Ford has highlighted its latest dynamometer sleds that help engineers test Super Duty towing limits without traveling to any actual mountains.
The company's existing dyno sleds provided a drawbar pull of 2,000 pounds via a series of electric coils that provide magnetic resistance. A ton to the tongue apparently proved insufficient for testing the latest Super Dutytrucks, so Ford has obtained a new system that can put create a 5,620-pound pull.
The sled is programmed to simulate real mountain climbs, such as Davis Dam and Townes Pass, or theoretical grades up to 30 percent. The Davis Dam run is used for the Society of Automotive Engineers' J2807 standards for determining Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR).
"Any test engineer in North America knows about Davis Dam," said Ford development engineer Jim Sumner. "It's a demanding hill going from sea level to more than 3,000 feet in 11.2 miles, and is an ideal location to test towing capability. With this dyno, we can test the all-new Super Duty on that hill - but from right here on the level surface of our Arizona Proving Grounds."
Ford can quickly validate vehicle configurations or test design changes without driving all the way to Bullhead City, Arizona. The real climb is approximately an hour drive from the company's flatlands test site.
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