length to wheel base ratio

Mile High wrote:
So my wheelbase is listed as 279+tag. At 279 with 522 overall, I'm .534. Do I count the length to the tag?

Wheelbase of tandem axle chassis are measured from front axle to center of tandems (center of tandems is the midpoint between the first and second rear axles).

So my wheelbase is listed as 279+tag. At 279 with 522 overall, I'm .534. Do I count the length to the tag?

One of the reasons i chose the Allegro 36LA is because of the wheel base. 252 inches. works out to .566.

The other thing to consider is if you tow or not. The force exerted on the back of the RV by your trailer or toad will be greater with a large over hang. The tail will try to wag the dog.

If your buying a newer gas class A I would not worry to much about the ratio, just compare the old gas class A from 20 years ago and you can see the ratio is far superior today with better heaver chassis and larger tires.

I think lot of pickups are build with shorter wheel base for better turning radius, as most of them are buy as grocery getters.
I seldom could use my F450 flatbed carrying capacity as longer loads would raise front bumper to the sky.
It takes F550 to get axle past 50% of cargo area.
I did have problem with frame/body extended on Bounder by additional 6 feet and that what made me caution about such monkey job.
It "drove" fine... for a Bounder.

Mile High wrote:
Just curious, is the purpose of the smaller ratio just to keep maneuverability when those decisions are made at the factory, or do all coach makers just work around a chassis supplied by others?

Shorter wheelbase= less cost of chassis. Those extra feet of frame, lots of wires, air lines...... are not free. And, longer wheelbases often come with added GVWR which can mean larger tires, shocks, larger engine......

With today's much improved front wheel cut angles, the "short wheelbase is there for turning radius" doesn't hold a lot of validity.

Just curious, is the purpose of the smaller ratio just to keep maneuverability when those decisions are made at the factory, or do all coach makers just work around a chassis supplied by others?

When recently buying a new 34' gasser given a choice between units with a longer wheelbase (and/or a heavier chassis) for a given length and those with less I chose the unit with the longest wheelbase, and as it happened the heaviest chassis as well. I figure more of each can't hurt.

Because handling is largely subjective, it is really hard to get clear "take away" from these threads.

I have worked on/driven coaches that handled atrociously, though the owners did not complain about them. Worn shocks, missing sway bar end link bushings, loose steering box... Some are just more picky than others.

This is especially true of large coaches, because for many, it is the first and only one they have ever driven. And, since it is theirs, it drives fine.

When in doubt, fall back on "physics is physics".