AT THE NAVISTAR PROVING GROUNDS TESTING THE TRAILER SUMOSPRINGS

Trailer SumoSprings aren’t new in 2021. They’re not even new in 2020. but with demand increasing, we’ve seen aftermarket sales of this product soar to a record of 370% YoY. This is thanks to an effective product, customer testimonials on forums and Facebook groups, and most recently a increased effort on marketing. What we hadn’t done until May of 2021, was obtain objective third-party data to prove once and for all, why these things are the real deal.

The Why

Breaking into the towable RV market can be diffcult, and one thing often requested when meeting with manufacturers is to provide testing data.

It’s important to measure G-force vibration at the smallest levels because that is the largest contributor to RV issues during the first year and beyond.

Understandably, when explaining why trailers need a suspension upgrade, it’s not unreasonable for the manufacturers to want some data to back up the claims. As much as we’ve heard first-hand from the consumer, we also love data, and were more than happy to oblige. With no surprise, Trailer SumoSprings performed in brilliant fashion in New Carlisle, Indiana.

The Test

When we decided to pull the trigger on some testing, we knew we were in for some interesting results. Grand Design RV committed to loaning us a double-axle Momentum Travel Trailer and we secured a 2021 Ford F-250 single-axle Super Duty truck to tow with.

NaviStar Proving Grounds in New Carlisle Indiana is no stranger to rigorous testing. Formerly the Studebaker testing track constructed in the late 1920’s, we were confident in the rich history and expertise of NaviStar and the team that supported our project.

After two days of instrument set up on the trailer, Adam flew to Indiana to oversee the testing, joined by CEO Gerry Lamberti and Creative Director, Tom Bateman.

The tests included a semi-trailer pass by with each vehicle traveling at 60mph, a durability test over cobblestones, dirt road simulations, uneven road conditions, and various other torturous surfaces to evaluate the Trailer SumoSprings under scrutiny. The test was designed to examine the springs on two fronts: first, to see how the trailer would move side-to-side, from tail to top, and what type of sway was present. Secondly, we wanted to see if we could see a reduction in G-force vibration. This one was especially important to us, given the feedback from users praising the springs ability to reduce vibration and what that means for extending the life of the trailer. As Adam noted,

If you took a house, picked it up, and shook it, the whole thing would rattle and loosen. It’s important to measure G-force vibration at the smallest levels because that is the largest contributor to RV issues during the rst year and beyond.

The Results

While we were confident that we would see positive testing results, there’s nothing quite like good news! After working with the talented team at NaviStar and having our Director of Data, Justin Tevis, decipher the results, what we suspected was confirmed in an objective conclusion.

Trailer SumoSprings showed over 100% higher average displacement at every interval. This means that at any given point, the distance between the trailer frame and the factory suspension was on average, double. At one particular point, that displacement was 462% higher which shows a decrease in spike loading and reduction in events that cause lasting damage.

Our proudest result was (drum-roll please...) Trailer SumoSprings reduced G-force in the trailer by an average of 68%. What we were sure was there before, is now confirmed beyond any doubt.