW, if this trailer is on 15" tires, I would consider switching to LT235/85R16E's or LT245/75R16E's depending on the center to center axle spacing. The 235's require at least 33" c to c. My 2005 29WBLX weights in at the low to mid 12,000 lb range ready for a snowbird winter. Around 10K on the axles and 2400-2600 on the pin. We love our bird!Like Traveler II said, come over and join us on the Cardinal RV Club forum. All your questions will be answered there. Traveler II was a regular member until he became a SOB(Some Other Brand)!Chris

2002 Cardinal 29LE - Help, Please | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

S_Sullivan
Explorer
May 23, 2013
Well ............ after several days of research and thought ........ :B

We made an offer (contingent upon an independent RV inspector going through it). It is owned by an elderly couple and their neighbor is handling everything - so he will present our offer to them tonight. Anxiously awaiting their response.

Again - thank you to everyone who took time to respond to my questions.

Susan
harleybass47
Explorer
May 23, 2013
We have an 2000 28 RKLX it weighs about 12000 lbs loaded and we pull with a 2007.5 GMC EXT CAB 2500 HD and don't even know it's behind us uphill or down.
roman_traveler
Explorer
May 23, 2013
Me Again wrote:
roman traveler wrote:
I have a 2002 29 ft cardinal LX. I don't think there is much difference in the weight between the LE and LX. That being said it is a heavy trailer GVWR is 12,200 lbs. I pull mine with a dually, but a 2500 duramax should do just fine. Incidently my 2002 does not have a Lippert frame or components.

RT

You sure about the Lippert thing? I believe that we have members on the Cardinal RV Club forum that had the same cracks in 2001 or 2002 models. Chris

I'm sure, that's one reason why I've kept it this long. I would have to go out and look, but it does have the name of the frame manufacturer on a sticker on the frame. I have looked at all the components, slides, jacks etc and nothing is Lippert.

Rt
Me_Again
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
roman traveler wrote:
I have a 2002 29 ft cardinal LX. I don't think there is much difference in the weight between the LE and LX. That being said it is a heavy trailer GVWR is 12,200 lbs. I pull mine with a dually, but a 2500 duramax should do just fine. Incidently my 2002 does not have a Lippert frame or components.

RT

You sure about the Lippert thing? I believe that we have members on the Cardinal RV Club forum that had the same cracks in 2001 or 2002 models. Chris
wvcampers
Explorer
May 22, 2013
The frame cracks usually show behind the tires. You can see them without removing any of the bottom enclosure. I have a 2008 34 ft triple slide Cardinal and towed it fine with a 2500 2WD Dodge. I did add air bags because the Dodge did not have the factory overload springs.
S_Sullivan
Explorer
May 22, 2013
roman traveler wrote:
I have a 2002 29 ft cardinal LX. I don't think there is much difference in the weight between the LE and LX. That being said it is a heavy trailer GVWR is 12,200 lbs. I pull mine with a dually, but a 2500 duramax should do just fine. Incidently my 2002 does not have a Lippert frame or components.

RT

Thanks .... Now that I read your post, I think it is an LX.... (Our car was an "LE" - and I think I just typed that without thinking...:) )

RE: the frame..... I'm not real savvy about this type of thing, but would the independent inspector really be able to inspect the frame as closely as has been suggested? :h The underneath is fully enclosed.
roman_traveler
Explorer
May 22, 2013
I have a 2002 29 ft cardinal LX. I don't think there is much difference in the weight between the LE and LX. That being said it is a heavy trailer GVWR is 12,200 lbs. I pull mine with a dually, but a 2500 duramax should do just fine. Incidently my 2002 does not have a Lippert frame or components.

RT
S_Sullivan
Explorer
May 22, 2013
I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Simple, since you already know the weights of your truck, just take the trailer with your truck attached to a scale and weigh. That will answer your question. If the seller balks, walk away.

We are definitely considering this! :)
Me_Again
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
S Sullivan wrote:
Much thanks to all of you for your responses. We have already decided that any used unit we purchase, we will have an independent RV inspector go through. I will mention the Lippert frame issue to him.

So - my question is this. Should we be concerned about having a pin weight over 2000 lbs on the truck I have listed below:

2003 GMC 2500HD / Duramax / Allison Trans
3.73 gear ratio
4WD
extended cab (NOT crew cab).
Weights as follows: full tank of fuel with DH and I:
front axle was 4180
rear axle was 2960.

Is a Husky 16K manual slider hitch okay for this unit?

Again - THANKS!

You will most likely be a bit over the 9200 GVWR of the truck, however you have around 3K capacity on the rear axle. That is were 99.95 percent of the pin weight ends up. AND your will be no different than most 250/2500 towing a fifth wheel.

People get all in a knot about GVWR which is a manufacturers warranty issue. Staying within the tire ratings in much more important.

Chris
S_Sullivan
Explorer
May 22, 2013
Much thanks to all of you for your responses. We have already decided that any used unit we purchase, we will have an independent RV inspector go through. I will mention the Lippert frame issue to him.

So - my question is this. Should we be concerned about having a pin weight over 2000 lbs on the truck I have listed below:

2003 GMC 2500HD / Duramax / Allison Trans
3.73 gear ratio
4WD
extended cab (NOT crew cab).
Weights as follows: full tank of fuel with DH and I:
front axle was 4180
rear axle was 2960.

Is a Husky 16K manual slider hitch okay for this unit?

Again - THANKS!

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2002 Cardinal 29LE - Help, Please

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