Ford to produce aluminum F150

[Big-Foot]

Ford to produce Aluminum bodied F150

In an effort to shave weight to increase fuel economy, Ford is looking to reduce the F150 by 700#

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

Not sure how the aluminum will hold up in a rough service l ife, but probably better than the super-thin steel they have been using. *I'd rather see aluminum than plastic or FRP for these trucks.

[Cobra Cory]

Can't wait to see how much body work will cost ya.....

[ClemsonS197]

I think people are making a bigger deal out of this than they should. When you get in a wreck now, they almost always replace the panels. This would be the same, only it's alum instead of steel. IIRC, Ford wants to cut at least 500 pounds out of every vehicle. It's a good strategy. And at least aluminum can be worked on. Other manufacturers are looking at carbon fiber.

[Hoosier]

Originally Posted by Cobra Cory

Can't wait to see how much body work will cost ya.....

No doubt!

It will be $4000 for a single fender painted and installed...

[SPeace-ATL]

I guess Ford has been heading this way for a while... My 99 F-150 has an aluminum hood!

[Arrowhead]

The Lincoln Mark VIII's of the 90's had fiberglass hoods. My son's '02 Subaru WRX has an aluminum hood. As fas that car, the aluminum is very thin and almost every WRX you see has dents on it where people have pushed down to close the hood.

[J Persons]

I discovered the other day that on my '06 F 150 the sides of the bed are plastic or fiberglass. The inside portion of the bed is steel but the outside isn't. I don't know if this was a weight saving feature or what?

[expat]

Originally Posted by ClemsonS197

Ford wants to cut at least 500 pounds out of every vehicle.

they could do that by selling the F150 to slimmer guys

[Rich A]

700# is a lot to reduce, even using aluminum.

90% of the weight is going to be exterior, since everything interior is mostly plastic.

10% of the weight is going to be by getting rid of the spare tire, tools and hardware and going with the Tire Inflator Kit (fix a flat).

Maybe they will eventually go to a unibody style platform.

[SP3]

Welcome to 1948. Land Rover Series I.

[Big-Foot]

Oh unibody would definately end Ford's reign with the F150 being the best selling truck in America...

[Mark Reynolds]

And go back to a reasonable tire/wheel package.

Only problem is hardly anybody would buy one.

[DanGurneyForPresident]

Only interested if the panels are hand hammered over tree stumps by women in bikinis.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Cobra Cory

Can't wait to see how much body work will cost ya.....

Not more than 2-3% more than it does now.


Bill S.

[mydream]

Originally Posted by Rich A

Maybe they will eventually go to a unibody style platform.

A little bird also told me that...

[TD]

Originally Posted by Rich A

Maybe they will eventually go to a unibody style platform.

They been there done that.

[Rich A]

TD,

I'm talking about a unibody like how the majority of the cars are produced today (no body on frame).

Here's an article about the 1961-63 Ford F-1xx trucks, and why they called it a unibody. Read the 4th paragraph.

Looking Back: 1961-63 Ford F-100 "Unibody" Pickups - PickupTrucks.com News

Just read the attached article about the 1960 Ford Ranchero getting 30 mpg. WTF

[ETriggs]

Originally Posted by DanGurneyForPresident

Only interested if the panels are hand hammered over tree stumps by women in bikinis.

This comment just won the internet.


Maybe they could offer an aluminum and steel versions of the truck? Aluminum for those of us who drive them more like cars and steel versions for work/industry.