Testing

When it comes to trucks and other rugged vehicles, it’s important to test that they can handle the strain and stress of driving over steep hills and mountains, especially under load. But it’s not always practical for automakers to head out the mountains to conduct the volume of tests they must perform.

When Ford first introduced its F-150 Raptor truck, it was clear that this wasn’t just a truck aimed at rock crawling or mudding. Thanks to its power, the Raptor can offer impressive performance just about anywhere – even in the loose sand of the desert.

One of the best field trips I ever went on in grade school was to a local factory where they make Trane heating and cooling systems. The highlight of that tour was a small room in the testing wing where they could simulate any weather from a hurricane to a blizzard to be sure their air conditioning hardware was up to the job.