2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Discuss with others about towing. What is the best tow vehicle, hitches, brake controllers, etc, keeping in mind that everybody has his/her favorite.

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max bauer
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:44 pm
Location: Michigan Byron
Cardinal Owners: cardinal travel trailer 33
Location: Michigan Byron

2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by max bauer »

Hello Friends. Last spring I bought a 33 ft cardinal that other than dealer moving to the site has never been towed. While I have had several trailers in the past and the last one was a 31 Airstream ,I have never owned one this heavy. Book said 7890 dryweight and I would guess around 9000 pounds. Just knowing there is one of you Cards out there that has one of these could help me out. I plan on take her out west on some of those 11 mile up and down mountains.

Plan on new tires and greese hubs.

what tow truck and hitch are you running or recommened.

Thaks you, Max
snoking

Re: 2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by snoking »

If it is a 33TS 5th wheel then dry weight is 10,500, GVWR is 14110. Dry hitch weight is 2119, loaded would be around 2800. 350/3500 SRW or DRW, no 250/2500's!!!!

If it is a bumper pull T33RBL, then dry weight is 7885 and GVWR is 9790. 250/2500 will handle that! Sounds like this is what you have!!!

Chris
Roger
Posts: 445
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:10 am
Location: Michigan Goodrich
Cardinal Owners: 2005 30TS
Location: Michigan Goodrich

Re: 2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by Roger »

Mine is a 30TS. It is close to 33 ft. long so we really need to know what model you have. I have a 2500 Dmax. It pulls it well but is maxed out on weight. I haven't had it very far west of the Mississippi but have traveled in KY., TN., and western PA. without any problems.
Roger & Joy
2005 30TS
Morryde pin box
Morryde SRE4000 suspension
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
max bauer
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:44 pm
Location: Michigan Byron
Cardinal Owners: cardinal travel trailer 33
Location: Michigan Byron

Re: 2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by max bauer »

Thanks for the feedback gentelman. Smoking mentioned If it is a bumper pull T33RBL, then dry weight is 7885 . I have the Michigan title sitting in front of me. weight/fee category is 7890. Still not really sure what the model is. My VIN number is 4x4tcaj215g084090. so yes it's a trailer, not a 5th wheel . My gut feeling is I should have nothing less than a 1 ton to pull this bird around the rockies.
snoking

Re: 2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by snoking »

max bauer wrote:Thanks for the feedback gentelman. Smoking mentioned If it is a bumper pull T33RBL, then dry weight is 7885 . I have the Michigan title sitting in front of me. weight/fee category is 7890. Still not really sure what the model is. My VIN number is 4x4tcaj215g084090. so yes it's a trailer, not a 5th wheel . My gut feeling is I should have nothing less than a 1 ton to pull this bird around the rockies.
The difference between 3/4 T and 1 T is the ability to handle hitch/ pin weight. If you plan to keep the trailer for many years then a 3/4 is fine if you have a good equalizer hitch. Same drive train. If you think a 5th wheel is in your future a 1T SRW is a good starting point. Chris
max bauer
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:44 pm
Location: Michigan Byron
Cardinal Owners: cardinal travel trailer 33
Location: Michigan Byron

Re: 2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by max bauer »

Thanks all for your help and thanks Chris, going shopping for a 3/4 :)
bop11
Posts: 1921
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lakeport
Cardinal Owners: 2010 3150 RL
Skype ID: bill.bopra
Location: Michigan Lakeport

Re: 2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by bop11 »

Welcome to the club Max.
I was a delivery driver for Camping World and found the biggest thing to pulling a travel trailer was getting a good hitch. I bought a 10,000# Equallizer hitch and after many miles in all kinds of weather and wind I never felt any of the trailers sway in an uncomfortable manner, even when passing or being passed by Semi's. It is important to read the directions and set it up correctly.
I ordered it from Tweety's and paid just under $500 for it. I pulled travel trailers from 24 to 36 foot. Let me know if I can answer any other questions.
If there is even a chance that you might move to a 5th wheel I would suggest getting at least a 1 ton single and if you can go with a dually.
Bill & Penny
2010 3150 RL "The Bucket List Inn
Nights out in 2013/67 and have put put 8566 miles on the Bucket List Inn
Nights out in 2014 63
Night out in 2015. 88
Nights out so far in 2016. 58
More fun to come!
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BMullins46
Posts: 1569
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Texas Lubbock
Cardinal Owners: 06 Cardinal 31RKT; 2016 XLR 385AMP
2012 Ford F350 DRW, Lariat 6.7 Diesel.
Location: Texas Lubbock

Re: 2005 cardinal 33" trailer

Post by BMullins46 »

Max, I have an 06 31RKT that weighs in at about 8500 dry and according to the weight ticket I got while attending the FROG rally last summer it is very close to the 11,500 GVW max. I pulled it with an 06 Dodge Megacab w/5.9 Cummins and an equallizer hitch, never had any problems stability wise until I had a bearing going bad while we were in Michigan in 2012. I had transmission problems with my Dodge and wound up trading for a 2012 Ford F-350 Dually 2wd w/3.73 rear axle. I'm not real pleased with my fuel mileage but so far as pulling and stability goes I feel more confident with the dually. Regardless of the brand I highly recommend you get a diesel powered truck, the engine will not have to work as hard pulling the trailer. One thing you will find to beneficial on the diesel is an exhaust brake, it sure comes in handy in the Rocky Mountains. Read "Snoking's" thread on tires and follow his advice, I replaced my tires with new "ST" tires shortly after buying the trailer and had problems less than 2000 miles later. I now run Michelin XPS Ribs on the trailer and have had NO tire issues in 3+ years and we have been out over 100 days a year since I bought the tires.
Good luck getting your trailer ready for the road and look forward to meeting you at one of our rallies.
Bill & Debbie
06 31RKT, MorRyde LRE/4000; 2016 XLR 385AMP
2012 F350 DRW 4X2 Lariat, 6.7 Diesel, TransferFlow aux fuel tank
Fur babies, Betty and Cocoa
Nights camping
2011-102; '12-111; '13-89; '14-108; '15-142; '16-92; '17-163; '18-81
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