2015 Cardinal 3850RL
Hello, I am seriously considering upgrading from my 2007 Montana 3400RL to a 2015 Cardinal 3850RL. I have a couple of questions that I would like to get opinions on: First, what is your opinio...
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TXiceman wrote:goducks10 wrote:
Dealer has one near me. Just wondering about the residential style fridge. I would assume it works like a typical RV fridge?
Absolutely gorgeous 5'er. $69,000 seems like a dang good deal.
The residential frig is an electic unit with a mechanical compressor. The RV unit is a gas/electric absorption unit (a chemical process).
NorCold and Dometic have had lots of issues with their absorption units. If you can, get a residential frig with a larger battery bank and an inverter to run it on the road. Have a charge line installed on the tow vehicle back to the RV to help keep the batteries up.
A Cardinal will be too much trailer for a 3/4 ton truck due to the loaded pin weight (use 20% of the trailer GVWR). A 3/4 ton is limited on GVWR and GAWR and will exceed these values well before you reach the GCWR or maximum tow rating. Air bags and such are just a crutch and do nothing to increase the trucks weight ratings.
Soft covers are a real nuisance to put on a 5er. To protect the trailer in a Texas climate, nothing beats an enclosed storage unit, at least a shed roof over it.
Ken
That seems like it would really take a toll on the batteries if one were to dry camp for 1-2 weeks straight. Solar or running the gen often would be the only way to do that it seems. I see the plusses but only for elec hookup CG's.
