Forest River Cardinal 35FL

Name: Forest River Cardinal 35FL
Brand: Forest River

Fifth wheelbuilt 2026–26Mixed build tierFindable on the used market

WHAT ONE COSTS

$76,400est. used (2026, 1 yr old)

Sticker was $106,100 in 2026. Out of production since 2026, so the used market is the only way to buy one. Estimate assumes a 2026 unit.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK

~12,008 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 10,708 lb + fresh water (60 gal, full) 500 lb + propane + battery 200 lb + gear for 2 600 lb. Brochure dry weight omits water, propane, batteries and your gear; this estimate doesn't.

You want a tow rating around13,345 lb (10% margin)

GVWR (the sticker maximum)14,115 lb

Tongue weight, loaded~2,372 lb (20%)

Cargo capacity3,407 lb

WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 20 OF 95

Judged the way the app judges: estimated loaded weight against each vehicle's rating less a 10% margin, per model year, because the 35FL's published weights held steady. Fifth wheels also need a pickup bed and are held to the fifth-wheel rating where published.

VEHICLE	TOW RATING	VERDICT
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax, max tow) '24-26	22,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '20-23	18,510 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '11-19	18,100 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '20-26	36,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '11-19	23,300 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '21-23	14,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, gooseneck) '20-22	22,800 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, tow pkg) '17-19	18,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel) '11-16	16,600 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel, gooseneck) '23-26	23,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '17-19	32,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '20-22	37,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '11-16	21,600 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-26	38,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-450 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-26	40,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins HO) '19-26	20,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins) '11-18	17,980 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins DRW, gooseneck) '13-18	31,210 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '25-26	36,610 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '19-24	37,090 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin

The 75it doesn't fit

Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-26: over by ~5,078 lb loaded
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-22: over by ~5,078 lb loaded
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 (6.2 V8, max tow) '19-26: over by ~2,738 lb loaded
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (max tow) '14-18: over by ~1,568 lb loaded
Chevrolet Silverado EV (4WT) '24-26: over by ~758 lb loaded
Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Chrysler Pacifica '17-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-24: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '24-26: over by ~2,288 lb loaded
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '15-20: over by ~1,298 lb loaded
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '11-14: over by ~1,838 lb loaded
Ford F-150 Lightning (max trailer tow) '22-26: over by ~3,008 lb loaded
Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26: over by ~8,408 lb loaded
Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-23: over by ~5,258 lb loaded
Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-26: over by ~5,258 lb loaded
Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-26: over by ~5,258 lb loaded
GMC Sierra EV '24-26: over by ~1,208 lb loaded
GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Honda Odyssey '18-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26: over by ~7,508 lb loaded
Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26: over by ~7,508 lb loaded
Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-26: over by ~5,078 lb loaded
Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-21: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Land Rover Defender '20-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Land Rover Discovery '17-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Lexus LX 600 '22-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-24: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-26: over by ~5,573 lb loaded
Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-24: over by ~3,223 lb loaded
Nissan Titan XD (Cummins diesel) '16-19: over by ~568 lb loaded
Ram 1500 (3.0 Hurricane, max tow) '25-26: over by ~1,558 lb loaded
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi eTorque, max tow) '19-24: over by ~533 lb loaded
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi, max tow) '11-18: over by ~2,448 lb loaded
Ram ProMaster '14-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Rivian R1S '22-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Rivian R1T '22-26: over by ~2,108 lb loaded
Subaru Ascent '19-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Tesla Cybertruck '24-26: over by ~2,108 lb loaded
Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota Sienna '21-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)
Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-26: over by ~6,158 lb loaded
Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-23: over by ~5,888 lb loaded
Toyota Tundra (5.7 V8, tow pkg) '11-21: over by ~2,828 lb loaded
Toyota Tundra (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-26: over by ~1,208 lb loaded
Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26: no pickup bed (cannot hitch a fifth wheel)

These verdicts assume 2 people aboard with typical gear. See the margin for your truck and your crew →

THE SPECS

Length43.4 ft

Height (incl. A/C)13.2 ft

Width8.0 ft

GVWR14,115 lb

Dry weight10,708 lb

Dry tongue weight2,115 lb

Cargo capacity3,407 lb

Sleeps4

Slide-outs4

Axles2

Fresh water60 gal

Grey water76 gal

Black water38 gal

Air conditioning45,000 BTU

Solar (standard)200 W

Awning15 ft

A missing row means the maker never published that figure: unknown, not zero.

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP

1× Rear king(Permanent)—
2× Theater seats(Convertible)—
1× Dinette(Convertible)—

HOW IT'S BUILT: 4/5

WallsLaminated fiberglass

FrameAluminum

RoofWalk-on

UnderbellyEnclosed

Forest River (Mixed tier): Cardinal

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED

2026Introduced
2027Replaced by 36FL

FINDING ONE

Findable: a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: Forest River is a volume manufacturer; only one model year. Estimated from build volume and production span, not a count of live listings.

OUR TAKE

Front-living entertainer; replaced by the 36FL for 2027.

OTHER CARDINAL FLOORPLANS

32CHILL · 12,188 lb · sleeps 4 32LIVE · 13,500 lb · sleeps 4 33CHEF · 13,885 lb · sleeps 4 34CRIB · 14,300 lb · sleeps 8 35CRIB · 14,305 lb · sleeps 8 35FUN · 14,135 lb · sleeps 6 36FL · 14,235 lb · sleeps 4 36FUN · 14,095 lb · sleeps 6 36MB · 14,335 lb · sleeps 6 37BEST · 15,498 lb · sleeps 6 37GALLEY · 14,080 lb · sleeps 6 37PUB · 14,050 lb · sleeps 6 38DEN · 14,235 lb · sleeps 4 402BEDS · 14,800 lb · sleeps 8 the whole line →

Find one for sale

Live listings for the 35FL on the big marketplaces. Each search opens pre-filled with this exact floorplan:

RV Trader ↗Camping World ↗FB Marketplace ↗Google ↗

Inventory varies by site and day. Slim pickings? search the whole Cardinal line ↗

Is the 35FL your #1, or just a spec sheet?

These are the facts. Whether it beats the other six thousand rigs for you depends on what you care about. Set your priorities as sliders, switch on your hard limits, and watch the whole market re-rank around them. Every exclusion explained, every margin shown.

See where it ranks for you →

Data compiled from dealer and aggregator listings, retrieved 2026-07.