Thanks to her brand new Dynatrac XD60 front axle and PRO 1550 steering knuckles, there really is no question that Rubicat steers and turns a hell of a lot better than Moby, of who is still running a ProRock 60 front axle and with older Pro 60 steering knuckles. However, Cindy and I wanted to know, just by how much and how would she compare to something like a stock JK Unlimited. Needless to say, we decided to do some turning radius tests and here’s what we found out. For reference, a bone stock JK Unlimited running 225/75R16 tires measures 73.9″ wide and has an advertised curb to curb turning radius of 41.20′.
Out in an open parking lot, we found a pair of planters that were spaced exactly 5 parking spots apart and with each spot measuring 108″ wide. This gave us an opening measuring 45 feet across and that was more than enough for a stock JK Unlimited to clear.
With her new 72.5″ XD60, PRO 1550 steering knuckles and running 37×13.50R17 Cooper STT Pros mounted on Trail Ready beadlock wheels that have 5.5″ of back spacing, Rubicat measures 85″ across. For the purposes of this test, we started her exactly on the inside edge of the passenger side parking line.
As you can see, Rubicat easily cleared the planter but had it been a curb lining a street, she would have still hit the other side by if by just a bit.
Here’s a shot of Rubicat after pulling her all the way through the turn to the point where her front tire would have cleared. Curb to curb, we measured a turning radius of 45.27′. Basically, 4′ more than stock.
For comparison, with his 68.5″ ProRock 60, Pro 60 steering knuckles and running 40×13.50R/17 Cooper STT Pros mounted on ATX Chamber Pro II beadlock wheels that have 4″ of back spacing, Moby also measures 85″ wide. Starting off at the exact same point.
As you can see here, Moby couldn’t make the U-turn and clear the planter.
When all was said and done, we found that measuring curb to curb, Moby had a turning radius of 50.72′. That’s almost 10′ more than stock!
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