Turning Radius Deception??? Please Help

[Overthinker]

We were reviewing our final build sheet of a Volvo VNL 740 mid roof with a 215" WB and while looking at the predictor I noticed something interesting.  The turning radius curb to curb is 63.89' which is almost 7' more than my GMC crew cab dually.  When we first started this journey everyone said our HDT turns better than a dually pickup.  What am I missing?  7' more is a huge difference and that's with a short WB HDT most HDT's are even longer, at 225" WB the turning radius is 10' larger than our 2020 Duramax.  

When everyone says their HDT "turns better" are they referring to something other than turning radius?  I'm really concerned if we order this truck I'm going to have a difficult time maneuvering in campgrounds.

 

[Darryl&Rita]

You're missing the shorter wheelbase crowd. Back in the day, when that was a common refrain, most trucks were singled short. smart cars weren't a thing, yet, so trucks went everywhere. 215+" WB is a far cry from the typical 180" WB singled short truck.

[rickeieio]

When we bought our 770, we also had a 2005 F-350 srw short bed.  Turning radius was about the same for both trucks, even though the Volvo was/is tandem.  Modern pick-ups turn far shorter than they used to.

[Chickenhauler]

A Crew Cab 8' box Chevy is 172" wheelbase.  Your Volvo is 43" longer.

 

Wheelbase for wheelbase, a HDT turns tighter, but adding wheelbase increases turning distance.

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

It is the wheel cut that makes the difference.  Most regular pickups have the front wheel close to the frame and limit their wheel cut. The F-450 moved the wheels out and have a better wheel cut.

Tandems duals increase turning radius because of the longer wheel base.

  

[Darryl&Rita]

11 hours ago, rickeieio said:

When we bought our 770, we also had a 2005 F-350 srw short bed.  Turning radius was about the same for both trucks, even though the Volvo was/is tandem.  Modern pick-ups turn far shorter than they used to.

True enough. Forgot about that.

[aknavy]

From my very limited towing experience with the HDT (singled long), it pretty much matched my 2017 F350 DRW for turning.  Just have to go a little deeper into the turn before turning the wheel.  Other than getting the extra length into someplace, I imagine it being a negligible difference between the two trucks.  For me, my front bumper is about 8 feet beyond where the front bumper of the F350 was, so signs/trees/corners/other obstacles my be present that I would have missed with the F350.  This is from a combination of overall length and the hitch being behind the rear axle.

[steiny93]

19 hours ago, Overthinker said:

We were reviewing our final build sheet of a Volvo VNL 740 mid roof with a 215" WB and while looking at the predictor I noticed something interesting.  The turning radius curb to curb is 63.89' which is almost 7' more than my GMC crew cab dually.  When we first started this journey everyone said our HDT turns better than a dually pickup.  What am I missing?  7' more is a huge difference and that's with a short WB HDT most HDT's are even longer, at 225" WB the turning radius is 10' larger than our 2020 Duramax.  

When everyone says their HDT "turns better" are they referring to something other than turning radius?  I'm really concerned if we order this truck I'm going to have a difficult time maneuvering in campgrounds.

 

The second response really nailed it; 215" isn't a short wheelbase, and the newer pickups turn really tight.

The 610 in my sig is 230"; it turns significantly less tight then the Ram that also pulls the 5th wheel.  Of all the places we've been with the HDT the turning radius never prevented a trip or parking in a spot.  We did have some tight maneuvering and many forward then back events.

But yah, 215" isn't going to turn like a pickup.

[Jaydrvr]

My 610 is about 190" wheelbase. I can't remember if it's 186" or 196". I think 186", but it's very maneuverable. Between the sharp wheel cut and the short wheelbase, I can back into most any tight spot. Jay

[noteven]

Turn radius is a function of front axle wheel cut angle and wheel base. 

Wide track steer axles like most class 7’s , 8’s , and trucks like 550/5500’s have more “cut” than an independent front suspension 4 wheel drive pickup  might have.

Trailer hitch point behind the rear axle will reduce trailer “off tracking” in turns. 

Keep in mind when you are 🤔 thinking - class 8 “HDTs” pulling all kinds of semitrailers 53ft long with their wheels back where they belong get driven in and out of places where RV’ers’z are running over the shrubs and sign posts 😀

[travelinbob]

47 minutes ago, noteven said:

Turn radius is a function of front axle wheel cut angle and wheel base. 

Wide track steer axles like most class 7’s , 8’s , and trucks like 550/5500’s have more “cut” than an independent front suspension 4 wheel drive pickup  might have.

Trailer hitch point behind the rear axle will reduce trailer “off tracking” in turns. 

Keep in mind when you are 🤔 thinking - class 8 “HDTs” pulling all kinds of semitrailers 53ft long with their wheels back where they belong get driven in and out of places where RV’ers’z are running over the shrubs and sign posts 😀

I have to chime in on this and say that 2001 F550 Starhauler needs at least a half acre to turn around. It's terrible when backing my trailer in a RV site.

[rickeieio]

59 minutes ago, noteven said:

Keep in mind when you are 🤔 thinking - class 8 “HDTs” pulling all kinds of semitrailers 53ft long with their wheels back where they belong get driven in and out of places where RV’ers’z are running over the shrubs and sign posts 😀

Is that because of the vehicle, or the driver?  One reason to get into the campground early is to sit, beverage in hand, and watch others trying to get parked.  Some have even had score cards to hold up at the end of the performance. (not me...)

[Brad & Jacolyn]

I agree with Rick. That is why we are members of the 230 club (230 miles or 2:30 in the afternoon). A cocktail and lawn chair make good places to watch the RV's park.