Four Wheel Steer

[TiredIronGRB]

I'm considering adding a steering axle to the rear of the Cruiser but would have to narrow the frame rails considerably which would eliminate the last two body mounts.

This brings me to my question, has anyone bobbed their frame to the point of losing the body mounts and did it affect integrity of the body or hatch?


Also does anyone have a rear axle housing, a bad one preferably (I only need the brackets).

 

[bundy18]

i 2 am thinking about this and have gotten very little to no help in the hardcore section
if you get any help i am also interested

 

[IBCRUSN]

How much rear steer do you need? I know from your pics that you're into pretty hardcore but even a little rear steer would make a huge difference on the trail. Just limit the travel to the space available and it should still net a good turning radius.

I had entertained the idea for the tight trails in the east but besides moving west I can live with tree rubs.

 

[lowtideride]

You would need a beefy rear axle, 80s are heavy. What axle you plan on running? Fabbing mounts would prob be the least of your problems. Having it turn a small amount might be a cool Idea but having its turning the same as the front would net major damage under an 80series going up hill.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

You would need a beefy rear axle, 80s are heavy. What axle you plan on running? Fabbing mounts would prob be the least of your problems. Having it turn a small amount might be a cool Idea but having its turning the same as the front would net major damage under an 80series going up hill.

Volvo portals of course

 

[Sackman]

Damn! that would be amazing to have a 4x4x4!

 

[-Spike-]

I'm considering adding a steering axle to the rear of the Cruiser but would have to narrow the frame rails considerably which would eliminate the last two body mounts.

This brings me to my question, has anyone bobbed their frame to the point of losing the body mounts and did it affect integrity of the body or hatch?


Also does anyone have a rear axle housing, a bad one preferably (I only need the brackets).

Just give up now, it can't be done, and even if it could it couldn't be done in less than 6 months.

-Spike

 

[TiredIronGRB]

I'm thinking two - three days at the most.

 

[GreatLakesWaterjet]

GR, I see what you are getting at now. Bolt on the steering ends to replace your fixed ends. Then all you would change is axle shafts. If you limited the amount of turning, I think it would be ok. You would do this on a double ended steering ram with built-in stops. Not hard. I don't think I would cut up the frame and body. Just widen your stance with your wheel backspacing.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

No, I would have to use a complete front axle or the tires would sit out about 4" too far.

 

[Grench]

Crazy idea...

You're not after a -lot- of steering. How about changing the angle of the rear axle as a whole unit?

Use bidirectional hydraulic rams in place of the rear arms. The throw wouldn't need to be very far. 3" a side would do it. Pull the right forward and push the left back and you should shave a lot off of a right hand turn. Might want to consider pushing them all the way to stop back for road travel. You'd need 4 rams to replace the upper & lower arms. I'm not sure what to do with the lateral rod.

Just a crazy thought.

 

[GreatLakesWaterjet]

No, I would have to use a complete front axle or the tires would sit out about 4" too far.

Would you swap the axle tubes from side to side to keep the input on the correct side ?

 

[TiredIronGRB]

Would have to flip the housing.

 

[-Spike-]

I'm thinking two - three days at the most.

NEVAR!!!

-Spike

 

[GreatLakesWaterjet]

NEVAR!!!

-Spike

Yea, he could never put portals in his cruiser in a week either Oh, but he did!

 

[Rusty Phillips]

before jumping all the way to a rear steering axle - have you considered cutting (fiddle or steering) brakes???

 

[EricG]

I assume you're going to set it up for counter-steering to reduce turning radius? Is this going to become (or already is) a trail-only low speed rig? It seems that it might get kinda squirrely on the highway unless you could lock the rear steering or at least have a crab-steering mode.

Reminds me of a summer I worked some construction and got to drive one of those big overhead boom forklifts. 4 steering modes that you selected with a dial. Front-only, Rear-only, counter-steering (front & rear stear opposite) and crab-steering (front and rear turn the same way).

 

[TiredIronGRB]

It's a DD now, I would use a lock pin for on-road use.

 

[-Spike-]

Totally unsafe, Toyota didn't offer 4 wheel steering from the factory, it'll never work. It'll take at least 4 months. I used to play with Legos, I know what I'm talking about.

-Spike

 

[Nay]

How will you keep the rear steering linkage from being vulnerable in the rocks? What steering joints will you use that can hold up to a rear axle application? That's a lot of complexity for a rig that is too big for small spaces no matter how tight the turning radius.

A more applicable project sounds like cutting the top off the cargo area and shortening the frame a good bit. You'll be there on the first roll anyway, might as well get ahead of the curve and start the exo cage once the top is gone. A major reduction in weight and size is going to be far more valuable than rear steering.

Nay