What's the Tag axle difference

[CWSWine]

My 2017 Discovery LXE has a 12,400 front axle and a 24,000 rear axle with 36,400 GVWR and no tag axle. It’s rated for 46,400 GCWR. I have a 5740 cargo capacity. When I load it for 30 day trip we have 3300 pounds of payload capacity left over.

[PeterFTH]

Originally Posted by dkrobath

I am looking at a diesel coach and was wanting to learn more about the benefits of a Tag axle. a 40 ft coach without a tag and a 44 ft with a tag. Any comments from a fellow RV'er that has owned both would be great.

Thanks Dave

My 40' Travel Supreme DS has a single rear axle, but with the benefit of course of redundantcy with 4 rear tires. In the event of a tire failure, unlike the front, there is a backup on each side. I was looking at an RV garage home with a fairly steep driveway and the gentlemen leasing it had a tag, and they were unable to use the garage because their rear end dragged on the ground trying to mount this driveway. Without the tag, I was able to back right up to the door. Talk to semi drivers and they will tell you that one of the downsides to tags is the "scrubbing" that occurs in turns - a lot of extra tire wear occurs because the extra wheels can't turn at the same rate and wear faster in turns, especially maneuvering into tight spaces - less so on the normal straight ahead of highway driving. It comes down to the coach you like - I wouldn't let the presence or lack of a tag axle affect my decision. I carry an 800# motorcycle on a rear lift and even with the single rear axle the rig (400 hp Cummins) hardly notices the extra weight.

[ScoobyDoo]

Originally Posted by PeterFTH

My 40' Travel Supreme DS has a single rear axle, but with the benefit of course of redundantcy with 4 rear tires. In the event of a tire failure, unlike the front, there is a backup on each side.

If you have that attitude, you better plan to buy 2 tires after any flat. And likely to need a tow, and body repair.

I was looking at an RV garage home with a fairly steep driveway and the gentlemen leasing it had a tag, and they were unable to use the garage because their rear end dragged on the ground trying to mount this driveway. Without the tag, I was able to back right up to the door.

The ride height might be higher or lower with or without a tag.

Talk to semi drivers and they will tell you that one of the downsides to tags is the "scrubbing" that occurs in turns - a lot of extra tire wear occurs because the extra wheels can't turn at the same rate and wear faster in turns, especially maneuvering into tight spaces - less so on the normal straight ahead of highway driving.

As a retired semi driver I have to wonder who you have talked to. Very few tractor trailer operations run tag axle. And the few that do have found the extra tire wear is not the tag but the extra slip as a single drive moving the same weight.

[WHOOVER770]

Originally Posted by CC Wanderer

Yes, tag axles are more maintenance and cut into available storage. They also track better, are buffeted by passing semis less, more carrying capacity, and a tag gives you an extra set of brakes.

Is a tag worth it, to me it is, but to others it is not.

I too have a tag axle. As far as I’m concerned the above mentioned benefits out way the price of the cost of the two additional tires. My old coach did not have a tag, after driving it for a 300 miles in a day, I would need a day to rest from constantly fighting the wind, semis, roads, with the tag I can easily drive 400 plus miles day after day if I would need to. If it comes time to purchase another and have a chance to buy a coach with a tag I would do it again in a heart beat.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by WHOOVER770

I too have a tag axle. As far as I’m concerned the above mentioned benefits out way the price of the cost of the two additional tires. My old coach did not have a tag, after driving it for a 300 miles in a day, I would need a day to rest from constantly fighting the wind, semis, roads, with the tag I can easily drive 400 plus miles day after day if I would need to. If it comes time to purchase another and have a chance to buy a coach with a tag I would do it again in a heart beat.

Yup!
It’s ALL about the ride.
I highly suggest that those that doubt it, should NEVER, EVER test drive one!

It was 5 years old and I bought it for a song I didn’t know the words to.

[Ivylog]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

My 2017 Discovery LXE has a 12,400 front axle and a 24,000 rear axle with 36,400 GVWR and no tag axle. It’s rated for 46,400 GCWR. I have a 5740 cargo capacity. When I load it for 30 day trip we have 3300 pounds of payload capacity left over.

This is a good example of how the highway bill (2012) that allows a 24,000 lb axle on newer MHs giving them enough CCC...5740 without adding a tag. With a 20K axle the CCC would only be 1740 lbs.

Without knowing the axle weights for the Discovery above you cannot tell how much of his excess 3300 lbs can actually be used...loaded where needed.

Having put 95,000 miles on rigs with a tag I’m not going back to a rig without one. I still do the 1500 miles to CO in 2 days and have done 1900 miles in 48 hours...recently.

[FDchief]

Originally Posted by dkrobath

I am looking at a diesel coach and was wanting to learn more about the benefits of a Tag axle. a 40 ft coach without a tag and a 44 ft with a tag. Any comments from a fellow RV'er that has owned both would be great.

Thanks Dave

I have had coaches with and without tag axles. I prefer, without question the tag. There are more plusses than minusses with the tag. The first point I’ll make is the issue of getting into tighter campgrounds. I have had no problem getting into any campsite that a 40’ can get into. Yes I’m sure they are out there, but I have not personally had an issue. As stated earlier, the turning radius is tighter on a 42’ tag axle than a single axle 40’. This is due to the wheelbase of the drive axles respectively.

You have to watch the loaded weight on the front axle. Depending on the air pressure on the tag axle, you may “folcrum” the weight to the front causing an over weight issue. People will tell you that they can carry an additional 10k lbs, but that isn’t really true unless you can place that weight over or behind the rear wheels.

Tires are an issue. This is the truest statement I have seen in the thread. Count on between an extra $1000-1500 dollars. You will never wear out a set of tires on an RV. you will however “time out” between 5 an 9 years depending how lucky you feel. Don’t worry about “scrubbing” the tag axle tires will show very little side wall scrubbing, at least my last set didn’t.

I love the handling of the tag, straight as an arrow!

Brakes; don’t sweat replacing them. Very few of us ever will. Remember, they are self adjusters, and they won’t if you don’t stand on them ever once in a while. And it stops really well with the extra set of brakes, way better than my non tag. And with a tag axle you will usually get a 2 stage Jake brake included. Way better than a pac-brake.

I think in summarizing, if you can afford it.... get the tag, you won’t be disappointed.

[Dutch Star Don]

No matter how much people disagree here, anything 42' and longer will generally have a tag to support the length and weight.

Arguing about the weight only applies to 40' coaches running a single rear axle. I'm sure, most single rear axle 40' coaches handle well because of the wheel base. They also have some great storage space. The tag axle in a shorter coach becomes a preference more than a necessity. I always wanted a tag axle because of the benefits listed and they look cool.

When we narrowed down our search in 2014, it was either a 40' Allegro Bus or 40' Dutch Star. The Newmar dealer was only a block away and I really wanted the tag. I probably would have been pretty happy in the Allegro Bus. Again, just a preference by some who feel the tag handles, brakes and drives a little better.

[Sonic]

The point on tire scrubbing was with regards to proper lifting of the tag axle in order to reduce lateral stresses and scrubbing the tire tread. It is indeed an issue that needs to be taken into account.
The previous owner of my coach had to replace the tires on the tag axle after 30,000 miles because he kept the tag dump turned off - an expensive mistake.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by Sonic

The point on tire scrubbing was with regards to proper lifting of the tag axle in order to reduce lateral stresses and scrubbing the tire tread. It is indeed an issue that needs to be taken into account.

The previous owner of my coach had to replace the tires on the tag axle after 30,000 miles because he kept the tag dump turned off - an expensive mistake.

Tags generally auto-lift under 8 MPH. Mine do. No scuff.
Extra tires and maintenance? No real extra maintenance. Each side has a grease bulb. Once per year. Never had to add. As said ^^^^ no brake issues.
My tires are $1000 per pair. $142 per year. Chump change compared to a superior ride.

[Sonic]

Originally Posted by CampDaven

Tags generally auto-lift under 8 MPH. Mine do. No scuff.

Only if you set the tag dump switch to "auto" and that's the point

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by Sonic

Only if you set the tag dump switch to "auto" and that's the point

Yup. It’s always on! [emoji108]

[desertdd]

Not trying inflame anyone but like a lot of subjects the people that don't own the product discussed sometimes know more about the product than the people who own them! That being said I don't have a tag on my DP. But I could own one someday!

[stepside454]

Originally Posted by Klieva

Actually I have a 38' Bounder with a tag. So in my case it does eat up some of my basement. I still get pushed around pretty good by the wind. Almost lost it a couple of times coming home from Texas last month. Decided to park it and take extra time coming home. Incidentally when buying (for those who haven't yet) your first big one with slides take a look where your slide mechanicals are. That also eats up a lot of my basement.

Our 36 ft Bounder has a tag , I think the tag helps a lot , we were in some heavy wind in west TX in January , & again in New Mexico in April , we didn’t get moved around at all.
Scuffing of the tires hasn’t been an issue .
You r slide comment is correct , however the designs that don’t need akevup bas m not space seem to be less reliable