Turning radius??

[manimal]

My '84 1 ton Crewcab...single rear wheel....makes turns like a barge. Would changing the steering box to a quicker ratio help that out? Thanks
-Lance

[79 silverado]

Not in the way I think you are looking for... practical real world example of why it feels like a slower turn is because of the very long wheelbase goes a little like this...

pretend this is a normal truck wheel base:

o---o

well, the arc it would sweep through in a turn would be from drawing a line to where it turns to:

o---o
l
o

connect those outer two o's

well the longer wheelbase has more distance to cover

o-------o
l
l
l
o

see how that connecting line is longer? that means that even turning at the same speed, you have more distance to cover, and thus it seems like a lower response time... thus that barge effect you speak of.

Getting the steering gear to respond quicker doesn't really change the amount of area you need to sweep through before those rear wheels point in the new direction, so, you will always experience a good part of that barge feeling, its what comes from driving one of the big boys....

[Prerunner1982]

The only real option here is to shorten the wheelbase or install a rear steering axle.

I have been real suprised how well my Jeep XJ turns. My wifes s10 Blazer has a much worse turning radius than the Jeep.

[78 Chevyrado]

Sounds like a denali pickup rear-steer swap is in order here...

[Prerunner1982]

Just for giggles I did a bit of research and compared wheelbases to turning radius of a few vehicles.

Make/model wheelbase turning radius
99 Jeep Cherokee 101" 17.9'
09 Ford Escape 103" 18.3'
00 Chevy Suburba 130" 21.7'
05 Chevy Cavalier 104" 17.8'
10 Ford Edge 110" 18.8'
01 Hummer 130" 26.5'
91 CC Chevy 164.5"

I couldnt find the radius of a CC but just looking at the wheelbase you can see why it turns like a barge. It has almost 3' on the suburban and excursion which have a 21.7' and 26.5' turning radius.

[pig rig]

ha ha yea, the crew cabs take a wide birth to get them turned about

and once you lower it down it feels like it takes more room to get it docked

[88 Dippy]

man my truck feels like a bardg i am glad it's only a reg cab long bed

[flamingbig10]

my regular cab short bed feels like a battle ship trying to make u turns and sharp turns usually I'll be patient I'll drive up on the side walk a little or if there a parking lot I'll go that way and turn at the closest exits, and if I'm hurry I'll get on it a fish tail like crazy

[88 Dippy]

if the truck had the balls to fish tail i would but sadly they seam to be missing