This question isn't for my truck (in fact, just for trucks in general) but what would be involved in a four-wheel steering conversion? Looking at a quadrasteer rear end it looks like (to my untrained eye) a hydraulic steering setup - I don't see any steering shaft. Would it just be a matter of (and thinking the cheapest way right here) installing a front-end axle in the rear, doing a hydraulic steering conversion, and hooking up some tubing?

Anyone know of any guides or write-ups on this kind of conversion?



(and no off-topic comments about how four wheel steering is stupid/.dangerous/useless/not cool)

 

4 wheel steering can be a wicked dangerous thing.
Ever drive a forklift backwards? Then have you ever done it at a real fast speed?
Did it flip over? Then you get the idea.
Quadrasteer is a pretty technical design, and the computer controls quite a bit of logic to prevent dangerous situations.
You would have to regulate the input to the rear steering to prevent the vehicle form whipping violently out of control if you turned slightly (like a lane change) on the freeway.
Actually the rear steer wheels will turn the same direction at higher speeds.
Lots of variables here.
Also know that you add another breaking point to a very inportant component. The rear axle.
Steer axles are at thier weakest point when they are turned.

 

There's a guy not to far from me that did a rear steer conversion on an 80's style truck. A guy I went to college with was friends with him, and he brought me over to check out the truck. Unfortunately, the truck was in the garage and I couldn't get in close to check it out.

It was an off-road only truck, and it was actually featured in a magazine (Four Wheeler Mag, I think). Pretty cool rig.

If you do come upon some answers for converting a 73-9 truck, let me know. I have 5 trucks out here to play with, and that would make a fun rainy-day project.

 

I only ask because of this:

weta warthog steering - Google Search

If a company could build that from scratch... well, it would make one hell of a project. Have you seen the guy that built that (lambo, ferarri? don't remember) in his basement? If you can do that from scratch, a full conversion like that warthog should be no problem.


BTW, big fan of Halo.

 

Worked on aircraft pushback tugs 130,000 lbs setup that had 4 wheel steering. It was all hydraulic setup and they didn't move very fast. Worked well though.