[Richard and Rhonda]

The tag does not physically lift off the ground. The switch lets the air out of the tag bags to relieve the pressure on the tag tires. The other position adds air to the tag bags to shift weight from the drive axle tires to the tag tires. The only time you may ever need this is on the Ohio turnpike, where each axle has a maximum limit, and you automatically get weighed at the toll booth. I don't remember if the max number is 20, 22or 25 K pounds, but some tag Newells are over that number on the drive axle. The switch is a way of temporarily transferring weight to the tag.

So, you ask, why not run that way all the time. Think about the drive axle as a pivot point. It you put more pressure on the tag, it also puts more pressure on the steer axle. Newell typically runs pretty close to the limit on the steer axle tire weight ratings. Pam and Jeff, this is a phenom well known and understood with our vintage coaches. Nothing to be alarmed about, but search on the forum and learn up :-) on the topic of front tires, pressures, and cautions.

Michael Day could publish a treatise on the subject.