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Cardinal 5ers

ACZL
Explorer
Explorer
Was thumbing thru FR's 5er section page and the Cardinal 3456 RL somehow caught my attention. Appears to be pretty much same floorplan as the Cedar Creek 34RL, but cannot explain why it caught me eye. What's everyone's take on the Cardinal line? I see it has laminated walls like most 5ers VS hung, Compared to Cedar Creek?
2017 F350 DRW XLT, CC, 4x4, 6.7
2018 Big Country 3560 SS
"The best part of RVing and Snowmobiling is spending time with family and friends"
"Catin' in the Winter"
16 REPLIES 16

MPI_Mallard
Explorer
Explorer
We have a CC Daydreamer but know several people with Cardinals that totally loved them and like any other manufacturer there are some bugs in new trailers but like mentioned before a GREAT many times Cedar Creek's division's after-the-sale customer service is the best I've seen in the industry and that to me is what really matters!

Red Green: If life gives you lemons, throw 'em into a quart of vodka.
07' Dodge 3500 6 speed Cummins Diesel Dually/6.7L Bully-Chipped /
Exhst Brake/07' Cedar Creek 37CDTSD Daydreamer fiver
Mallard @ Frau Blรผcher

Red Green:
Now lets Bow your heads for the men's prayer.
I am a man, but I can change.
If I have to, I guess...

ACZL
Explorer
Explorer
Owned a CC Silverback for 12 years and it served us very well. The on-going debate between CC and Cardinal as to who is #1 has been around for awhile. Winner has been CC each time. Now of course some will argue much like Ford-GM and Ram. While we had the CC, anytime we had an issue or question, CC responded in a fairly quick manner. HOWEVER it seemed like in the past couple of years tho, the response hasn't been so great (IMO). When it came time for us to mull over a new unit, we liked many features in the Silverback line VS the Creek line. BUT there were some that were deal killers and factory just didn't seem to care. Factory rep I met at a couple shows, well he didn't impress me very much and I had him a few times for he had no clue whatsoever what CC did in the past. We would have liked to stayed w/ the CC line, but we found many more features and likes in our Big Country that CC just doesn't offer. Not saying CC is bad, but just not at this time for us.
2017 F350 DRW XLT, CC, 4x4, 6.7
2018 Big Country 3560 SS
"The best part of RVing and Snowmobiling is spending time with family and friends"
"Catin' in the Winter"

Parrothead_Mike
Explorer
Explorer
I owned a 2001 Cardinal and finally traded it in 2015 for a Cedar Creek Silverback. The Cardinal was a great little unit (only 28' long). They don't make them that short anymore unfortunately.

They are both by Forest River, but thus far with any parts or service issues Cedar Creek is superior. I had some difficulty contacting people at Cardinal, although when I finally did they got the parts to me. CC customer service people have responded quicker and their people have gone above & beyond. I accidently left my bedroom slide out window open and lost it somewhere along the highway. And while it was within the first year of purchasing it they gave me a new one at no cost. It wasn't a factory flaw that caused the window problem, it was mine, but they gave me a new one still in the package. I only live about 50 miles from the factory and offered to drive down to pick it up.

When looking to trade my Cardinal I did not get a good look at the new Cardinals other than the ones I saw at the Tampa RV show. At the time I thought they were a little expensive. But then again, all new RVs seem expensive. I got a great deal on my trade to the Cedar Creek and have been very happy with it. Some minor issues with the small LED dome lights, but again, CC has given me replacements for free.
2018 Chevy 2500HD Duramax - 2015 Cedar Creek Silverback 29RE
16K Huskey EZ Roller Hitch - EU2000i Honda Generator

Splashers3
Explorer
Explorer
I currently own a 2009 CC Silverback, we are looking to replace, although it is better than new thanks to the folks at CC...and it didn't cost us a cent!!

We have looked at several new Cardinals, and several new CCs - both are nice and I would call it a tie...so the tie breaker for us is the treatment we received at the CC factory by Denise Davis and her crew. I also note that.. I see way more CC at c/gs than I do Cardinals - and we are on the lookout for both.

There is NO way the Cardinal factory can beat the folks at CC, IMO...
Our next 5ver will be a upgraded Cedar Creek....although a TV upgrade will be required first.
2017 GMC 3500 Sierra Denali, C/C, D/A, DRW, w/40gal Aux tank, 18K B&W Patriot.
2019 Cedar Creek Hathaway, 34RL2 - w/Bells & Whistles and disc brakes
Traded 2009 Cedar Creek Silverback, GII, 32 WRL

Flintstones
Explorer
Explorer
We had a 2007 Cedar Creek and currently own a 2011 Cardinal. We were happy with both units, had no major issues with either.

Presently if you look at both Cedar Creek and Cardinal side by side, their features, hardware, cabinetry, and overall quality, I believe the Cardinal is a notch above.

Cardinal has solid wood cabinetry INCLUDING rails and stiles, not sure about Cedar Creek. You can also order upgraded axles and disc brakes with the Cardinal, not available from Cedar Creek. With Cardinal, there is excellent factory support for the Cardinal RV Club, a very strong and committed group of loyal Cardinal owners.

I believe at Forest River, Cardinal is above Cedar Creek.

rjshiflet
Explorer
Explorer
Yesterday we were picking up our 2017 Cardinal from our dealer after some minor repairs and one of the repairmen was absolutely amazed by the Lippert OneControl and my ability to control everything from my iPad.

It's a shame they don't do more training for both sales people and repair folks.
Robert & Estha Shiflet
'17 Cardinal 3456RL - '17 Ford F350 Lariat Ultimate - DRW w/B&W OEM Companion hitch
Nights Camping 2012 & 2013 & 2014 & 2015 & 2016: 587 ~ Nights Camping 2017: 75 So Far

brirene
Explorer
Explorer
ford truck guy wrote:
I just wanted to see how honest they were... ๐Ÿ™‚


Although honesty may not have had much to do with it. In my experience, salespeople often don't know all that much about their products, even less about those they don't carry. Maybe not dishonesty, but ignorance.
Jayco Designer 30 RKS Medallion pkg, Trail Air pin
'05 F350 6.0 PSD CC 4x4 DRW LB B&W Companion, Edge Insight

โ€œCertainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard

filrupmark
Explorer
Explorer
jsum wrote:
ford truck guy wrote:
When we were looking to buy our new rig 2 years ago we looked at both the Cedar Creek , and the Cardinal . .

The Cedar Creek sales person told us they were a level above the Cardinal , , and the Cardinal sales person told us they were a level above the Cedar Creeks.. go figure !

It will come down to your personal preference


You know how to tell when the sales person is lying......don't you?

If they are talking they are lying.
2004 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.0 Diesel, Bilstein 4600 Shocks, 16K B&W Patriot, Michelin M&S
2014 Augusta Flex AF34RS Trailair Tri Glide pinbox,
JT Strong Arms , Bridgestone R250'S, KYB Monotube Gas shocks
Finally a smooth ride !!!

Me_Again
Explorer II
Explorer II
We had a 2005 (Bought in June 2004) for 12 years. Loved it despite the frame issue that had to be fixed.

We would have bought another except that the 3250 was the only one with light enough pin weight to tow with our 3500 SRW. The rest are all pin heavy like the Montana's. With the 3250 you can not get to the refer with the slides in.

And we felt the Bighorn we bought was built better. Cedar Creeks Western looking wood trim turned me off.

Chris
2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021

Joyce_in_NY
Explorer
Explorer
We had tons of issues with our Cardinal -- we traded it when we had a serious delamination problem.
Cardinal 33TSLE

jsum wrote:
ford truck guy wrote:
When we were looking to buy our new rig 2 years ago we looked at both the Cedar Creek , and the Cardinal . .

The Cedar Creek sales person told us they were a level above the Cardinal , , and the Cardinal sales person told us they were a level above the Cedar Creeks.. go figure !

It will come down to your personal preference


You know how to tell when the sales person is lying......don't you?


yup.... their lips were moving... and I already knew the answer , I just wanted to see how honest they were... ๐Ÿ™‚
Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet

jsum
Explorer
Explorer
ford truck guy wrote:
When we were looking to buy our new rig 2 years ago we looked at both the Cedar Creek , and the Cardinal . .

The Cedar Creek sales person told us they were a level above the Cardinal , , and the Cardinal sales person told us they were a level above the Cedar Creeks.. go figure !

It will come down to your personal preference


You know how to tell when the sales person is lying......don't you?

When we were looking to buy our new rig 2 years ago we looked at both the Cedar Creek , and the Cardinal . .

The Cedar Creek sales person told us they were a level above the Cardinal , , and the Cardinal sales person told us they were a level above the Cedar Creeks.. go figure !

It will come down to your personal preference
Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet

BB_TX
Nomad
Nomad
We really liked the Cardinal when we were shopping and it was down to that or one other brand. Finally settled on the other. Very nice looking units, but for some reason, I don't often see a Cardinal in the RV parks we visit. Regional maybe??