Tag axles?

Most tag axle coaches have a dual set of tires on the drive axle and a single tire on the separate tag axle. Now, I have seen dually's on both the drive and tag. It was a super C of some type. I would assume on a set up with double dually axles, that they are both drive axles.

Our tag lifts (I have to hit the 'raise' button), but will lower if I go over 8-10 mph. If I haven't lowered the tag once parked, once I start to level the coach, the tag will lower at that time.

MM.

On most coaches with a tag, the tag axle sits behind the drive axle. Drive axle is dual wheel, tag is single wheel. Tag just goes along for the ride but is there to allow the rear of a longer coach to handle more weight. For example, the drive axle on my coach is rated for 20,000 lbs and the tag rated for 11,000 lbs. Many coaches have a mechanism on the tag that lets the driver lift it several inches so you don't drag the tires in tight turns at slow speeds.

Another benefit of a tag is more stable handling especially in cross winds and when being passed by large vehicles.

Good information above. Besides the obvious additional cost tags take up storage space. My 36' had 2 storage lockers behind the duals. Current rig has none. Overall there is more outside storage with the current rig (it's 6' longer) and tons of storage space inside.

Also my rig (and I suspect most DPs) does not have a solid tag axle as it would interfere with the drive train. Instead the tag is 2 independent axles.

A tag axle is installed for no other reason than a tag axle MUST be installed. If a single axle will not support the weight of the chassis then a second axle is installed to make up the difference. The tags are not powered in any RV that I am aware of but are rather a couple of tires that simply tag along. The tag axle tires have approx. 1/2 the expected life span of the other tires since the RV pivots on the drive axle and the tag axle tires slightly drag around the turn. If you ever want to see this exhibited in a drastic manner, watch what happens when an 18 wheeler makes a turn. Watch those tires at the very back of the trailer and you will immediately understand.

So.. thanks for all that.. are tags on axles..or spindles? If on axles.. they must be on CV joints or? What is the inner connection?

So others find their tags wear out that much sooner as Bill suggests? Perhaps rotating the tires around the front and back might help?

I see some older units.. do they ever tag before using a duallie first?

Artum Snowbird wrote:
So.. thanks for all that.. are tags on axles..or spindles? If on axles.. they must be on CV joints or? What is the inner connection?

So others find their tags wear out that much sooner as Bill suggests? Perhaps rotating the tires around the front and back might help?

I see some older units.. do they ever tag before using a duallie first?

At 57,000 miles, my tag tires were not any different than the others. I did rotate the tags to the front as I got a bad alignment and the inner edges of both front tires were wearing. So, I had the tags rotated to the front to have a fresh set. No real extra wear on our tag tires.

On our coach, our tags have brakes to help the coach stop.

MM.

Forgot to mention, our tag can be adjusted by the pressure gauge in the engine compartment. I keep about 38-40 lbs of pressure which seems fine for our weight.

MM.

While I respect Bill on satellite info my experience on tags is different. My tags at about 11K lbs have considerable less wear than the duals. It really it doesn't make any difference in my typical driving how much the tag scrubs - consider how often you make a a tight turn - ie several in a CG vs 100's of miles on the road.

Soon I'm going to replace my tag tires and dual tires because both are BadYear original tires installed by Monaco. The fronts with excessive BadYear river edge wear were replace last summer, with 25K miles.

Unfortunately Monaco choose to install BadYear tires and I've moved on.

The reason for being able to adjust the pressure in the tag is to "balance" the weight. Reducing the weight on the tag reduces the weight on the front axle and increases the weight on the drive axle. Depending on how your coach weighs, this feature is very helpful.....Dennis

Glad we have for CCC and stability!