Turning Radius

[Charlie G]

19 feet isn't encouraging .... a Chevy 3500 1 ton, long bed, crew cab dually with a 167.7" wheel base and overall length of 259.1" is 16.9'

Jim

I wonder if the outrigger wheels can't actually turn as tightly because they'd interfere with the main body. To make it turn tighter you'd have to narrow the body or widen the wheelbase - neither of which sounds appealing given current dimensions.

Anecdotally, the turning radius of a Plymouth Prowler (113" wheelbase, 62" front tread) that also has exposed wheels is 19.5'. Compared to the Elio (110" wheelbase, 66.8" front track) at 19', it's not far off.

 

[CheeseheadEarl]

I'm almost willing to bet the EM rep has turn radius and turning circle confused.

I did say almost.

 

[CompTrex]

19 feet isn't encouraging .... a Chevy 3500 1 ton, long bed, crew cab dually with a 167.7" wheel base and overall length of 259.1" is 16.9'

Jim

I also wonder if there may be a confusion of terms:

The turning radius of a vehicle is the radius of the smallest circular turn (i.e. U-turn) that the vehicle is capable of making. The term turning radius is a technical term that has become popular automotive jargon. In the jargon sense, it is commonly used to mean the full diameter of the smallest circle, but in technical usage the turning radius still is used to denote the radius. This difference in meaning has been in play for a long time, and does no harm except to confuse people encountering it for the first time. The less ambiguous term turning circle avoids the mistaken jargon use of the word 'radius' . As an example, Motor Trend refers to a curb-to-curb turning circle of a 2008 Cadillac CTS as 35.5 feet (10.82 m). But the terminology is not yet settled. The AutoChannel.com refers to turning radius of the same car as 35.5 feet (10.82 m). It is often used as a generalized term rather than a numerical figure. For example, a vehicle with a very small turning circle may be described as having a "tight turning radius".

I'm almost willing to bet the EM rep has turn radius and turning circle confused.

I did say almost.

I thought that as well until I though, 'a 19' turning circle?' That's way impressive.

 

[Charlie G]

I'm almost willing to bet the EM rep has turn radius and turning circle confused.

I did say almost.

I thought the same for a second until I started looking at the numbers.
A 19' turning circle would be a 9.5' radius. The Elio is over 13 feet long, so not only would the wheels have to go sideways - the car would also have to move backwards while turning.
Or something.

 

[CompTrex]

I thought the same for a second until I started looking at the numbers.
A 19' turning circle would be a 9.5' radius. The Elio is over 13 feet long, so not only would the wheels have to go sideways - the car would also have to move backwards while turning.

Zero turn car! I'm game!

Actually, I'm not... I hate those things... Give me a steering wheel and a brake any day!

 

[Charlie G]

Zero turn car! I'm game!

Actually, I'm not... I hate those things... Give me a steering wheel and a brake any day!

Just lock the rear wheel and spin the front tires to pull you around - ha!

 

[wayne kemp]

Looks like rubbernecking will be MANDATORY before making a u-turn.
Or you may get t-boned.

 

[karl]

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/...th-the-smallest-turning-circles-for-2014.html

 

[c0yote]

... so the same as my Subaru (18.3')

 

[CompTrex]

Just lock the rear wheel and spin the front tires to pull you around - ha!

I had a farmall tractor with left and right brakes. That'd be fun!