Wheel base and tag axles

This is my limited experience:

Our first MH was a 2000 Beaver Patriot, 43' overall, 34,000 lbs, no tag but the 8 airbag suspension. It was had excellent ride and handling and never was an issue except for a slight push from semi's and a bit susceptible to heavy winds but nothing to cause "white knuckles".

Now we have a 2002 43' Beaver Marquis with a tag, 44' overall, 43,000 lbs, and 10 airbags. Yes, we lost a bit of storage with the tag but still have about the same as the 40'.

Handling with the Marquis is just remarkable...tools along down the road with no fald-er-all from wind, truck. or ??? Downside is the lack of speed sensation and you can easily find yourself well above the speed limit.

IMHO, a good non-tag coach will be a pleasure to drive and certainly not having a tag wouldn't be a deal breaker. On the other hand a larger heavier coach with a tag is really great. Of course not all coaches will behave the same but, with the Beavers any of them are great.

Thanks for replies, it all makes perfect sense. Never thought of the tire thing (moving tag tires to front if needed)

Narrowing our search down to a few different models.

All are approx same length 40-42.

The single 40' units are on a 276" wheel base, the 42's are 276"+ tag

One of the 40' units is 254"+ tag.

RV Consumer group rates units and wheel base is one of the things they rate on. Since the 40' unit with the tag has a shorter wheelbase they rate it as being less stable.

I thought it odd as my thoughts were that the tag added some stability, but as I mentioned I have no experience driving coaches.

For all the license police out there, I will be upgrading my current license to one that permits me to drive units with air brakes and weights over 24,000 lbs (which I believe are the restrictions on my current license here in Ontario), before we purchase any coach.

Just gathering info at this point

Thanks for replies, any other info is appreciated

Doug

DSDP Don summed it up perfectly.

I will add that having the tag axle will also give you a set of tires to transfer to the front if needed.

With our previous 42 ft. tag axle coach, I received a bad alignment once. I didn't realize it until 2,000 miles later. I was getting extensive wear along the inner edge on both front tires. The tires weren't ruined. I had a professional alignment done at TAFA (tire, axle, frame and alignment) in Nashville, TN. The best alignment I ever had and it lasted for years.

Anyway, I was able to move the tag axle tires that looked brand new to the front. The other choice would have been to take a set of the dually's on one side and switch them to replace the front tires.

The tag axle also helps against porpoising.

MM.

We went from a 2005 Monaco Diplomat 36' DP to a 40' DP with a tag. Newmar is the only coach manufacturer currently offering a 40' with a tag. There were certain things I wanted in a new coach, side radiator, tag axle, IFS and a few other items. I also wanted to stay at or under 40'. The Newmar Dutch Star fit the bill. My new 40' coach has pretty much the same wheelbase as my 36' DP did.

I still get the longer chassis ride, but a better turning radius than my 36' DP because of a 60 degree wheel cut with the IFS. The tag axle makes the DP track straighter and handle better. It also adds more braking and carrying capacity.

The downside to a short DP with a tag is you lose storage. My Dutch Star has about the same storage space as my 36' Diplomat did. Since mine is a 2014, it has a DEF motor. There is no storage from the rear wheels back with the DEF tank and engine batteries on one side and the side radiator on the other. Consequently, I have a huge cargo carrying capacity (weight wise), but would probably have to carry gold bars to reach it.

" How much stability does having a tag axle add to the coach?"

There is no way to tell you how much a tag will add to the stability to the coach other than say that it will add "a lot"

We went from a 39' single axle to a 42' tag axle. Just my opinion, best move I've ever made. Much better ride, more stable, more fun to drive, etc...of course I paid the price also, much more expensive but at least I have what I have always wanted.

42' is about the limit for no tag. The single axle will have a shorter wheelbase because the tag takes a lot of room and the distance is from front to drive axle. A tag gives greater stability in crosswinds, passing, possible greater carry and tow ability, etc. You get to buy 2 more tires also with a tag.