Aluminum Body

[Ruger]

I fully agree. I'm doing my dissertation work on friction stir welding at the NASA Michoud Facility....although I agree in an ideal world aluminum would be better than steel or in a controlled environment (no risk of accident), in this world with idiotic drivers, texting, etc. I'd stick with steel & maybe incorporate some aluminum panels in areas less critical during impact to save some weight. Use some AlLi 2195.

Yup, I agree with you. Aluminum alloy roof, for example, but the pillars need to be steel. Wouldn't use alloy as a bed liner because it wouldn't stand up to real abuse, heavy loads, etc. Alloy in the floor panels might be okay. But I just wouldn't go with an all alloy body.

My wife got rear-ended twice in a 5-day period and we had no body damage. Why? Because I had installed a STEEL bumper guard on her car, and believe it or not the bumper guard was not damaged. The mounting brackets were bent, though. I took them off, pounded them out, and remounted the whole shooting match. No damage was evident except scuff marks in the powder coat. You can't do that with aluminum alloy. It's just the facts of the metallurgy.

So when Ford goes to a body material that costs twice as much as steel, weighs a third of what steel weighs, and will cause body repairs and therefore insurance to go up, I get real grateful for my all-steel Raptor.

 

[Vash]

Further evidence to support the argument against buying the first model year of anything.

...and once again confirming SuperCrew > SuperCab > RegularCab

Granted, based on the details from the article it appears that the "design change" could be replicated by simply having an aftermarket bumper. Regardless of the material, the non SuperCrew cab styles will have a hard time matching the SuperCrew roof impact ratings etc. with no B-pillar.

 

[Truckzor]

...and once again confirming SuperCrew > SuperCab > RegularCab

Granted, based on the details from the article it appears that the "design change" could be replicated by simply having an aftermarket bumper. Regardless of the material, the non SuperCrew cab styles will have a hard time matching the SuperCrew roof impact ratings etc. with no B-pillar.

That's actually a very good point about the bumper. Kind of looks like a must have for the aluminum bodied trucks.

 

[SVT_4X4]

High Strength Steel is much more expensive then regular old steel that had been used for years. This is being used more and more in vehicles and not discussed because it is not high profile like the aluminum being talked about with trucks.

 

[Ruger]

High Strength Steel is much more expensive then regular old steel that had been used for years. This is being used more and more in vehicles and not discussed because it is not high profile like the aluminum being talked about with trucks.

Ford hasn't been shy about its use of high strength steel. I read all about it when I was doing research prior to buying my 2011 SCAB.

 

[SVT_4X4]

Ford hasn't been shy about its use of high strength steel. I read all about it when I was doing research prior to buying my 2011 SCAB.

I did not mean that really, but the cost difference of using high strength steel compared to regular. All vehicle manufactures are doing this to go lighter weight.

 

[Craigy]

The consumer benefits from a lighter vehicle, better performance, and better mileage.

The switch to aluminum isn't just to spend more money.

Cars have been made out of aluminum for decades. Some folks would have you believe that Ford's switch is some huge leap in tech or some exotic use of new materials.

 

[fjcoop]

Seen a funny Chevy commercial today about steel vs aluminum.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vIC7Fw1rFF4

 

[ZaneMasterX]

Seen a funny Chevy commercial today about steel vs aluminum.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vIC7Fw1rFF4

Funny thing about this commercial is Chevy has hinted they are moving to aluminum by 2018. Bunch of hypocrites.

 

[fjcoop]

Not surprised.