Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumSpace for Turns

In commercial combination vehicles, increasing the distance between the kingpin and the rear trailer tandem axles reduces the total off-tracking (or cheating) created during a turn.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False
The statement is false because off-tracking severity increases with vehicle length; the greater the distance between the kingpin and the rear trailer axles, the farther inward the rear wheels track relative to the steering path of the front wheels.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the geometric relationship between trailer axle spacing and off-tracking.
Off-tracking is directly proportional to the effective wheelbase length between the articulation point (kingpin) and the rear trailer axles.
Non-steerable rear trailer wheels follow a path of smaller radius than the steering front wheels, cutting inward toward the curve.
2
Determine the impact of increasing the kingpin-to-rear-axle distance on the turning path.
Greater distance between the kingpin and the rear axles amplifies inward off-tracking rather than reducing it.
A longer trailer wheelbase forces the rear wheels to swing further inward toward curbs, shoulders, or adjacent traffic lanes during a turn.

Key Concept

Off-tracking increases as the distance between the vehicle steering axle or articulation point (kingpin) and the rear axles increases.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Space for Turns

More questions from this topic