You’ve probably seen it by now. A massive, electrified brick of a truck sliding sideways like a confused crustacean. It’s the Hummer crab walk video that took over TikTok and YouTube, leaving people wondering if the driver just broke the axle or if the car is actually possessed. It looks unnatural. It looks like a glitch in the Matrix. But it’s actually one of the most clever applications of rear-wheel steering we’ve seen in a production vehicle in decades.
Honestly, when GMC first teased the Hummer EV, most people thought "CrabWalk" was just marketing fluff. We’re used to car companies over-promising on features that eventually get buried in a sub-menu or only work under "controlled conditions." Not this time.
Why the Hummer Crab Walk Video Broke the Internet
It’s about the sheer physics of it. When you see a vehicle that weighs over 9,000 pounds—roughly the weight of two or three average sedans—moving diagonally without the front end turning, your brain short-circuits. Most cars have wheels that stay parallel to the frame. Even cars with "four-wheel steering," like certain Porsches or Lamborghinis, usually only turn the rear wheels by two or three degrees.
The Hummer EV? It pushes that to 10 degrees.
At low speeds, the rear wheels can turn in the same direction as the front wheels. This allows the truck to move diagonally. It’s not just for showing off at a stoplight, though let's be real, that's what 90% of owners do. The actual intent was off-roading. Imagine you're on a tight trail in Moab. There’s a massive boulder on your left and a drop-off on your right. You can’t swing the nose out because you’ll hit the rock. You can’t back up. With CrabWalk, you basically just "slide" out of the predicament.
The Tech Behind the Diagonal Slide
The secret sauce here is the electronic 4-wheel steer system. In a traditional car, the steering rack is a physical connection. In the Hummer EV, it's heavily digitized. When you engage CrabWalk mode via the infotainment screen—which, by the way, takes a second to engage as the actuators align—the computer takes over the coordination between the front and rear axles.
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Al Oppenheiser, the chief engineer for the Hummer EV (and the guy who previously led the Camaro team), has been vocal about how this wasn't just a "let's see if we can do this" feature. It was a requirement to make a vehicle this wide and this long actually usable in the real world. Without rear-wheel steering, the turning circle on this beast would be wider than a school bus.
By allowing the rear wheels to turn opposite to the front wheels at low speeds, the Hummer EV actually has a tighter turning radius than a Chevy Sonic. That’s a subcompact car. Let that sink in.
Real World vs. Viral Clips
What you don't see in the viral Hummer crab walk video clips is the setup. You can't just flick a switch at 60 mph and start sliding across lanes. That would be a catastrophe. The system is speed-limited. It’s designed for slow-speed maneuvering.
One thing that often gets missed in the comments sections is the "Auto" mode versus the manual "CrabWalk."
- Standard Mode: The rear wheels stay straight. Boring.
- Tight Turn Mode: Rear wheels turn opposite to the front. This is how you park this monster in a Costco lot.
- CrabWalk: The wheels turn in tandem. This is the "diagonal" move.
There’s a specific clip that went viral in 2022 showing a Hummer EV in traffic using CrabWalk to change lanes. People lost their minds. "It's a safety hazard!" "It's cheating!" In reality, it was likely a test driver or an early adopter showing off. While it can be used on pavement, it feels incredibly strange from the driver's seat. Your inner ear expects a certain "yaw" or rotation when you turn the wheel. In CrabWalk, that rotation never happens. You just... drift.
Dealing with the "Gimmick" Allegations
Is it a gimmick? Sorta.
Is it useful? More than you'd think.
If you've ever tried to parallel park a vehicle that is nearly 87 inches wide, you know the struggle. The CrabWalk and the associated rear-steering tech make the Hummer EV surprisingly nimble. It’s the difference between a three-point turn and a fifteen-point turn in a tight city street.
However, there are limitations. Some early reviewers from sites like MotorTrend and Car and Driver noted that while the tech is seamless, it can be a bit jerky if you’re not smooth with the throttle. You’re asking a lot of electric motors and steering actuators to coordinate 4.5 tons of metal perfectly.
The Competition is Watching
GMC isn't the only one playing with this. The Tesla Cybertruck also features four-wheel steering, and Elon Musk famously claimed it would be able to do something similar. The Rivian R1T had its "Tank Turn" (spinning in place like a literal tank), but they actually pulled that feature before mass production because it was too destructive to the ground surface.
The Hummer’s approach is "gentler" on the environment. Since the wheels are actually rolling and not just skidding against each other, it doesn't tear up the trail as much as a tank turn would. This is why GMC’s version actually made it to driveways while Rivian’s remained a cool YouTube video that never reached customers.
What Nobody Tells You About the Maintenance
Here’s the expert take: more moving parts means more potential headaches.
In a standard truck, you have one steering rack and two tie rods to worry about. On the Hummer EV, you have a secondary steering system in the back. That’s another set of actuators, sensors, and mechanical linkages that can, eventually, wear out. If you’re actually using this thing in the mud and salt, keeping those rear steering components clean is going to be vital.
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Also, alignment. Imagine trying to get a four-wheel alignment on a vehicle where all four wheels can pivot independently by 10 degrees. You aren't taking this to the local "quick-lube" shop. You’re going to the dealer, and you’re going to pay a premium for that specialized calibration.
Beyond the Viral Video: How to Actually Use It
If you find yourself behind the wheel of one of these electric behemoths, don't just use CrabWalk to annoy people at stoplights.
- Boat Ramps: Use the rear steering (not necessarily CrabWalk) to make backing a trailer down a narrow ramp infinitely easier.
- Deep Sand: Sometimes, moving diagonally can help you find fresh traction instead of digging deeper into a rut created by your front tires.
- The "Vibe" Factor: Okay, fine. It’s for the vibe. The Hummer EV is a statement piece. It’s the "look at me" vehicle of the 2020s. Using CrabWalk is the ultimate "look at me" move.
Actionable Insights for Future EV Buyers
If you’re looking at the Hummer EV specifically because of that Hummer crab walk video, keep a few things in mind before dropping six figures.
- Check the clearance: The CrabWalk requires a lot of room in the wheel wells. If you plan on putting bigger aftermarket tires on, you might lose the ability to use the full 10-degree sweep of the rear wheels.
- Test the turning radius: Don't just focus on the diagonal move. Try the "opposite phase" steering (where rear wheels turn opposite to the front). It makes the truck feel half its size.
- Software Updates: GMC frequently pushes "Over-The-Air" (OTA) updates. The logic for how the CrabWalk engages has actually been refined since the first 2022 models hit the road. If you're buying used, make sure the software is current.
The Hummer EV is a polarizing machine. Some see it as the pinnacle of American excess—now with batteries! Others see it as a legitimate engineering marvel. Regardless of where you stand, that video of it sliding sideways isn't a trick of the camera. It’s a glimpse into how software-defined vehicles are changing the way we move, one weird, diagonal step at a time.
To truly master the vehicle, owners should practice engaging the mode in an empty parking lot first. The sensation of moving without rotating is genuinely disorienting for the first few minutes. Once you get the hang of it, you'll realize it's less about being a crab and more about having a level of maneuverability that shouldn't be possible for something this big.
Keep an eye on the tire wear, though. Frequent use of heavy steering maneuvers on high-grip pavement will chew through those expensive 35-inch Goodyear Wranglers faster than you can say "Ultium battery." If you want to keep that CrabWalk smooth, keep your tires rotated and your sensors calibrated. That’s the real secret to keeping the viral dream alive.