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01-19-2016, 07:52 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
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How Much Better Does a Tag Axle Drive?
Does a tag axle make a coach drive and ride better? Does it improve one better than the other?
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01-19-2016, 08:00 PM
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#2
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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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Hard to say. Both our 38'/FL chassis and 41'/Spartan chassis non-tag Dutch Stars were never a problem. And I can't really say the Magna is any better handling just due to the tag. There are many, many factors that go into good handling, not just a tag axle.
__________________
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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01-19-2016, 08:15 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 1,717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D
Hard to say. Both our 38'/FL chassis and 41'/Spartan chassis non-tag Dutch Stars were never a problem. And I can't really say the Magna is any better handling just due to the tag. There are many, many factors that go into good handling, not just a tag axle.
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I would think better braking? Better turning radius since the drive axle is moved up? And for sure it would be more stable in a crosswind?
__________________
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4328 K2
2017 Grand Cherokee Summit 5.7
2008 Beaver Contessa 40' Pacifica 425 Cat
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01-19-2016, 08:29 PM
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#4
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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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Quote:
Originally Posted by tankcj
I would think better braking? Better turning radius since the drive axle is moved up? And for sure it would be more stable in a crosswind?
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Well, the other rigs all had air drum, this one has all wheel disk so yes it can STOP! But is the difference due to more tires on the ground or just the disk better than drum? The Magna is some 8 tons heavier than the DSDP too.
The drive axle is only a few inches closer than on the last DSDP. I do know that I can put the 45' rig into any spot I could get the 41'er, unless the spot is only 41' long. Putting the rig into it's spot beside the house is about the same swing too. I do have to remember to lift the tag though and go slower.
Haven't had any REAL crosswinds with the rig to know. As I said, the others were pretty stable at all times too and I have had strong sidewinds with the 41' rig.
__________________
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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01-19-2016, 09:27 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ & Plover, WI
Posts: 6,403
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I have had several non tag coaches and I thought all of them drove and handled fine. That is until I drove our current tag coach. I can't see us ever going back to a non tag motor home. Go test drive a few and see for yourself. Be sure and drive it in a cross wind and have a semi pass you. Then you will know the difference.
__________________
2006 Monaco Executive 44 Denali
2013 43 QGP Allegro Bus ( SOLD )
2013 Avalanche
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01-20-2016, 07:34 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
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The improvement is "relative" to what you are comparing it to. Coming from a 39' gasser to a 43' DP with a tag...I'M IN HEAVEN!
I seldom feel any challenges to my skills and safety due to cross winds and trucks passing me. Yes, I still feel some affects of high speed trucks and strong, gusty winds but this situations made me cringe in my previous gasser.
__________________
Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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01-20-2016, 07:51 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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I will certainly defer to the experts on the forum,
but, IMHO, the tag is more for the carrying capacity than anything else and typically on only coaches that are 42' plus if I remember correctly.
Since longer usually means heavier our steer axle is like 12k lbs and the drive + tag axles are about 23k lbs... so one axle would have been grossly overloaded...
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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01-20-2016, 08:02 AM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Country Coach Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 7,902
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I agree with Sky Boss. I went from a gas coach on a P32 chassis to a 36' DP on a Freightliner chassis, no tag, to my current 42' coach with tag. The difference in ride and handling between the gas and the 36' non-tag DP was pretty significant. The switch to the 42' with tag was again significant in terms of its ability to deal with cross winds, passing semi's, and stopping ability. Situations that were downright scary, white knuckle, episodes with the gasser just don't seem to cause concerns with the tag axle coach.
The best advice has also already been given..... go drive one in cross winds or on a highway with trucks and see what you think.
__________________
2007 Country Coach Allure Siskiyou Summit, sold/traded Nov. 2018.
2019 Grand Designs 384GK-R 5th wheel. Glen Allen, VA
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01-20-2016, 08:04 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 1,717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo
I will certainly defer to the experts on the forum,
but, IMHO, the tag is more for the carrying capacity than anything else and typically on only coaches that are 42' plus if I remember correctly.
Since longer usually means heavier our steer axle is like 12k lbs and the drive + tag axles are about 23k lbs... so one axle would have been grossly overloaded...
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Really? Usually I see tag axle alone with a gross rating of about 10k and drive axle at around 20k. Interesting.
__________________
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4328 K2
2017 Grand Cherokee Summit 5.7
2008 Beaver Contessa 40' Pacifica 425 Cat
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01-20-2016, 08:12 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo
I will certainly defer to the experts on the forum, but, IMHO, the tag is more for the carrying capacity than anything else
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JohnBoyToo
I agree
However because i've never owned a coach heavy enough that it needed a tag axle I might be wrong.
Mel
'96 Safari
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01-20-2016, 08:16 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 155
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I went from a 39' non-tag to a 40' tag, and the difference is dramatic in terms of handling crosswinds, passing trucks, road crowns, etc. Some of that is attributable to Newmar Comfort Drive (a truly amazing thing) on the new rig, but I believe that having more rubber on the road in those two more tires makes a difference too.
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2021 Newmar Bay Star 3626
2018 Ford Flex Toad
Roadmaster Sterling AT towbar + Invisibrake
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01-20-2016, 08:19 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Western NY
Posts: 3,809
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The current cut-off for tag axles seems to be around 40 feet. Newmar makes a tag on a 40 foot coach but all the others of which I am aware seem to go to a tag once the coach approaches 41 feet or more. Just an observation from a dedicated tire kicker.
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2018.5 Entegra Aspire 44R-Sold, 2019 Chevy Blazer-Sold. 2022 Genesis GV-80.
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01-20-2016, 08:58 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ & Plover, WI
Posts: 6,403
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The tag offers more than just load distribution. Years ago, I went from a 34" gas to a new 36' gas with a tag axle. There was a world of difference in the ride and handling in cross winds. We have friends that have a 97 Pace Arrow on a Ford chassis with a tag axle. He also commented on what an improvement the tag made. That third axle will add stability to any vehicle.
__________________
2006 Monaco Executive 44 Denali
2013 43 QGP Allegro Bus ( SOLD )
2013 Avalanche
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01-20-2016, 09:32 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crasher
The tag offers more than just load distribution. Years ago, I went from a 34" gas to a new 36' gas with a tag axle. There was a world of difference in the ride and handling in cross winds. We have friends that have a 97 Pace Arrow on a Ford chassis with a tag axle. He also commented on what an improvement the tag made. That third axle will add stability to any vehicle.
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That third axel also adds some "maintenance and tire expense" which is not required on non-tag coach.
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