text: Engineer Design Test of Truck, Utility, 1/4-Ton, 4X4, M151 (Ride and Handling Characteristics)
  Accession Number : AD0474825
  Title : Engineer Design Test of Truck, Utility, 1/4-Ton, 4X4, M151 (Ride and Handling Characteristics)
  Descriptive Note : Final rept. 13-26 Oct 1965
  Corporate Author : DEVELOPMENT AND PROOF SERVICES ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD
  Personal Author(s) : Thompson, W S
  Full Text : https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/474825.pdf
  Abstract : A test was conducted to compare the relative ride and handling characteristics of the standard M151 truck with those of an M151 truck incorporating a solid rear axle with single leaf semielliptical rear springs. A jury of six drivers performed comparison operations under various vehicle load conditions over specified test courses. Chicane course operation was augmented by instrumentation measuring steering wheel angle, true road speed, road wheel dynamic deflections, and lateral acceleration. After executing severe turning maneuvers on paved surfaces, driver preference was 5 to 1 for the solid-axle- equipped M151 truck; however, after operation on the cross-country courses, driver preference was 6 to 0 for the standard M151 truck. Operation and data show stability of the solid-axle-equipped M151 vehicle to be more easily maintained by virtue of a tendency to slide out on a paved surface, whereas the standard M151 tends to tuck the outer rear wheel under the body. This adversely affects stability in a manner not felt by the operator. On the other hand, the modified M151 truck had poorer ride characteristics on rough surfaces and less control on loose surfaces, thereby offering reduced mobility under tactical conditions.