Original article from Camping Trade World
Tough, durable, long-lasting – these are all words we’d like to have associated with our products. But how many companies in the RV industry have actually proved it? SuperSprings International put their money where their mouth is by testing their SumoSprings products to the limit and beyond.
We all test our products before they are released. Often it is a legal requirement, but it’s also very important for the integrity of your brand and company. You have to ensure that your products will perform for their intended target market, and perhaps even over-perform, depending on your standards. Overperforming is something that innovative suspension provider SuperSprings International (SSI) prides itself on. Not only are their products made in the USA by a team of highly skilled experts, but they have tested them to the extreme.
Heard that before?
Sure, you have, but we’re not sure you will have seen anything like the SuperSprings International torture test. To make sure that the company’s Sumo Springs could offer unrivalled shock absorption, dampening, reduction of sag, body roll and sway drive after drive, they set about creating a test that subjected them to things you would never wish on your worst enemy.
Shake, rattle and roll
So, where do you start when you are essentially trying to destroy one of your products? t turned out that a drill was a good place, according to SSI. They used a power drill to drill holes right through a set of SumoSprings over and over again. Not content with that, they then decided to drive some screws and a screwdriver through them to result in some serious punctures. The micro-cellular polyurethane they are made from is incredibly tough stuff, but it can still be stabbed and drilled. Now with a thirst for destruction, the SSI team went at the SumoSprings with a hunting knife. Making a series of further cuts and punctures.
After that, it was time for some water damage. The springs were thrown into the lake time and time again. Ensuring they had been given the full flooded treatment. So far, so destructive. On the drive back from the lake, the SumoSprings were tied to the back of the truck. Literally dragged along the highway and several gravel roads. If the SumoSprings were a real-life torture victim, their secrets would be spilling out of them by now. But this prisoner was staying tight-lipped. Time to bring out the big guns. And by big gun, we mean flamethrower.
That’s right, Mr. SumoSprings’ next treatment was to be licked by 3,000°F flames.
Despite catching fire and a little cosmetic damage to the finish and color, the springs were still standing tall. This made the SSI team angry, so in retaliation, they crushed the springs under the full weight of the truck by driving over them. Despite having several tonnes of truck parked on its face, the SumoSprings seemed to taunt:
“That all you got?”
It was time to get serious. The SumoSprings were marched out into the woods and were placed in the sights of a hunting rifle. After taking several shots, the springs were then subjected to being blasted with Tannerite.
Sign Up for More Tips, Adventures, and Exclusive Offers
Embark on a better journey with SuperSprings International. Sign up for our newsletter to receive professional tips, product updates, and exclusive offers.
A TRUE REBEL
After the grueling afternoon of punishment that had been inflicted on the SumoSprings, you would think that there wouldn’t be much left to test, but you’d be wrong.
Sure, there were some battle scars, but these smart suspension solutions still seemed ready to fulfill their primary purpose in life: making the journey better.
They were fitted to a Ford truck in the SSI garage. Then they headed out onto the open road to see how they fared. If the SumoSprings weren’t wearing a thin layer of sweat, dirt, and gunpowder, then they would have been none the wiser about what they had been through.
They performed exactly as if they had just come off the production line – a quite remarkable feat. In a comparison test with a new set, the only difference was aesthetic, the two sets mirrored each other’s performance in reducing rear-end sag, decreasing vibration, stabilizing sway and softening harsh rebounds. SSI had proven that the confidence they have in one of their flagship products was well founded and could well be a significant reason why they are proving such a popular add-on to RVs around the world – both with the industry and end users.
And if, by some unbelievable feat of misuse or accident, someone does manage to break their SumoSprings beyond repair, SSI offers a lifetime warranty on the products.
How’s that for peace of mind?
Watch the Torture Test video and see for yourself how the indestructable upgrade fairs.
Use our application guide to see what we have for your vehicle.
