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04-29-2016, 01:23 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: vancouver bc
Posts: 36
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Tag axle
Hi
New to MH's still searching. Can someone talk to me about tag axles, what they are and are they acceptable?
Tks
Michael
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04-29-2016, 01:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 929
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What is it you want to know? They are there to increase the load carrying capability of the motorhome and they make the vehicle much more stable in the wind and she trucks go by. They cost some storage space but to me it is worth it.
Steve
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04-29-2016, 01:37 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,296
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michael huot
Hi
New to MH's still searching. Can someone talk to me about tag axles, what they are and are they acceptable?
Tks
Michael
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Hi Michael, welcome to the forum
I can only speak about tag axles on our 38' gas coach which I consider acceptable in that they increase the load carrying capacity and enhance directional stability.
It's more common for diesel powered coaches to use tag axles and I would defer to DP owners to post their comments in answer to your post.
Best of luck, and safe travels.....
__________________
Jim & SherrySeward
2000 Residency 3790 v10 w/tags 5 Star tune & Banks system Suzuki XL7 toad
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04-29-2016, 02:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 273
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you get more rubber on the road, increased carrying capacity and an additional set of brakes. You give up some storage space and add an additional layer of mechanicals. I am looking to upgrade my coach and only considering a tag, though if you are going over 40' a tag will likely be your only option. In 40' MHs you can find both configurations in the used Market. I can't comment on the new market as I am not looking there!
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04-29-2016, 02:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,133
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I have had both, and the tag is the way to go for best ride and handling. However, your tire replacements will include two additional tires and there will possibly be some minimal maintenance needed on the tag axle so the cost is higher.
__________________
Marc and Jill, Wellington FL
2013 Entegra Anthem 44SL
2018 Lincoln MKX
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04-29-2016, 03:06 PM
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#6
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,758
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We decided to stay with a 40' MH so there was no tag axle! I didn't want the extra cost of the tires and possibility of extra maintenance costs!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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04-29-2016, 03:17 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 108
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Not to mention, that every time you drive on a toll road you must pay extra for that tag axle.
__________________
2000 Damon Intruder
1925 Ford Model T Touring
1926 Ford Model T Fodor
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04-29-2016, 09:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,188
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We're in a 44' coach with a tag axle ... the sticker says the coach has a 6,776 lb net carrying capacity. Subtract 835 lbs for a full tank of water (100 Gal) and 150 lbs for a full tank of propane (39 gal) ... and that still leaves us with 5,800 lbs of carrying capacity for DW and I along with our stuff.
While we'll certainly never come close to that - it's nice to have "headroom" and not having to sweat much about being overloaded.
...and that is all because of the tag axle.
__________________
SpaceNorman
2012 HR Endeavor 43' DFT, 2022 Jeep Wrangler
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04-29-2016, 09:11 PM
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#9
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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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Our 40' Dutch Star didn't have a tag and weighed about 33,000#'s loaded. Moved up to the Magna with a liftable tag. The unloaded weight is over 46,000#'s and the GVWR is 54,000# and the GCVRW is 69,000#'s
But due to the better wheel cut and lifting tag it turns just as well as the smaller, lighter non-tag Newmar. You do lose storage space with the tag though and I could use more bay storage space as two of the storage bays are taken up with batteries, one with the wet bay and one with the AquaHot. That only leaves 3 pass throughs for actual storage.
__________________
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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04-29-2016, 10:44 PM
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#10
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,063
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Michael......In simple terms....Federal law says that you can only place 20,000 pounds on any one axle. This is to limit the weight placed on a roadway by a single axle. Several years ago they made an exemption and allowed up to 23,000 pounds on an axle for RV's. Once a coach gets past that weight, they need to add an additional axle to share the weight. Since this is about weight, you generally only see a tag axle on larger coaches. Many of your larger coaches can be 30K-35K on the rear axles. The dual axle might typically take 20K of the weight and the tag will take other 10K.
Before the gas chassis' were beefed up in the last few years, some manufacturers were selling some long coaches with short frame. They had to add a tag to support the length and weight.
Obviously, once you get to a certain size coach, typically, over 40', the coach will come with a tag axle. Some of the pros are better directional tracking, added weight capacity, more braking power and in some of the new steerable tags, a tighter turning radius overall.
Some of the cons are the addition of two more tires to buy, more drag and loss of storage space.
I previously owned a 36' DP with a single axle. When I bought my new coach, there were certain things that I wanted that my previous coach didn't have. Those items included a side radiator, tag axle and independent front suspension. When I went shopping, I wanted a true 40' coach and a tag. Newmar is currently the only company making them (new).
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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04-30-2016, 08:41 AM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,671
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Nice job of keeping the explanation short & simple, Don.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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04-30-2016, 10:45 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 14,890
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don
Michael......In simple terms....Federal law says that you can only place 20,000 pounds on any one axle. This is to limit the weight placed on a roadway by a single axle. Several years ago they made an exemption and allowed up to 23,000 pounds on an axle for RV's. Once a coach gets past that weight, they need to add an additional axle to share the weight. Since this is about weight, you generally only see a tag axle on larger coaches. Many of your larger coaches can be 30K-35K on the rear axles. The dual axle might typically take 20K of the weight and the tag will take other 10K.
Before the gas chassis' were beefed up in the last few years, some manufacturers were selling some long coaches with short frame. They had to add a tag to support the length and weight.
Obviously, once you get to a certain size coach, typically, over 40', the coach will come with a tag axle. Some of the pros are better directional tracking, added weight capacity, more braking power and in some of the new steerable tags, a tighter turning radius overall.
Some of the cons are the addition of two more tires to buy, more drag and loss of storage space.
I previously owned a 36' DP with a single axle. When I bought my new coach, there were certain things that I wanted that my previous coach didn't have. Those items included a side radiator, tag axle and independent front suspension. When I went shopping, I wanted a true 40' coach and a tag. Newmar is currently the only company making them (new).
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Good explanation.
I have to question the statement that manufacturers are making about the new steerable tag. IMO if the wheelbase and steering cut are identical on two coaches there will be little difference in turning radius between a steerable tag and a tag with the air dumped.
If you read the promotional literature they do not seem to compare the same dimensions/specs when they claim anywhere from 10 - 17% decreased turning radius.
A steerable tag will reduce tire scuffing on a tag but even if the tag is not dumped it is highly unlikely most owners will replace the tag due to wear before the tire ages out.
__________________
Gordon and Janet
Tour 42QD/InTech Stacker
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05-01-2016, 09:50 PM
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#13
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,063
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Freightliner is saying their new steerable has a 10% tighter turning radius with a steerable tag. I watched a Newell video the other day and the Newell Realm is advertising a 7% tighter turning radius with a steerable tag.
If you think about it, it's pushing the duals into a tighter turn radius. I don't know how big of a deal it is. I'm pretty impressed when I stick my head out my driver's window and see my front tire at an almost right angle to the body when turning (55 degree wheel cut).
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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05-02-2016, 05:10 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,216
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Or was the steerable tag just another product in the long line of stuff developed by the mfg. to have something new to sell? It sure adds a lot of parts to a previously simple axle. And the worst part is it makes the rear look fugly.
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