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02-20-2018, 07:34 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 149
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Difference in driving between 40' non tag and 43' tag
We're looking at a 43' tag coach. I'm curious about feedback from anyone who has gone from a 40' non tag to a 43' tag and what to expect?
Was it much more difficult to back into spots?
Is the turning radius much different?
Are you able to fit into "40 foot" spots at campgrounds that don't offer 45 ft spots?
Thanks in advance.
__________________
2015 Tiffin Allegro Bus 45UP
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02-20-2018, 07:59 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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I have not owned both, but I did a lot of research and asked this question myself.
Here's what I learned.
1) The turning radius is dependant on the wheelbase and the front wheel's cramp angle (amount the wheels can turn, Like 50 degrees versus 60 degrees).
The length doesn't matter because you can have a 40 footer and 42 footer with the same wheelbase length. One just has more "tail" after the rear axle).
2) On Backing up, it makes no difference, it all about #1.
3) Road stability is very dependant on the chassis construction and overall weight. But a tag axle does make the coach more stable. Note that a tag axle can be found on rigs starting at 38ft.
I have been told that some parks will tell you a 42 footer won't fit where a 40 foot will (really 24 inches is going to make a difference?). I booked my last site telling them I had a 40 footer (since the website said 40 ft was max). Then you get to the site and find out the parking spot is 65 feet deep (enough for coach and a toad). Now if you tow a full size size car or pickup, the extra 3 feet (from 40 ft to 43 ft coach) with a 20 foot pickup in tow might make a difference.
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02-20-2018, 08:32 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 6,544
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The tag axle coach will have a tighter turning radius. This is because the tag lifts at slow speed when you turn the steering past 35 degrees and the wheelbase is now shorter than the non-tag coach.
The tag axle air bags are adjustable. To do it properly, the coach should be weighed front and back and then you adjust the air pressure to place the correct load on the front axle.
The only down side to a tag is the cost of the extra tires and the loss of basement storage.
__________________
97 Monaco Windsor- Sold
07 Monaco Executive McKinley- Sold
04 Monaco Signature Chateau IV
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02-20-2018, 08:35 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: cayucos, ca
Posts: 1,299
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43 ft is best
__________________
Ross Starkenburg
2017 Newmar Dutch Star 4369. Spartan chassis w/full disc brakes. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
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02-20-2018, 08:45 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,283
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Some downsides of tags.
1. Extra weight
2. Extra rolling resistance
3. More tires to replace
4. Lower mpg due to 1 & 2
5. More to maintain.
6. Less storage.
7. More for tolls.
8. More cost to initially build.
For me these were enough I did not want a tag.
__________________
Full Timers.
2015 Fleetwood Discovery 40E on a Freightliner XCS chassis with a Cummins ISL9 pulling 1 and/or 2 motorcycles, '07 Honda Accord OR a 17' Runabout Boat.
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02-20-2018, 08:48 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: cayucos, ca
Posts: 1,299
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We have owned single rear axle30, 38, and 40ft coaches. We now have a 43ft DS 4369. This is far and away the best driving of all. Certainly the comfort drive helps a lot. But a tag axle on 40 plus coach makes a real positive improvement.
__________________
Ross Starkenburg
2017 Newmar Dutch Star 4369. Spartan chassis w/full disc brakes. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
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02-20-2018, 08:53 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Went from a 40' non tag rig to a 45' rig with tag. Can still get into the same spots, still get into the spot beside my house too as the new rig has lifting tag and greater wheel cut.
On the road the ride is better.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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02-20-2018, 10:42 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,429
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When we we're looking at buying, a couple of friends of ours warned us against going larger than a 40' coach, they both had 40' coaches. They said there we're so many campgrounds that they went to that we wouldn't fit and we would regret having the extra length.
So far we have gone everywhere they have.
__________________
Trap, Jan and the Pup
2013 Monaco Diplomat 43dft
2010 Black Jeep Liberty
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02-20-2018, 11:02 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NorCal
Posts: 3,000
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I have owed 40' without tag and 40' with tag, I will take with tag every time, the extra braking power alone is a BIG plus.
__________________
Outbound
2002 Monaco Executive 500 ISM
2004 GMC 2500HD 4X4
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02-20-2018, 12:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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It's the wheelbase and front wheel turning angle that matters.
I won't buy a coach (the next time) with a wheelbase over 270 inches (unless the front wheels turn 60 degrees or more).
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02-20-2018, 01:12 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cosby, Tn
Posts: 6,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vito.a
The tag axle coach will have a tighter turning radius. This is because the tag lifts at slow speed when you turn the steering past 35 degrees and the wheelbase is now shorter than the non-tag coach.
The tag axle air bags are adjustable. To do it properly, the coach should be weighed front and back and then you adjust the air pressure to place the correct load on the front axle.
The only down side to a tag is the cost of the extra tires and the loss of basement storage.
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We owners of Monaco coaches have the flexibility of an easy tag air bag adjustment. Coaches on Freightliner and Spartan Chassis don’t have that flexibility. Their tag is governed by a proportioning system and though it may be adjustable, the Chassis builders don’t want to do it.
__________________
Steve Ownby
Full time since 2007
2003 Monaco Signature
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02-20-2018, 01:22 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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Mike, Our 40' Patriot Lexington has a WB of 264" (22'), its a sports car!!
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around......
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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02-20-2018, 01:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Rigby, Idaho
Posts: 3,902
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stretch
43 ft is best
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I have heard the exact same thing, but I love my 40.
__________________
Cheers,
TonyMac
2006 Monaco Safari Cheetah 40PMT
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02-20-2018, 02:13 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cruzbill
Mike, Our 40' Patriot Lexington has a WB of 264" (22'), its a sports car!!
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around......
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Ha. You got the sports car handling alright.
My Patriot Thunder has a wheelbase of 287" (24 feet), that is twice the wheelbase of my F250 pickup truck (and that is even hard to U-turn).
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