Cardinal is FR's top dog??

bpounds wrote:

ACZL wrote:
Just received latest issue of TL and on front cover they state that the model featured (FR's Cardinal) is companies flagship 5er.

How do they define flagship? Most expensive? Or perhaps the one they push the hardest and sell the most of? The latter might well be Cardinal.

Remember all though they all say Forest River somewhere on the unit they are all mostly separate brands so they will all say they are the top of the line, but YOU are really the one who decides. I looked for build quality and certain options I wanted or felt was necessary and that was how we ended up with the River Stone Legacy, our previous unit was a Cedar Creek.

ACZL wrote:
Just received latest issue of TL and on front cover they state that the model featured (FR's Cardinal) is companies flagship 5er.

How do they define flagship? Most expensive? Or perhaps the one they push the hardest and sell the most of? The latter might well be Cardinal.

Retired JSO wrote:


That floor plan actually has a large solid surface counter forward of the island. We are going tomorrow to see 3 in Wildwood FL.

If you are referring to our BH3575el we love the butlers pantry area ahead of the island. It provides lots of close and hand counter space. We have all the dishes and table service in the area. So one can make lunch without moving a slide.

That sure lacks counter space for a large trailer. Or you get lots of exercise running between counters and around to the other outer door to go potty after making lunch.

I will stick with mine.

That floor plan actually has a large solid surface counter forward of the island. We are going tomorrow to see 3 in Wildwood FL.

dblr wrote:
Not because we own one but I would agree that the River Stone line and the Legacy would be their top. Cedar Creek Champagne is also very nice as is the Cardinal line.

Agree with the Legacy being their top of the line. Very nice units. We have been looking at and really like.

I guess thats why the MFR's make many different floor plans. Different strokes for different folks.

DutchmenSport wrote:


We looked at a LOT of Front Living Room 5ers from several brands and all of them had the island kitchen that cut off access to the kitchen in some way or another. That was, until we found the Montana and fell in love with it. Kitchen is completely accessible, no island, and plenty of counter space. And we really love that back door on the opposite side!

That sure lacks counter space for a large trailer. Or you get lots of exercise running between counters and around to the other outer door to go potty after making lunch.

I will stick with mine.

DutchmenSport wrote:

Me Again wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
We got the magazine too. Nice looking FW and I like the separate office. What I don't like and see in all if not most today are the islands in the kitchen. We stop at roadside rests and even sleep there and you can't work in your kitchen with islands and slides up against them. Well, that's for another discussion.

Islands are much better than peninsulas in kitchens. Our Bighorn 3575el has an island and a butler's counter ahead of it. Works well! We can get in three of four frig doors and make lunch without moving a slide.

We looked at a LOT of Front Living Room 5ers from several brands and all of them had the island kitchen that cut off access to the kitchen in some way or another. That was, until we found the Montana and fell in love with it. Kitchen is completely accessible, no island, and plenty of counter space. And we really love that back door on the opposite side!

Wow. Rare, indeed. Good to know there are some out there. We have an open center kitchen and we can get to everything with the slides in.

The OP_ was asking about the Cardinal sorry my man nothing wrong with the High Country but your Montana High Country edition is a step down from Montana's top of the line Legacy and non Legacy edition which is a direct competitor to the Cardinal and Cedar creek.

In all fairness to Cardinal, here's the top-of-the-line Front Living Room model I could find. Cardinal Luxury 3700FLX. All of Cardinals had the center Island. That is one bodacious mater bathroom though! As with all RV's, there's a trade off somewhere.