Filed on October 16th 2020, and published April 21 2022, Ford filed a patent for tank-turn capability on the F-150 Lightning.
After hearing (but yet to witness) the Rivian tank-turn ability of the Rivian, we now get word from lightningowners.com forum that Ford is spinning in that direction too. Rivian hasn’t given their first batch of R1Ts the capability as of now. Perhaps, seeing that opening, and the ridiculous capability of the GMC Hummer EV, Ford wants to play as well. The patent, which is serial number 0118979 shows (in graphic detail) the method they will undertake to allow the Lightning to do a tank-turn.
For those who don’t know, a tank-turn allows the vehicle to rotate in its own space. It behaves like a skid-steer vehicle, rotating in any direction within its own footprint.
How do you do a tank-turn?
There are a few methods this maneuver can be achieved. In some cases, four-wheel steering can come in to play, but it takes extreme steering angles to make that happen. The other way is to force one side of the vehicle to move in the opposite direction of the other. Simply put, one side goes forward, while the other goes in reverse. It looks like Ford will have an opposite corner power in the opposite direction to the other corner, using a Turn Manager system. It looks like an in-cab level will initiate the turn, and it sounds like it will only activate under certain circumstances.
Up until now, Ford has made no mention of this feature. We don’t know if they plan on adding this capability to their first batch of Lightning trucks. The Ford Lightning is going into production with an estimated maximum range of 320 miles. It is expected to tow up to 10,000-lbs. This turning ability could make the Lightning formidable off-road.
What do you think? Would you pay extra for a tank-turn option? Is it something the 2023 Ford Lightning needs?
Let us know!
