Can 4 wheel steer make a comeback?
ZF if making a push for their 4 wheel steering system in pickups. The advantages are obvious in the video. The obvious questions are lifetime costs, reliability and capacity. From what I recall the...
Forum Discussion
Groover wrote:
I was hoping that someone with personal experience with the GM system would share what they liked about it and how much maintenance it took. I knew that GM didn't sell many but didn't realize how few they must have sold.
Some of the comments here remind me of fact that Ford offered a wide front on the F350 for several years but couldn't sell many and gave up. Meanwhile, there is an active thread here about someone going up to the F450 just to get the wider front because it is more maneuverable. Sometimes the most challenging obstacle for a new idea is getting acceptance.
I do agree that the ZF system adds complexity but with most pickups already coming with one optional steerable axle I don't understand why having a second one would put so many in a panic.
I think it has merits for safety and maneuverability. But today's vehicles handle so well and already have numerous safety features built in. It is difficult to justify the additional cost, maintenance, and complexity for such a marginal gain.
