News, Would you buy a Aluminum Pick-up Truck? (F150, auto, pickup truck)

[John1960]

I wouldn't buy a F-150 Aluminum pick-up because of cost.


News, Ford's Trade-In: Truck to Use Aluminum in Place of Steel



ALLEN PARK, Mich.—In this suburb just west of Detroit, Ford Motor Co. is working on one of the biggest gambles in its 108-year history: a pickup truck with a largely aluminum body.

The radical redesign will help meet tougher federal fuel-economy targets now starting to have wide-ranging effects on Detroit's auto makers. But Ford will have to overcome a host of manufacturing obstacles, plus convince die-hard pickup buyers that aluminum is as tough as steel.

Ford Plans New F-150 Pickup Truck With Aluminum Body - WSJ.com

[JayJay718]

Heck No

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Considering they are looking at something close to a 700lbs decrease in weight I'd say it's a good idea if properly executed (proper alloy, etc). This being Ford's top seller I'd be greatly surprised if they didn't take the time to do it right.

I've seen plenty of examples of F150's and F350's retrofitted with aluminum beds/boxes and they handle heavy loads just fine and will survive salt/sand just as well when properly maintained.

Here's a quote: "I used an aluminum utility box as my daily driver for eight years, and on an intermittant basis for another four years. The frame was steel, boxes were aluminum. Bed was built to float, only bolted in the back. This was on an F350, normal load was something on the order of 14,000 pounds, this truck jumped corn furrows, ran in the roughest dryland farmground, even slid down a couple levees, there isn't a hint of a crack in the boxes. No hint of corrosion, either, used a rubberized undercoating between any aluminum and steel, SS bolts holding everything together, plus rinsed it anytime I came down off the mountains."

[ferretkona]

My Ford truck has a fiberglass bed (inside and out) and the hood is shaped of aluminum. All stock.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

My Ford truck has a fiberglass bed (inside and out) and the hood is shaped of aluminum. All stock.

The bed on mine is steel but the hood is aluminum. 2003 F-150.

[High_Plains_Retired]

As long as the engine block and pistons aren't made of plastic, yes I would. I just wouldn't give as much for it.

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

As long as the engine block and pistons aren't made of plastic, yes I would. I just wouldn't give as much for it.

I don't think we'll see plastic engine blocks and pistons but plastic intake manifolds have been used on domestic and import makes for a long time.

[kazyn]

Originally Posted by South Jamaica,Queens boy

Heck No

Why not?

[Tourian]

Aluminum body panels yes, frame no. I think they are studying it, but we are still a decade away from that. The truck would be too expensive and too hard to repair.

[GTOlover]

why not just go all out Aluminum and Carbon Fiber for body parts