Ford Trucks Tackle Truck Trend Tough Towing Challenge
These trucks tow to their very limits, yet emerge totally unscathed.
1. Diesel Power Challenge - Trailer-Tow Obstacle Course
This year marked the 20th anniversary of Truck Trend's awesome Diesel Power Challenge, and as always, it sure didn't disappoint. This year's DPC pitted a hand selected group of modified diesel trucks against each other across five days of grueling events. Those events included a sled pull, dyno test, 1/8th mile trailer tow drag race, regular drag race, fuel economy tests, driveability review, and a trailer-tow obstacle course.
2. Trailer-Tow Obstacle Course
The cool thing about events like the trailer-tow obstacle course is that they don't just challenge the trucks - they challenge the drivers as well. This ensures that dudes who just spend lots of money to upgrade their trucks, but never drive them, can't come in and win every year. The event requires participants to hitch up a 10,000 pound trailer, loaded with a Bobcat, and navigate through a complex series of cones. In some spots, drivers must back the trailer up in a straight line between a narrowing body of cones. The last part of the challenge requires drivers to back the truck and trailer back into the starting gate.
3. What is the DPC?
The Diesel Power Challenge event was designed by Truck Trend editor Jason Gonderman and racing/towing expert Brandon Wright. Wright got to demonstrate what was expected in a brand new, 2017 F-350, so we'd say he's a pretty lucky guy. The course was set up in a parking lot at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado, and of course, it had to rain a little just to make interesting.
4. The Challenge
Aside from the challenges inherent with an engine towing at 5,000 feet above sea level, there are plenty of other bumps along the road to victory in the trailer-tow challenge. Points are deducted for every cone that's run over, and several of the drivers hit at least one along the way. A strategically placed "stop box" also made things a little more challenging, requiring drivers to stop quickly and accurately in a particular spot, designed specifically to increase the difficulty.
5. Serious Skill
Despite the many challenges in their path, most of the drivers performed admirably. It's pretty cool to watch them fly through the cones at a decent clip, in many sections with only a few inches between trailer and cone. You can (and should) watch the highlight video here, which might just inspire you to enter next year's competition, or at the very least practice your trailer maneuvers. And you should enter, because you can never have enough Ford trucks at events like this.
For help with service of your truck, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com