To win, weight is still the most important factor.
The capabilities of different cars can’t be revealed by a tug-of-war. A new Carwow video highlights that they are still fun to watch. The channel had quite the mix of competitors: a Suzuki Jimny and a Ford Ranger. It also featured a 1965 Massey-Ferguson tractor. It’s quite a trio.
Although the Suzuki is not a powerhouse, it does not need to be in this competition. The compact SUV is a small, lightweight unit that packs a 1.5-liter four cylinder engine. It produces 101 horsepower (75 kilowatts), and 95 pound-feet (135 Newton-meters). The vehicle has four-wheel drive, a low-range mode and no locking differentials. It weighs in at 2,425 pounds (1.100 kg).
It is powered by a Perkins 2.5-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 45 horsepower (34 kW) and only the rear wheels. The tractor weighs in at 3,306 pounds (1,500 kg) more than the Jimny. These competitions are often won by the heavier vehicle, but the Jimny drives all four wheels instead of the tractor’s.
The Suzuki doesn’t have enough wheels to overcome the laws physics. The tractor won the first bout when the Suzuki stalled. Although the SUV didn’t stall again in the second tug-of war, it was unable to overcome the tractor and lost the second round. It was likely that the tractor’s knobby tread helped it traction on wet and muddy terrain.
The Ford Ranger is then compared against the tractor. It uses a 2.0-liter diesel engine, four-wheel drive and a locking rear differential. The truck is heavier than the tractor and produces 170 horsepower (126 kW). The Ranger fails to stall in the first round, but the Ranger pulls the tractor well in the second round.
In the final contest, the Ranger was up against the Jimny and tractor. The Ranger is more powerful than the others, but it was not enough to win the final competition. The Suzuki and tractor pulled the Ranger easily. The Ford is 4,448 lbs (2.018 kg). This tug-of-war competition shows how weight matters.