5 ton turning radius - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

DEUCERV · 07-13-2009, 22:10

My 5 ton xm820 has mutch to be desired in the world of turning radius. The wheel stops are welded to the spindle. I'm afraid that if I were to alter them to tighten up the turning radius I may damage the knuckles for the front drive axle. Has anyone attempted this and if so how tight can you go?

73m819 · 07-13-2009, 22:15

the 820 has the same wb as the 819, takes 40 acres to turn, thay are long wb trucks

goldneagle · 07-13-2009, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEUCERV

My 5 ton xm820 has mutch to be desired in the world of turning radius. The wheel stops are welded to the spindle. I'm afraid that if I were to alter them to tighten up the turning radius I may damage the knuckles for the front drive axle. Has anyone attempted this and if so how tight can you go?

I own a M820A2 so I know what you are saying. We have ditches on the sides of the road and streets here and it's a bitch to maneuver in my neighborhood. One wrong turn and you're in the ditch.

I just consider it part of the price you pay to own one of these LARGE trucks!

grizcty · 07-14-2009, 02:01

I agree with Ron.

If you are old enough, you might remember Dave Dudley, or Box Car Willy.
As they made this song famous.
Dave Dudley - Give Me Forty Acres

click here to download this song

He was headed into Bean town in a big long diesel truck
It was his first trip to Boston he was havin' all bad luck
He was going the wrong direction down the one way street in town
This is what he said when the police chased him down
Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig round
It's the easiest way that I found
Some guys can turn it on a dime or turn it right downtown
But I need forty acres to turn this rig around

When he finally found where to unload he had a dreadful shock
His trailer pointed toward the road and his cab right to the dock
As he looked around him through his tears he made the sound
Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig round
Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig round
It's the easiest way that I found
Some guys can turn on a dime or turn it right downtown
But I need forty acres to turn this rig around

When he finally got unloaded he was glad to leave the town
He was very very happy goin' back to Alabam
When up ahead he saw a sign said you are northward bound
He said give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig round
I say give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig round
It's the easiest way that I found
Some guys can turn on a dime or just turn it right downtown
But I need forty acres to turn this rig around

He was drivin' down the right lane when ahead he saw a sign
He had to make a left turn but he could not gettn' in the line
The tears were streamin' down his cheeks and they all heard him yell
Give me forty sticks of dynamite and I'll blow his rig to .......
Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig round
It's the easiest way that I found
Some guys can turn on a dime or turn it right downtown
But I need forty acres to turn this rig around

I said Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig round
It's the easiest way that I found
Some guys can turn on a dime......

cranetruck · 07-14-2009, 06:35

Remove the drive shaft between the rear axles for an instant improvement and super singles will help too.....

73m819 · 07-14-2009, 06:50

i pulled my rear driveline, still not much inprovement, still have to keep the 819 off the curb and out of the ditch

cranetruck · 07-14-2009, 06:59

Okay Ron, but it did help my deuce a lot, about 7-8 ft on the curb-curb turning circle...higher tire pressure helps a bit....of course, with the wrecker crane there is a lot of traction back there making it want to go straight.

Perhaps ten years ago, I separated the brake lines to the rear, so that I could brake each side independently of each other, like farm tractor or the 10-ton M125, but never completed the project. I experimented with an electric brake lock from a wrecker to lock up one side and there was an improvement for sure, got it little complicated to make a turn, that's all.

To this day, the brake lines remain separated, so one of these days.....

73m819 · 07-14-2009, 08:27

CT, its not so much wenting to keep going stright, the truck is just so dam long, as when backing into the driveway, the front is about in the ditch across the road and the rears are on the grass on this side to get it where i want it in one shot. its a double wide driveway , it takes all of it to get the 819 in its resting place. the 819 has found its share of curbs

i did notice lot less wheel bindup with the rear drive line removed, the two rear axles are not fighting each other

wreckerman893 · 07-14-2009, 09:37

MAN UP!!!!!

Like the man said, it's part of the price you pay to play the game.....if it was easy the sidewalk sissy fixing hair at the beauty shop would own one.

Adapt and overcome....I have operated these vehicles for over thirty years and still love them.

You may have to make some changes to your driveway or fill in same places but there are ways to make it easier.

I am in the process of putting in a new driveway to the Motor Pool because the Boss Lady said no more MV's through the front yard.

Hang in there.

frodobaggins · 07-14-2009, 10:43

I'm not seeing how going in the ditch in these is a real problem