Four wheel steering solves a very nasty problem for Japan and Europe - need to turn on tight corners. Expensive real estate -> narrow aisles -> no room to maneuver the cart.
Win for four wheel steering.
The problem, however, is that the fixed rears anchor the cart. They help the cart to take a straight line. The greater steering effort is more than offset by not having to constantly juggle a cart trying to spin on itself. So if you have wide, long aisles like in the US two wheel steering is a lot less effort.
Pro tip - if your cart is very heavy, and there is a tight corner, steer it from the end opposite the handles. It'll literally turn on itself with very little effort
Four wheel steering solves a very nasty problem for Japan and Europe - need to turn on tight corners. Expensive real estate -> narrow aisles -> no room to maneuver the cart.
Win for four wheel steering.
The problem, however, is that the fixed rears anchor the cart. They help the cart to take a straight line. The greater steering effort is more than offset by not having to constantly juggle a cart trying to spin on itself. So if you have wide, long aisles like in the US two wheel steering is a lot less effort.
Pro tip - if your cart is very heavy, and there is a tight corner, steer it from the end opposite the handles. It'll literally turn on itself with very little effort