turning radius

[CPG]

Think that a Greyhound bus has a better turning radius than my "93" extended cab.

When backing into a close campsite with my 26ft. 5er, I think that a few new words were added to Webster's dictionary. Nice on the highway though.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I know what you mean! 4X4's have a turning radius of 30 acres 2 by's 25 . When parking in a parking lot I always try to back in - makes leaving much easier.

Bob

 

[Philip]

You think a extended cab is bad. Try a crew cab $X$ with a 8' bed.



I have driven semi's with a better truning radius.

 

[RDBuck]

I found on my truck that the "stop bolt" on either end of the front axel could be adjusted to decrease the turning radius by quite a bit. Check everything for clearance. I,ve done this on a couple of 4X4 Dodges without any problems.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Careful on that adjustment... I don't have personal experience with it as noted above, but what happens if the angle of operation on the 4X4 joints is too harsh??



bob.

 

[DPKetchum]

I kinda thought turning radius was ok. Drove some other makes and thought they really sucked compared to the Dodge. I pull a 26 foot long trailer and have been in some tight off road areas etc. Thought it did just fine. Drive a Ford extended cab 4x4 and compare!

 

[CPG]

Forgot to include that my "93' is a D-250 with the 149" wb.

BushWakr is correct about messing with the stop adjustments. On

mine, there are none. Its metal to metal.



Chuck

 

[RDBuck]

stop adjustment

While you are all correct to be careful about the stop adjustment on the 4X4 let me say that I haave been plowing snow since 92 with this truck, most of the time in 4 wheel and I have not had any problems with my front universals binding. I'm just saying to check this adjustment as there may be room for more. My truck would not turn out of the driveway into the nearest lane without going into the oncoming lane-this was to the right. To the left it was fine.

 

[glhs]

RDBuck, I notice you have wider tires and rims w/ no proplems? I think I'll try to adjust mine tomorrow because the turing radius does stink!

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

You make a good point about one direction being better than another..... I also noticed when I was under ole BFT that the one stop bolt had a shiny appearance while the other was rusted as though it had never been bumped against. Is that normal?? should they both make contact???



Bob.

 

[DPKetchum]

If ones rusty it hasn'nt been touching. On Nissans they would make a hell of a noise like backing out of drive wheels turned. Folks thought front end was falling out. Would bring them in under warranty in a panic and all it took was a smear of wheel bearing lube on them to make them quiet.

 

[glhs]

Well I just adjusted mine and it seemed to make no difference. The driver side stop had been touching and the passenger side was "rusty in appearance". Is the limiting factor the steering box? Do regular cab trucks use a different steering box? The steering wheel makes approx. 3. 4 turns "lock to lock". I tried to measure my turning diameter and it came to be about 53 feet (outside front tire). I only measured the diameter turning left. It could be different turning right. Any other ideas to get it to turn sharper?

Kurt

 

[DPKetchum]

I'm not very good a front end specs. Don't know about turning sharper but if its not the same. (the deepness of the turn)right to left the Steering gear isnt centered. I've seen some autos that hit a curb etc. also do this. And after a shade tree alignment person got done with it or the dot and turns on steering box not lined up with pittman arm etc.