turning radius... whats better higher number turning radius or lower number?

No, the wheelbase is the distance between your front steer tires and the middle of your rear drive axels.

If you take a look at the trucks around you, short haul delivery companies will be quite short while a highway truck is much longer. These in town trucks are short as it allows them to maneouver much easier as they usually back into docks all day long.

Highway tractors are longer because it provides a smoother ride as the truck will not move side to side as easily keeping everything in line. They are also longer to provide space for the sleeper.

 

Engineering, in this case. MANY MANY MANY engineering improvements in truck operation, navigation, and maintenance have been introduced in just the last 10 years. But I'm not real sure a 2010 Freightliner Cascadia OTR truck (with sleeper) will turn sharper than that rig you're discussing, but perhaps it will. Modern "set-back" steering axles and more tire area under the hood for turn clearance (better engineering) make for make a huge difference in turning radius.

 

Well I would check for a loose nut behind the wheel myself. That would be the first place I would look to solve the problem.

 

The other factor for the turning radius in addition to the wheelbase is the angle of wheel cut. This is how much the steer tire will actually turn. So it could be that you have a shorter wheel base tractor that has a low wheel cut angle that will not turn in as tight an area as a longer wheelbase with a higher wheel cut.

I have also driven 2 identical trucks brand, wheel base and steering gear that did not turn the same. The difference was how and where the stop block bolts on the steer axle were set. Just a couple of threads difference can make a quite noticeable change in how tight a truck turns. But If you adjust yours, be darn sure that the tires clear everything!

 

Jim behave the fellow asked a legitimate question.

The problem is you are driving what most drivers would call a FARM truck you need almost 40 acres to turn the thing. That is quite common with older trucks. I would venture a guess that that truck has full leaf front, which due to its design will not turn as well as the newer the modified leaf with air suspension.