The Cardinal LE is/was the lower cost version of the Cardinal lineup. Standard equipment was a bit less than the regular Cardinal. They are all built on the same assembly line. They were nicely equipped and offered good value for the money. Like any manufacturer there are good and bad points. However as you may have already discovered Forest River Inc (parent company) builds their RV's using the exact same components as the most expensive RV on the market. They were built using aluminum framing in the side walls and wood rood trusses. Aluminum was an option in 2005. If it looks good and everything works it will probably still be a very good fiver. Only down side I can think of is that the axles are probably 5000 pound rated, which is marginal for the trailer IMHO. If I were buying it I would figure into the price enough room to allow me to get 6000 pound axles,springs,wheels, and new Michelin XPS Ribs.
Well our early 2005 29WBLX came with 5200 lb axles and if it is a 29TS in should have 6K axles. If it is a 29RK then it will most likely have the 5.2K axles. I have been running Michelin XPS RIB 235/85R16 LRE for 5.5 years and they are great. Our LX model has the Aluminum sidewalls and roof trusses, gelcoat exterior, rear cap, enclosed belly, tank heaters, surround sound, 16" Aluminum wheels etc etc.
If it has Kenda Klever tires, any other Kenda, chinese or ST tires, do not tow it without putting a good set of 16" LT tires on it. XPS RIB is the best, BFG Commercial TA gets good reviews.
We bought it new in June of 2004 and love it.
Chris
My Rig
2001.5 2500 STD CAB AUTO SLT 4x4, CTD 4:10's, Bomb'd to Tow
2005 Cardinal 29WBLX.
Happy with my 2005 holding up good.Also liked my 2003 Cardinal.
I agree with Chris on the tires the Michelin xps ribs are not cheap but it's a good tire with a reputation with Rv owners.
Charles & Dawn
2005 Cardinal 35 CKT LX
2000 F-250 PSD 7.3 4x4 CC,5" Dual Exhaust, Hypertech Power Programmer III, Firestone Ride-Rite Airbags, Air Safe 25K Hitch,Yamaha 125cc Vino Scooter,Lance 250cc Scooter
Basset Hound (Shorty)
Chris wrote: Well our early 2005 29WBLX came with 5200 lb axles and if it is a 29TS in should have 6K axles. If it is a 29RK then it will most likely have the 5.2K axles. I have been running Michelin XPS RIB 235/85R16 LRE for 5.5 years and they are great. Our LX model has the Aluminum sidewalls and roof trusses, gelcoat exterior, rear cap, enclosed belly, tank heaters, surround sound, 16" Aluminum wheels etc etc.
If it has Kenda Klever tires, any other Kenda, chinese or ST tires, do not tow it without putting a good set of 16" LT tires on it. XPS RIB is the best, BFG Commercial TA gets good reviews.
We bought it new in June of 2004 and love it.
Chris
We have have the 29rkle 2005. It is equipped just like the one quoted above. We have used it alot and traveled alot of miles in it. To date we have had one wheel bearing go out and the microwave has to be replaced. Other than that we really really like the unit. I have made mention to my wife several times that I am really please with the over all quality in the unit. I might also add that ours rides very smooth going down the highway. We probably have 15 to 20k on the unit. We replaced our kenda tires in second year due to blow out. If you have those get rid of them. We were lucky and forrest river helped with the cost.
I went through a Cardinal 29LE this summer while waiting for some service work to be done on our truck. IMHO, it was one of the nicest and most workable RV's I've seen. If we weren't into the off-road stuff as much as we are and could fit a standard height 5ver into our barn, we'd have bought that coach right then and there.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
2009 Arctic Fox 24-5N
2007 Ford F350 4X4 Crewcab LB 11.5K GVWR
PullRite 18K SuperGlide
Mine is like Chris's, its the LX model with 7000 lb axles. We really enjoy ours, but like everyone else sajd get rid of china tires. We put firestones on ours and haven't had any problems.
John Ret USArmy
Linda waiting
Jake (soft haired Wheaten terrier)
02 Ford F-250 7.3L PSD 4 x 4
05 Cardinal WBLX 29'
Offline
