At the end of July 2009, while on a trip to Florida, we had a minor mishap that caused some serious damage to the old trailer. We limped to a large RV dealer on the West Coast of Florida to get the damage repaired. When the mechanics completed their estimate, they advised that they would not be able get the key part for at least two weeks. We were already in the market for an upgrade to our current "Home on Wheels," so we decided to look around on the dealer's lot. We had done considerable research over the last few months and had a good idea of what we wanted in a new trailer, so we met with a sales representative to look at what this dealership had to offer. We looked at several trailers and decided that the Cardinal model 3150 RL, built by Forest River, had the quality and layout we wanted. After some negotiation during which they offered a good trade-in on our old trailer in "as is" condition, we struck a deal and drove home towing our "New Home on Wheels."
The trailer is 37' 5" long, 12' 8" high and almost 8' wide, with a gross weight of approximately 14,000 lbs (our actual travel weight is about 2,000 lbs less). The trailer has three slides, one in the bedroom which offers us a full size queen bed (the old trailer had a "short" queen) and two slides in the living/dining area. Unlike the old trailer, all our holding tanks, water and waste lines and the main exterior storage area, are heated so we can travel in sub-freezing weather. Susie refers to the trailer as a small one bedroom apartment and it certainly feels like it.
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