1st Gen. Ram - All Topics Discussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.

Turntables for 1st gen owners.

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Old 02-09-2006, 10:04 PM
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Turntables for 1st gen owners.

Is it just me, or do our 1st gens need more space than the average full size truck to flip a U-Turn? maybe i just suck at driving, but its not very often a parking lot is big enough for me to swing her around a stick it right between two cars without engaging reverse. usually i just look for two parking spots and hog em up for dodge parking. im beginning to think i need to construct a personal vehicle turntable at the end of my street so i can bring her around when people decide to park on the corner! i'll post a pic of the proposed construction site if google earth lets me cut n' paste the pic!
Old 02-09-2006, 10:22 PM
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Proposed Site



i barely make the u-turn where the yellow circle is!


you learn interesting things about your neighbors when you play with google earth! (like whos got the giant "JESUS" written on the roof )
Old 02-10-2006, 01:01 AM
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i know my truck takes about 3 acres to turn around on. It dosnt turn very sharp. I have adjused the stops a little but not a lot bc i dont want to bind the front U-joints.
Old 02-10-2006, 01:41 AM
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Well....if you take a good starting point, then punch the old girl hard and let the back end hang out, you should be good to do it in one shot.....otherwise, break out a pack of smokes and a 6 pack of wobbly pops and settle in for some 'to and fro'....


pb.....
Old 02-10-2006, 03:28 AM
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There was a song written about our trucks and "U"-turns....some of you older guys might know it...

"give me forty acres and I'll turn this truck around............."

Old 02-10-2006, 04:05 AM
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A little power braking and some throttle and I can turn mine around without moving the front wheels.
Old 02-10-2006, 05:19 AM
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Mine is a pain in the *** to turn around, but I swear it turns tighter than my S-10 ZR2.

-Steve
Old 02-10-2006, 07:51 AM
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I went under mine and adjusted the stops to allow minimum turning radius. These old trucks can turn sharper to the left than they can to the right because the left front tire will hit the pitman arm. If you have oversized tires or an extended chassis you are stuck with needing a foot ball field to turn around. You can always install a Detroit Locker and a line lock.
Old 02-10-2006, 08:29 AM
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Mines even worse because I have the "beep, beep" backup alarm
Old 02-10-2006, 09:53 AM
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One thing I do is fully cut the wheels before you start moving. So if its tight I stop, cut , turn. Sometimes I stop cut right, reverse to the curb, cut left, then turn and drive through yard, curb, sidewalk or whatever. Its just a way I avoid a three point u turn. I have to deal with flooding at home so turning around is something I do a lot of.
Old 02-10-2006, 09:57 AM
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Talking Turning radius

My Dodge turns tighter than my 1976 Ford F250 4X4 or my 2005 Chev 2500 long box extended cab 4X4.
Old 02-10-2006, 12:12 PM
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in my ol' ramcharger i used to be able to roll one side of the car up on the short curb between two driveways and whip her around. not in this beast.
Old 02-10-2006, 02:04 PM
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Friend of mine offers this suggestion. Complain to the local authorities that a fire truck or ambulance would not be able to reach your house because of parking in the curve and that they should put no parking signs there.
Old 02-10-2006, 04:25 PM
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I like the Pastor`s idea best! But the football feild thing is what i ususally do...sigh, the price we pay to drive the best.
Old 02-10-2006, 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Chrisreyn
There was a song written about our trucks and "U"-turns....some of you older guys might know it...

"give me forty acres and I'll turn this truck around............."

... better than most of the current so-called "country"...

DBF


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