rear steer questions

[79bonanza]

ok so i was thinking how tight some of my trails were and was watching some youtube video's and rear steer just seems like a win win situation. the only down fall i found is you have to buy rockwells or dana 60's and that could get pricey.

question

anyone on here running rear steer and how do you like it

is it able to drive down the road and be safe and not dog track all over

would you use a rockwell or a dana 60 if you were going to do this

how much does it generally cost to setup for rear steer

 

[GreenieK30]

This was my 1st time out with rear steer. This one has 5 ton Unimog axles with about 45 degree turning. I would do at least a Dana 70 with RCV shafts or OEM alloys in a 2.5 ton Rockwell. I would reccomend a stand alone rear system like the monstertrucks run.

 

[79bonanza]

sorry im not a member yet i cant see it, but it sure sounds cool

 

[Fordum]

Doesn't look like a glowing recommendation for rear steer.......

For those of you who can't see it, the vehicle is on its side and they are about to pull it back on its wheels with a winch.

I had wondered about doing that myself. Not me, other people

As for driving it, I figured it would be for trail only rigs.

However, the local Shriners have a small car setup with four wheel steering.
When its getting close to time for the parade, you can see it driving all around town.
It will be just driving along, looking like normal car, doing about 45 or so, when suddenly the rear end will just pull over into the other lane of a 4 lane and it will drive along sideways for a while.

Startles the hell out of you the first tine it does that while you are following it...

 

[GreenieK30]

It is alot different to drive and takes a while to get used to. It really helps most the time. Im just a rear steer noob.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Whatever rear axle you use will have to be extra stout, the rear of the vehicle almost always sees much more load than the front.

 

[blazinzuk]

Rocks for sure, just too much of a pain to do all the mods to a normal axle. Plus the cost of the axleshafts.

rear steer helps alot but you have to be well aware of it. Takes some practice. I have seen guys running rear steer for quite some time that have rolled cause they were trying to climb something and forgot the rear was turned or climbed it too fast and couldn't get the rear around in time. It is certainly a double edged sword, one that I will eventually possess

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

As mentioned, every person I've ever wheeled with that had 4 wheel steer did more harm than good with it. Probably a function of seat time though, I know some 4 wheel steer rigs can make stuff that you couldn't otherwise.

 

[Stomis]

My vote is no and 100% dont even think about it on the street.

 

[GreenieK30]

A couple things I would change on this would be have seperate front and rear systems and add some kind of return to center feature for the rear. Right now the rear is full manual and the two pumps feed one pressure line into a splitter valve and the two rams cannot be used at the same time. I also have a 1985 Chev pickup with "dealer installed" Zahnradfabrik APL345 planetaries and 4 wheel steer in storage but the trans is out.

 

[Fred_M1010]

I also have a 1985 Chev pickup with "dealer installed" Zahnradfabrik APL345 planetaries and 4 wheel steer in storage but the trans is out.

What is that?
More info please

 

[blazinzuk]

Having the system separate is important we used a hydraulic motor used to raise and lower an outboard motor

 

[GreenieK30]

What is that?
More info please

In the mid 1980s the Bobtail Tractor company had a contract with the airforce to supply aircraft runway tow trucks. The started with 2wd diesels and added stronger axles. The steering system is two seperate pumps and the rear steer control valve is on the floor next to the drivers seat.

This one was givin a nice paint job by a heavy lift helicopter company.

 

[GreenieK30]

Here are some others, bottom one is all original with the counterweights on it:

 

[Fred_M1010]

Ah was it one of those.
I have heard of them, but didn't know they could steer with both axles.
Cool!