Community Forums

MapleKing · 07-23-2021, 12:43 PM

I have a 2016 F150 Crew cab and a 30' travel trailer and I'm trying to see if there is a way I can determine what the minimum turn radius is. I am in the process of building a house and I'd like to able to pull in and turn around to make it easier but I'm not sure how much space I need for that. The lot is wooded and we are trying to only remove the trees that we need to so I don't want to clear more than I need. Any thoughts?

wolfe10 · 07-23-2021, 12:46 PM

Take a couple of cardboard boxes with you to an empty parking lot to mark the circle your rig describes. Measure box to box.

Verify maximum cut angle still leaves you "truck to trailer" clearance.

Depending on what you are measuring, measure "tire to tire" or "fender to fender"-- what ever is more critical to you.

carybosse · 07-23-2021, 02:34 PM

I like wolfe10's suggestion, but I would try to find a parking lot with some lines on it. Line up the truck/trailer on a line, and then do a 180 and see where you land.

If you get a numberlet's say 50', then I would use 75'. I have no clue if my numbers are even close to any reality.

Note the difference between turning radius and turning diameter. We often use the turn turning radius, but what is off quoted is turning diameter.

Let us know what you find: My wife and I have often talked about moving out to the country, and I have wondered about what I would need to pull of the maneuver you are contemplating.

CecilD · 07-24-2021, 07:41 AM

I agree with the parking lot thing rather than trying to do calculations. Due to the trees, I would also measure so that trailer tail swing was factored in.

It looks like maybe those trees might represent income for you!

tuffr2 · 07-24-2021, 09:52 AM

I don't know if I would use the F-150 or not. What if in the future you was a bigger trailer of 5th wheel. You would have to go to a F-450 to get a good turning radius like the F-150.

I went from a F-450 to a F-250 so I know the F-450 turns alot better. The F-250 does not turn very sharp.

capt who · 07-24-2021, 08:59 PM

I'm with "tuffr2" give yourself more room than you think you will need.

jleonard · 07-25-2021, 06:13 AM

How about some large "sidewalk chalk" tied to a stick and attach to the rear trailer bumper to mark your circle as it drags behind.
Might need to add some weight to the stick to get a nice clear mark from the chalk.

MapleKing · 07-25-2021, 09:46 AM

Thanks for everyone's replies. I started looking at some numbers and for the truck alone I'm looking at 59' which is already larger than I was hoping. It doesn't make much sense to clear that large of an area for something I'm only using a few times a year. I think I'm going to focus on having a large area that I could back it into and then out of and that will use less space. I love the idea of just pulling it around but it's a lot of space.

tuffr2 · 07-25-2021, 10:06 AM

In backing in just remember the truck sometimes needs to make wide swings to get the trailer positioned. I took a wooded area and made two camping sites. I was about to get two trailers positioned where I wanted them but it was not easy as the F-450 needed to make wide swings back and forth. A lot of times the F-450 genders would just miss a tree. Note a F-450 wide track could really swing that front end when needed.