VIDEO: Ford spins F-150 at six Gs... for real
You were watching the Super Bowl yesterday, right? If for no other reason than to see the commercials, of course. Ford ran an ad that demonstrated the "Built Ford Tough" ethos by hooking up an F-150 pickup to a centrifuge by its front tow hooks and spinning it around in a circle like your favorite uncle used to do when you were a kid. When we saw the ad last night, we instantly wondered if Ford really did it or the power of computer graphics was at play. As it turns out, the automaker employed no camera tricks, no computer enhancements, and just used a giant centrifuge that spun the truck at six Gs. At those forces, the hooks, which Ford points out are looped instead of hooked, were subjected to the equivalent of six times the vehicle's weight as it swung around at over 60 mph.
If you missed it, or just want to see the hoonage again, we've got the video for you after the jump, and if you follow this link, Ford's got a "Behind the Scenes" video of how the commercial was made. Just don't try this at home... with your giant centrifuge.
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Seminole 5:33PM (2/04/2008)
That's actually really impressive
Reply
Seoultrain 5:35PM (2/04/2008)
I would've put a Tundra on the other side and sped it up until one gave away.
Reply
cowboy bob 5:42PM (2/04/2008)
Yea, I wonder if they DID do a toyota. It would have been stupendous to see the Toy fly apart, IF it did.
John 5:36PM (2/04/2008)
Hard to figure out what's real and fake anymore in our world of CGI.
Reply
Tourian 5:47PM (2/04/2008)
I just assumed they did it for real and never thought at all it was a fake. All they are really saying is that the hooks are strong, it doesn't really impress me much about the durability of the rest of the truck - not saying that it isn't.
GM786 5:46PM (2/04/2008)
So fake!!!!
Reply
Derek 6:00PM (2/04/2008)
Wow, somebody didn't read the article. Or watch the videos in the link...
Polly Prissy Pants 5:45PM (2/04/2008)
I don't mean to sound flip, but why is it impressive? I saw the commercial and it was cool and all but I didn't get why having a 30k lb hook on the front was a big deal. And it very well may be, it was just lost on me. Seeing the truck spin around was entertaining though.
Reply
John 6:40PM (2/04/2008)
Try this.
Ford is trying to demonstrate that they are focusing on ALL THE DETAILS in the F150. Here is an example of one detail (the tow hook) that dramatically demonstrates it's strength, and you should think that other less obvious details are similarly engineered.
If your preference is to be a cinic, then I'm sure this won't work for you.
BAMF 2:27AM (2/05/2008)
Its not that impressive. The tow hooks are welded to the frame. Same on every other truck. laaaaame
JGN 5:48PM (2/04/2008)
Reminded of the Tundra advertisements so much I thought it was one at first.
Reply
chuck 7:48PM (2/04/2008)
@JGN
Ironically, Toyota copied Ford's commerial style that they used when the 2004 F-150 launched. So Ford is just continuing in the style they started back in 2003. Remember: Mud", "Frame", "Neil's Road", "Water"?
You can see them here:
http://media.ford.com/products/press_article_display.cfm?article_id=16212&vehicle_id=857&mak
3seriesisking 5:49PM (2/04/2008)
Maybe you didn't read the post.
"As it turns out, the automaker employed no camera tricks, no computer enhancements, and just used a giant centrifuge that spun the truck at six Gs."-Autoblog.
Reply
Thedevil 5:49PM (2/04/2008)
luckily the f-150 did'nt burn off leaving the hook spinning in the air.
Reply
Jimbo 5:50PM (2/04/2008)
It's cool that it seems to be real, but it would be more impressive to see if other trucks could hold up (which I suspect they can). If Ford is the only one that can handle it, then way to go.
The other thing I'm wondering about is where is the counter-weight on that thing. Without one, it should be vibrating like mad.
Reply
Derek 5:59PM (2/04/2008)
The FX4 Supercab (as shown in the behind the scenes) is listed at 5383# curb weight on MSN autos. Multiply by six G's and divide by two hooks gives a load of 16149# each. So, say they're rated over 8 tons load? Not bad.
Of course, a single 3/4" grade 8 bolt can support over 21 tons without yielding, so they could have easily attached the chains to the centrifuge with just one bolt.
The second and third videos on the link are far more impressive.
Reply
Brian 5:59PM (2/04/2008)
Looked to me like the footage was sped up. That centrifuge was going too fast to be pulling only 6g's. USAF pilots have to be rated for 9 G's - plenty of online footage of military CF's holding 9 g's and not moving that fast.
Reply
hynek 6:01PM (2/04/2008)
that looks very impressive...
But how about designing a FREAKING FUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL!!!
maybe that's to much for FORD engineers
KEEP YOUR STUPID HOOKS!!!
Reply
porcupine 7:30PM (2/04/2008)
why should i care?
Reply
PJ 6:14PM (2/04/2008)
The spirit of P.T. Barnum lives!
Reply