Given that the truck is the same in both cases, what will the approximate difference in turning radius be for a GN trailer that has a 16' floor and 6' nose (or whatever you call it), as compared to a GN trailer with an 18' floor and the same length nose?
Posted 2008-03-27 4:16 PM (#80462 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If the total length difference is now 4', you can anticipate a larger turning radius on the longer trailer. Exactly how much would depend on a comparison of the exact wheelbases.
Posted 2008-03-28 5:35 PM (#80546 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
Correct me if I'm wrong, but...I think the turning radius will be the same for both trailers. Turning radius is set by front truck wheels to gooseneck attachment distance (usually back truck axle). The difference you'll see will be how much the trailer will 'cut' the turn, the longer trailer 'cutting' more. Where you'll need to have the larger radius for a longer trailer will be when you have to get around something...like a fence post, planter, or other vehicles. Otherwise, I think the outside measurement of your circle will be the same. I've been known to be wrong before, so let me know of any faulty thinking on my part.
Posted 2008-03-28 7:21 PM (#80556 - in reply to #80546) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
Real world turning radius for a semi trailer is dependent mainly on road width. If you have a parking lot with no obstacles, your turning radius will be the same as the tow vehicle's turn radius (assuming the abuse to your tires, wheels, and axles by dragging them sideways isn't relevant). If you have a 9 foot lane, your turn radius is gonna be much larger.
Posted 2008-03-28 7:28 PM (#80557 - in reply to #80546) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by gemm on 2008-03-28 6:35 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but...I think the turning radius will be the same for both trailers. Turning radius is set by front truck wheels to gooseneck attachment distance (usually back truck axle). The difference you'll see will be how much the trailer will 'cut' the turn, the longer trailer 'cutting' more. Where you'll need to have the larger radius for a longer trailer will be when you have to get around something...like a fence post, planter, or other vehicles. Otherwise, I think the outside measurement of your circle will be the same. /QUOTE]
The turning radius of the truck is irrespective of the trailer it pulls. It is dependant on its own parameters. As you said, "The difference you'll see will be how much the trailer will 'cut' the turn, the longer trailer 'cutting' more". You are correct, and when it "cuts " more across the turn, it is increasing the radius of the turn, and increasing the amount of space in which it needs to turn.
A shorter wheelbase trailer does just the opposite; it follows the truck more accurately and does not cut across the circle as much. It turns sharper. The two trailers, one short and one long, will leave two different tracks behind a truck that turns in the same arc.
Posted 2008-03-28 9:09 PM (#80567 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
gemm- I think you are talking about the circumfirnce (sp) which is the line around the circle. The radius is the line across from one side to the other.
Posted 2008-03-29 2:54 PM (#80603 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
OK, I think I get it now. I thought the radius was measured by the outside (truck)wheel track into an imaginary center if you made a full circle turn. What I'm hearing is that the radius is the road width of the truck/trailer tracks? In that case the shorter trailer would indeed have a narrower (smaller) radius, and the longer trailer would have a wider (larger) radius. So, I guess the radius under that definition is set by the distance from back truck wheels to trailer axle. Hmmm...Or is it the front truck wheels to trailer axle? I wish I still had my son's Tonka toys to demonstrate this to myself.
Posted 2008-03-29 6:52 PM (#80618 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Bucksport, Maine
The reason I'm asking this question is because I have a driveway that is narrow until you get to the end near the house, and then it gets wide. It's just wide enough to turn around my 16' GN stock trailer (6' nose) with a foot or so to spare. I wondered how much longer of a trailer I could get and still turn it around with the same truck. I'd been having trouble finding used 2h GN trailers... I might just go new now.
Posted 2008-03-29 11:30 PM (#80644 - in reply to #80618) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by Sharon on 2008-03-29 7:52 PM
The reason I'm asking this question is because I have a driveway that is narrow until you get to the end near the house, and then it gets wide. It's just wide enough to turn around my 16' GN stock trailer (6' nose) with a foot or so to spare. I wondered how much longer of a trailer I could get and still turn it around with the same truck. I'd been having trouble finding used 2h GN trailers... I might just go new now.
Posted 2008-03-30 7:58 AM (#80659 - in reply to #80640) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Bucksport, Maine
Originally written by gard on 2008-03-29 11:11 PM
Thought you were buying the new Hawk
Gard
We are considering that, yes, partially because I can't find a small enough used trailer. I can only find 3h trailers like the one that sparked this question. (This question was posted before the Hawk became a possibility.)
Paul, thank you very much for that article, I'm going to wait until my headache goes away before I try to understand it!
Posted 2008-03-30 11:03 AM (#80682 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
It is difficult shopping for a trailer. Finding your "dream" takes time. I found our last two trailers right here at HTW. One was in Michigan and one was in Maryland, both a day's drive from our home. Both were private sales, and the transfers went very smoothly. Our southern forum members seem to enjoy several dealerships that excel in service and reasonable pricing. We have just the opposite in the Western PA, Eastern Ohio area. The private sales were a godsend, compared to the false hoods and pure crap our dealers tried to present.
There are presently 443 two horse GN trailers listed for sale in the HTW. There are many other Internet trailer sites as well. Take your time and keep looking. One of our searches took almost three months, the other about one and a half. There will always be good trailers for sale; you just have to find the best one for you.
Posted 2008-03-30 11:45 AM (#80686 - in reply to #80618) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
Originally written by Sharon on 2008-03-29 6:52 PM
The reason I'm asking this question is because I have a driveway that is narrow until you get to the end near the house, and then it gets wide. It's just wide enough to turn around my 16' GN stock trailer (6' nose) with a foot or so to spare. I wondered how much longer of a trailer I could get and still turn it around with the same truck.
From your description it sounds like you'll be turning your rig around in an open parking area. If that's the case, the primary limitation is probably going to be your truck's turning radius. It won't matter if the trailer tires offtrack on the inside of the turn if that's open area. The trailer tires will scoot sideways in a real tight turn, which is kind of hard on them and the axles and wheels unless your drive is gravel or slick asphalt.
It's kind of hard to describe, but pretty easy to see. This attachment is of a tractor-trailer rig, but the principle is the same. It's similar to Paul's link except it shows wheel paths in a full 180 turn. Basically, if your truck can swing the turn, so can your truck with the trailer attached.
The only other possible limiting factor would be if you had structures along the edges of your drive that the rear end of the trailer might swing out and hit as it pivots on the wheels.
Posted 2008-03-30 11:59 AM (#80691 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
With many gooseneck hookups, you can stop the truck and do a two or three point turn. This results in the truck and trailer having an angle to each other that exceeds 90 degrees. (A severe jackknife position) This will allow the tightest turning and parking. It will also massively scrub the trailer's front tires and in some cases, part the tire from the rim. Again, the length of the trailer's wheelbase will determine the sharpness of even this turning technique.
Posted 2008-03-31 12:40 AM (#80760 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
Towfoo - Thanks for the picture...I do so much better with them! According to that, the radius is indeed the outside track to the center of the circle, not the outside track to the inside track. I can sleep now.
Posted 2008-04-01 8:17 PM (#80921 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309 Location: MO
One more thought. Your trailer tires will 'scuff' on a tight turn on asphalt or concrete and possibly damage the tire or wheel. On gravel, the tires will drag the gravel around and not 'scuff' in the turn. It's safer to make a tight turn on gravel than on hard surface.
Posted 2008-04-02 3:11 AM (#80936 - in reply to #80451) Subject: RE: Turning radius?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Well if you absolutely have to do a scuffing turn on asphalt...it is made slightly better, IF you have several gallons of water to dump on the ground where the scuffing is to occur...
Turning radius?
I wish I still had my son's Tonka toys to demonstrate this to myself.
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