View Single Post
Old 07-10-2009, 11:48 AM   #6 (permalink)
elhigh
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 52.44 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Christ View Post
That reminds me.. anyone ever tried a reverse trike using the "Zero turn" type drivetrain for a front end?
I think that would be an incredibly dangerous design. People are bad enough drivers as it is. It requires two separate drivelines, doubling your potential for failure and guaranteeing serious loss of stability in the event of such failure.

It would require that the rear wheel be nondirectional - it would essentially be just a caster. In a turn, it would tend to fling out of the turn more, tightening the turn radius, which would make it fling out more, etc. until you spin out. It might be huge fun on a closed track though.

Bucky Fuller's Dymaxion car was a rear-steerer, I don't know exactly how he engineered around this tendency. All I know is that 90% of everybody on the road right now would wind up either in the ditch or in the front seat of the car next to them with such a setup.
__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote