Tag axles are put on longer, heavier coaches. Newells have gotten heavier through the years and longer through the years. When coaches are less than 38'-40' and weighs less than 30,000-36,000 pounds, a tag axle is not required. When length and weight increases, a tag axle is needed. A tag does add some weight, some complexity and takes up bay space but it increases load carrying capacity and increases straight line stability.
Newell added a tag axle to a single coach for the first time in 1978 but didn't build any other coaches with tag axles until 1986. Since then, tags have been used on most coaches 39' and longer although through the '80's, a 40' could still be ordered without a tag. By 1987, a 40 footer had a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating without a tag of 35,200 and one with a tag had a GVWR of 45,200.
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