Driving with tag axle up

[MyPrevost]

This is in reference to a 2000 Marathon.  Without going into a lot of detail, i need to move the coach with the tag axle up (actually, the tire and rim are off the passenger side).  Distance is approximately 100 miles.  Questions:  Can coach be driven with tag axle up, and for how far? Can it be driven with tag axle up and no tire and rim on one side, or will both tires and rims need to be removed?  Any problems driving with both rims and tires off?  Any speed limit suggested?

Thanks in advance for your help

Meslundy

[MyPrevost]

I don’t think I would do it. You’re likely going to to be overloading the drive axle and drive tires. Do the math.

If you really have to, you should consider pumping the drive tires to max allowable pressure.

Dick & Cathie Karth
1999 XLV Liberty Elegant Lady #405
Have CDL — Will Travel
Shawano, Wisconsin
Member of the Prevost rescue squad
Owner of one Prevost since 2014 … tries not to make things up

[MyPrevost]

Plus at a bout 11 MPH the tag goes down automatically.

Mikee
2020 Emerald H3
The Villages, FL 32163

[MyPrevost]

Informative replys.  i didn’t know about the 11MPH limit. I’ll briefly as possible explain my problem.  i had the brakes replaced at a reputable local truck/coach shop. The first time out was this weekend.  After about 300 miles the tag axle blew.  The Michelin emergency road service people came out.  Upon taking off the rim they discovered something had come loose on the brakes and grooved the inside of the rim until it blew the tire.  So, a new rim and tire cannot be replaced until the breaks are repaired.  The local shop said they will take care of it, but i’m trying to save them a 100 mile tow charge.  And i would prefer the coach not be towed 100 miles.  I’m not crazy about it being towed at all.

Other than the weight concern, if there is plenty of clearance, and we drove 50-60 mph, is there any other concern?  I’m open to any experiences anyone has had.

Thanks

Meslundy

[MyPrevost]

Post the name of the shop that repaired the brakes so others will be forewarned. Let that shop know they will be paying the bill.

Towing is not advised because they will tow from the front. You need a Landall low trailer. It would be cheaper to pay the mechanics to come to you.

Every one of us has gotten expensive experiences and knowledge, just after we needed them.

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

[MyPrevost]

POST the shop name that worked on your bus. Staying away from truck / bus shops should be a important to all members on PC.

AL

AL
Bus Less in KC,MO
3 Marathon’s owned 1- XL 2-H3

[MyPrevost]

Several years back I had an issue with a bad wheel bearing on the tag axle.  I blew out the tire and split the tag rim in half when the bearings fused to the spindle on the tag axle outside of Tuscaloosa AL.  I drove approximately 35 miles with the tax axle raised (with one tire off) to a repair shop in Tuscaloosa.   I didn’t drive over 25 and had a lot of really friendly locals give me a one-finger wave on I-59/20 that morning.  My tag did not drop going over 11 mph.  I had a 2002 Millennium XLII.

Loc – 2008 Marathon XLII – Houston TX

[MyPrevost]

Loc, your tag may have malfuncted (a very technical term) or Prevost changed the system that dropped the tag over a certain speed.

 

Worst case scenario is to jack the tag axle up until the wheel clears the ground on the side with the issue, chain it up and drive carefully while monitoring it to insure you are not causing damage. The ne problem I see is the two drive axle air bags on that side may not be able to get the rear corner u to ride height.

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

[MyPrevost]

Just a thought can you take the brake chamber off and plug air line ,then put any tire and rim on and tag axle and drive it to shop ,I don’t think any harm if tire size is different, bag should expand to hold weight.

Paul and Lynette. Green Cove Springs Fl. 1998 XL Parliament 2014 Boss Hoss

[MyPrevost]

I don’t understand the comment about not towing and the need for a lowboy.  Yes, they tow from the front but they also remove the drive axle leaving your Prevost as any other trailer with no stress or stain on the drive train.  I just got towed 40 miles and no one, including Prevost, had any concerns about this.

If it was me, and it’s not, and the service center was going to pay to have the coach towed to their location, that would be my first choice.

Bill and Janet
1998 40 foot Country Coach (2020-current)
1988 40 foot Country Coach (1999 to 2020)
Winegard Trav’ler for DirecTV
Roof airs! Yeah!
2020 Jeep Cherokee Toad
Boo and Buddy on board

[MyPrevost]

Even if towed from the front with the axles pulled, he still needs to deal with the additional weight on the drive axles and drive tires.

Dick & Cathie Karth
1999 XLV Liberty Elegant Lady #405
Have CDL — Will Travel
Shawano, Wisconsin
Member of the Prevost rescue squad
Owner of one Prevost since 2014 … tries not to make things up

[MyPrevost]

No way i would move my Bus after finding out the Shop made a mistake like that. They would have to come out to me on the side of the road and make it roadworthy again. There are too many things that could happen to make this problem worse by trying to drive it.

[MyPrevost]

A couple weeks ago I asked the question about driving with the Tag Axle up, after having problems with a blown tire and damaged rim.  It was a very similar situation to LOC (who responded to the thread).  I wanted to respond to tell everyone what eventually occurred.  First, I appreciate everyone’s response.

As I previously mentioned, less than 400 miles after having a service done on my 2000 Marathon, including new brakes on the tag axle and steering axle, I had a blow out on the passenger side tag axle.  When the tire and rim were removed, the rim had been destroyed, which apparently blew the tire.  I was at a quandary as to whether I should drive the coach 120 miles back to the shop.  So, i enquired to this forum.

What I was looking for was personal experience, rather than opinions as to what I should do.  After reading a few posts, I decided to call Prevost service (which is what I should have first done).  I talked to 2 service representatives, and neither one had ever heard of a 11mph dropping of a tag axle.  They both said, when that tag axle lever is forward, the tag axle is up and will stay up, and they would have no problem driving with it up. Although some feel there is no problem towing a 45′ coach, I have heard of too many horror stories to consider it, other than a last resort.

Long story short; I drove 120 miles at 50 mph with the passenger tag axle up with absolutely no problems.  So now, those with a problem like this know from personal experience what will occur.  (FYI, a person followed me with blinkers on).

meslundy

[MyPrevost]

Thanks for the update and actual tag up driving experience. I always assumed the tag lift would cancel out as some speed, we now know that’s a fairy tale. My 40 footers would immediately lift the tag wheel off the ground a couple inches, my 45’s wouldn’t clear the pavement, but I never gave it the time for the drive bags to bring the suspension up to ride height, it likely takes some time.

Tom & Nancy
7 Prevosts Owned

[MyPrevost]

At a Prevost seminar around 25 years ago, Bill Campbell (one of the owners at the time) said in regard to 45 foot coaches that at a certain low speed tag axles that had been lifted would drop automatically.

My 97 non-slide 45 foo9t coach would lift the tag axle off the ground if I waited long enough. My current 45 foot XLII with slides will not lift the tag from the ground no matter how long I let it run at high idle.

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

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