Forum Discussion
j-d
Apr 12, 2016Explorer II
I don't disagree with that "26-foot" size being excellent, BUT... When a "26" actually measures more like 28 and wheelbase is still 176, things are starting to get marginal. That's from both a handling and an axle loading standpoint. It's really good to weigh a coach you're considering. Include a truck stop in your test drive. Weigh it and adjust the pressure in all six tires according to that weight. If you find they were way off, your test drive experience will change. AND you can watch out for the rear axle being at or even over max rating. When that happens, the front is often SO light that the coach won't track well. That's adjustable within limits like tank usage and load packing, but we've seen cases where even adding 500-lbs of weights right in the cockpit wouldn't stop the wandering, even after proper alignment.
WHY? I believe the builders want to offer a walk-around queen bed in the shorter coaches because that's what often sells. They don't want the rear wheel wells in the walk-around side aisles so they put part of the kitchen, bath, etc. over the wheels. All this puts too much weight aft of the rear axle unless the portion forward of the axle is longer. That calls for more like a 30-foot coach and the associated longer wheelbase.
WHY? I believe the builders want to offer a walk-around queen bed in the shorter coaches because that's what often sells. They don't want the rear wheel wells in the walk-around side aisles so they put part of the kitchen, bath, etc. over the wheels. All this puts too much weight aft of the rear axle unless the portion forward of the axle is longer. That calls for more like a 30-foot coach and the associated longer wheelbase.
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