The Handling Properties of Light Trucks

The purpose of this paper is to discuss handling in the context of those operational variables and vehicle chassis considerations which are most significant in affecting the handling properties of light trucks.

In discussing handling for normal driving the Cornering Compliance Concept is used to combine the most significant parameters in a simple lumped parameter model. Limit handling performance and the mechanics of rollover are discussed in the paper.

It is observed that exposure to limit handling maneuvers is unlikely to occur in normal driving. The significance of vehicle handling properties to highway safety is an unknown at this time.