In order to ensure that their new F-Series Super Duty lives up to its 'Built Ford Tough' reputation, engineers went and attached a dynamometer sled capable of really challenging the truck and even testing its mountain climbing limits.To simulate steep grades, the dyno sled uses a brake limiter (a series of electric coils acting like a large magnet) to provide pull against the vehicle, therefor managing to mimic the effects of gravity while driving up an incline.The new dyno has a maximum drawbar pull of 5,620 pounds (2,549 kg), which is a 181% increase over the previous dyno model used by Ford. Now, the F-Series can get its workout done at the Arizona Proving Grounds with a simulated grade of up to 30%."The new Super Duty is really impressive" said Jim Sumner, Ford product development engineer. "In more than 25 years of doing this work, we used the same dyno, which did the job, but the new truck is so powerful we needed new equipment to test out its capability. The fact that even under full load, Super Duty didn’t have any trouble at all is a testament to just how capable this new truck is."
Ford is now able to test their all-new Super Duty in places like Davis Dam and Townes Pass - without even leaving the proving grounds.
"Any test engineer in North America knows about Davis Dam," said 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."
Being able to perform these tests without having to travel to a particular location can expedite testing and help Ford engineers be more efficient in their work.
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