Single vs tag axle

[bill131]

I’ve got a chance to purchase a 40’ phaeton ih with 1 1/2 baths that will fit in my 45’ garage at 41.7”. The 43’ allegro with the tag axle will not fit. Would you buy a single tear axel in my situation or hold out to extend garage to hold larger motor home. If I do this I would go to the 45’ model and incread garage to 55’ for considerably more. How bad is the single axle the 40’ has theater seating and all I want in a 2018 model. Would I be satisfied

[MRUSA14]

I can’t tell you what to do but I can tell you my experience. I have owned two motorhomes, one each of the types you are considering. I bought them both new and owned each one for ten years

The first was a 2003 Beaver, “40 feet”, actually 41’ 3” with single rear axle. I thought it rode pretty well since I had nothing to compare it to.

The second one which I still own is a 45 foot Entegra Anthem with dual rear axles. When I got it I was astounded at how much better it drove than the Beaver. It tracks straight as an arrow and is almost completely unaffected by passing tractor-trailers. It rides well over road bumps and irregularities. By contrast, the Beaver would be nearly pushed out of its lane by passing trucks unless I turned the steering wheel sharply towards the truck as it passed. I got used to doing that and I thought little of it until I drove the tag axle Anthem. The Beaver would often porpoise when going over road bumps or irregularities whereas the Anthem does hardly any of this.

Although the Anthem has independent front suspension and the Beaver had a solid front axIe, I attribute the Anthem’s superior ride and handling primarily to the tag axle, and for that reason I would never buy another large coach without a tag axle. However, I was satisfied with the Beaver while I owned it, and you might be satisfied with a single rear axle coach too.

Hope this helps you with your decision.

[Dennis C.]

What’s your concern with a single axle? My Newmar is 37’10” and it has a single rear axle. The axle is rated for 24,000 lbs. It isn’t a problem in any way.

That said, it sounds like you want a 45’ motorhome with a tag axle. If that’s what you really want, then that’s what you should get. Expand your garage and get the big one! Otherwise you’ll be buying it in a few years, wishing you had waited and done it the first time.

[Rob_M]

My single axle 40’ Spartan chassis was affected by passing trucks until I found some slack in the steering box. I tightened that up and now it is not affected. So not all of them handle the same. The only way to find out is to drive it.

[greeneville1]

We had a 2018 40AP Allegro Bus. Very nice Coach. Had a cargo carrying capacity of 5000 lbs. approx . Good road manors-powerglide chassis.. When we went to our present 2021 45OPP bus with swivel tag, it has a 10,040 lb ccc . Excellant road manors- powerglide chassis. Stay safe.

[dadej]

I had a 98 & 2000 single axle Monaco product then a tag axle 2005 Monaco executive and now a 2002 Beaver marquis. I would say the tag axles drive better however they are 8000 pound heavier with larger tires.


BUT there is more to it. With the larger coach comes a way more complex system to learn and maintain. I would take back my 1998 simple coach in a nano second.

[Country Road]

Your building at 45’ is rather tight for my liking. I believe expanding the building to 55’ is a good plan and will then give you an opportunity to get whatever coach you desire.

[Cousin Ed]

There is nothing wrong with a single rear axle but the tag is soooo much better!!!!

[jacwjames]

What is the cargo carrying capacity as that is probably he biggest benefit with going with a tag.

If you can get by with lower CCC and can live with the length I wouldn't be concerned.


My coach is a single axle and I have to watch what we carry, my CCC is only ~1900 lbs. I made my wife empty all of her stuff out in 2021 before I took a long trip. I was amazed at how much stuff she had, most of which she never used.



The other thing is extending your garage. I contact the builder and see how difficult it would be. Also what it would cost.

I just built a 40' X 50' in 2021 just in case I went decided to up side. Mine is metal ant it would be possible to extend it fairly easily but would probably cost $$$.

[Dennis C.]

Some single axle coaches have respectable cargo carrying capacity too. It all depends on the coach. My CCC from the factory is 6,265 lbs. That’s not bad for a smaller coach with a single rear axle.

I think it all comes down to what the OP really wants in a coach. It sounds like a 45’ coach is the answer, which will obviously have a tag axle.

[vito.a]

If you buy the 40' coach and never drive a tag axle coach you will be fine. Until someone offers you a ride in a tag axle coach on the freeway on a windy day!
Save time, money, and aggravation and go straight to the tag axle coach.

[KenZ71]

When deciding what car, coach, house, etc need to settle on the priorities.

How many people to ride in it? How many to sleep in it? What is cozy vs cramped?

How much stuff - clothes for a few days, weeks, multiple seasons?

If a coach will a toad be in the picture? Size of toad can be dictated by coach limits. If a trailer or fiver size / capabilities of tow vehicle will influence what can be towed.

Where you want to go? Some parks won't accommodate big 45 footers.

Me? I went from 40' Single Axle Phaeton that would laugh at Semis and rode like a dream to a 45' Tag King Aire that also rides like a dream. No regrets. Bigger coach = more space, big tanks, big tow capacity. Fuel economy about the same at 6ish MPG.

[Gary RVRoamer]

The tag axle is only there when required to support the weight (GVWR). RV chassis makers don't put them on just to be cool! Nothing wrong with a single axle if that's all that is needed. It's popular on RV sites to praise tag axles, but other than the weight thing, they have rather minor side effects and those are both pros and cons. Much of the proclaimed ride enhancement is simply the result of the longer wheelbase and heavier GVWR that accompanies the use of a tag. The drawbacks include loss of storage bays to the extra wheel wells and two more tires to buy & care for. And the tendency to lose traction when the wheels "bridge" across a dip in the road.

My advice is to buy the coach length that meets your needs, which probably includes fitting in your garage. But if you need a longer coach for the space, forget the garage. And yes, I've owned both tag & non-tag rigs.

[Dutch Star Don]

You may be overlooking another big difference between the two coaches. The Phaeton is a rear radiator, and the Allegro Bus is a side radiator. Both the tag and side radiator features are dictated by the size/weight of the coach.