We traveled US95 yesterday through Nevada. (Between Carson City and Las Vegas) If you've been on that road you'll know there's nothing but desert and abandoned towns, or at least one's that should be. Anyway while cruising along I got to thinking about the tires. With that in mind I wondered if I had a flat out there on the tag, could I simply remove that tire and drive on into Vegas? Or if one of the other tires went, could I use one of the tags as a spare? What, if anything would be the result? I understand the tag is there for weight distribution. Reasoning says it would be possible unless you're close to maximum weight. I also thing both tag tires would have to be removed but maybe not. Any "experts" out here that can give me a definitive answer? Thanks....Dennis

Dennis.....I would think that it would depend on the coach. Some, like mine, only take the pressure off, but still leave the axle down. Some lift all the way off the ground. You bring up a good question and maybe it would be smart to have a way to support (chain) your tag if you needed to remove the tires. I think even if you had a liftable tag, removing only one rim would probably make the opposite side want to press down and angle the axle in such a manner as to cause issues.I think in my case, in an emergency, I would run the tag tires up on blocks, release the air and chain the tag up. Mine would also need the air disconnected as mine goes back into service at 5 mph. I wouldn't have any concern about the weight on the duals, since it would be an emergency issue. It might be a good project to design a chain with hooks or some sort of connector that would fit, if you needed to chain the tag up.

If needing a tire in the middle of BFE (without cell service) I would remove the unmounted spare from my roof and install it... yes I'm still capable of doing that. If no spare then I'd remove one of the tag axle tires and put it where needed and increase the drive axle tires on that side to max pressure. I would take the air line off the airbag on that side and plug it off so it does not push the axle down too far.. Note to self... get a plug that will fit that hose from my shop although you could bend it 180 to seal it off.On the Monaco's that lift the tag we have a pair of air chambers and chains that raise the tag axle. If the side without a tire still needs to be held up then changing the length of the chain would be the easiest way to hold it up BUT the air line would need to be plugged on that side.If you remove both tag tires there is no need to chain it up as the shocks will stop it before it hits the ground BUT you need to make sure the arch that goes over/under the drive shaft is not going to hit it. If it is going to hit, it would be easy to reroute the tag's airbag lines to the air chambers that raise the tag IF you had a pair of male couplings... add two couplings to the list.

Another consideration is do you have the tools to do the work?

One possible issue with just raising the tag is that at speeds over 15 mph it may automatically comes back down.On mine raising the tag drops the air pressure low enough that the rear settles until air pressure builds up again. Than the tag is clear of the ground.

Have you tried to removed it? You need one of those heavy air impact wrenches to remove it or a 20 foot pipe to slide over the wrench to get the torque you need to get the nut off. On the plus side, you can use the leveling jacks to jack it up, so that one less tool you need.

Tag Axle Question | Good Sam Community

Ivylog
Explorer III
Oct 14, 2015
If needing a tire in the middle of BFE (without cell service) I would remove the unmounted spare from my roof and install it... yes I'm still capable of doing that. If no spare then I'd remove one of the tag axle tires and put it where needed and increase the drive axle tires on that side to max pressure. I would take the air line off the airbag on that side and plug it off so it does not push the axle down too far.. Note to self... get a plug that will fit that hose from my shop although you could bend it 180 to seal it off.
On the Monaco's that lift the tag we have a pair of air chambers and chains that raise the tag axle. If the side without a tire still needs to be held up then changing the length of the chain would be the easiest way to hold it up BUT the air line would need to be plugged on that side.

If you remove both tag tires there is no need to chain it up as the shocks will stop it before it hits the ground BUT you need to make sure the arch that goes over/under the drive shaft is not going to hit it. If it is going to hit, it would be easy to reroute the tag's airbag lines to the air chambers that raise the tag IF you had a pair of male couplings... add two couplings to the list.
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Oct 14, 2015
Dennis.....I would think that it would depend on the coach. Some, like mine, only take the pressure off, but still leave the axle down. Some lift all the way off the ground.

You bring up a good question and maybe it would be smart to have a way to support (chain) your tag if you needed to remove the tires. I think even if you had a liftable tag, removing only one rim would probably make the opposite side want to press down and angle the axle in such a manner as to cause issues.

I think in my case, in an emergency, I would run the tag tires up on blocks, release the air and chain the tag up. Mine would also need the air disconnected as mine goes back into service at 5 mph.

I wouldn't have any concern about the weight on the duals, since it would be an emergency issue. It might be a good project to design a chain with hooks or some sort of connector that would fit, if you needed to chain the tag up.

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