Pickup truck tow vehicle stability tests
Always lots of anecdotal statements on rv.net around dual wheel vs single rear wheel "stability". Anyone have any links that point to actual testing results under controlled conditions?
Forum Discussion
msmith1.wa wrote:
Call me crazy but I am going to chime in on this.
The added width of the extra tires only helps tipping in a cornering or evasive manuveur beyond the point that a srw truck would start to lift the oposite tire. This will only happen after either there is not enough force to compress the spring further or it reaches the bump stop.
I recently was looking at rear springs for GM trucks. for GM it appears to me that the major difference is in the overload portion of the spring pack. With the drw having more leaves. This combined with two more tires is what gives the added load capacity. The stiffer springs will also make the body more difficult to tip sideways in relationship to the axle just like if a sway bar was installed.
Something that I have not yet seen mentioned in this thread, is given the same load with the four tires the drw would have less sidewall flex than a srw.
Bingo... And the first person to mention suspension affects on stability and less sidewall flex.
Perhaps you're a real engineer! Or just have real good common sense that some here like to beat others with! You know who you are! :R
