Aluminum F150? WHOA!

[gmw photos]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Ford has specifically stated that they've increased the use of "high strength steel" in the all-steel frame. All the aluminum is going into the body, not the frame, and towing capacities are said to increase.

And further, the way I read it, the basic structure of the cab is still steel. Aluminium will be used for door skins, hood, fenders and bed.

I will be curious to see how well these panels hold up to hail storms. The hood on my Frontier got damaged in a hail storm a couple years ago, and it's steel. It's apparently thinner steel though, compared to the fenders and roof, because those other panels came thru the storm ok.

[JFScheck]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Ford has specifically stated that they've increased the use of "high strength steel" in the all-steel frame. All the aluminum is going into the body, not the frame, and towing capacities are said to increase.

Sounds like the "frame remains the same" (queue Zeppelin reference) with stiffness not being sacrificed in this new design, this truck being able to tow trailers at least as well as the current models.

Kinda sounds like a winner to me but again, all speculative for now but exciting for sure!!!

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, don't under-estimate the strength of an aluminum body.

True story: I was once a Mac Tools distributor. [eight years] My truck was a GM P-30 with an all aluminum Grumman Olson body. One day while I was eating lunch, some lady ran into my parked truck. There was some rear bumper damage [also aluminum] and the left rear quarter panel area had a huge bend in it. The damaged area was a triangle of about 18"s of flat aluminum panel. It was sort of curled out ward. I took it to a few body shops to see if they could repair the bent aluminum panel. I was asked by the body repair man if it was hardened aluminum or not. I had no idea, as I have never heard of hardened aluminum before. The body repair man walked out to my truck with a long handle, ten pound sledge hammer. He swung the sledge hammer at the bent aluminum panel in a direction that would bend it back towards where it originated. The aluminum didn't budge and the hammer came back and almost hit him. The bent piece of panel was cut off, heated, pressed back into a flat panel on a huge hydraulic shop press, welded where it cracked during the straightening process and finally welded back onto my truck. The car that hit my truck had the whole right side ripped off.

[Rust]

Funny thing is people do under estimate the strength of aluminum, also people don't know how long Ford has worked on this plus do you not think GM and Chrysler are not going the same way.
Steel companies are always trying to come up with lighter steels to compete with Aluminum.
Check out a frame from 10 years ago to a frame made today and see which is stronger and lighter.
The technologies in heat treated steels and hydro formed frame rails has come a long way in the last 15 years.
And if a panel get's damaged then do like I did on my air stream get it fixed and move on.
And yes I do see the fiber carbons being the next ones on the market.
Not to mention Aluminum will have different treatments done to prevent corrosion.

This new truck is a sweet looking truck and just in time for me to replace mine.

[DKB_SATX]

On the intro to his show tonight, Stephen Colbert mentioned that "the new Ford F150 is 93% aluminum." He didn't point out that the percentage just relates to body panels, but I thought it was a funny non sequitur for his show.

[Skater]

Apparently they're looking for people to test them. I'd like to submit an application.

"I would like to take the F-150, hook up our 30' Airstream, and tow it to Cumberland, Maryland for a weekend. When we did this last year, our 2006 F-250 6.0L diesel blew out much of its coolant on Sideling Hill. Let's see how the F-150 handles it."

Too bitter?

[lsbrodsky]

Seems un-American to not offer a V-8 in a full-size pickup truck....
Larry

[HeadWest]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

Seems un-American to not offer a V-8 in a full-size pickup truck....
Larry

They do. The 5 liter is still available, just not the 6.2.

[kscherzi]

" No specific tow rating or payload figures have been released, but Ford has revealed a few things.

All maximum tow ratings and payloads will rise from last year because of the reduction in vehicle weight. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 was rated at 11,300 pounds last year.
The new 2.7-liter EcoBoost will be good for about 8,000 pounds of towing capacity, a useful figure that plugs a hole between the entry-level V6 and the 5.0-liter V8. Last year these were able to tow roughly 6,000 and 10,000 pounds, respectively.
All 2015 F-150 tow ratings will be certified to the new SAE J2807 standardized tow rating procedure. The Big Three have previously been reluctant to adopt this standard because it would result in a loss of about 300 pounds of capacity and no one wanted to blink first. This time Ford is confident it has made enough gains to overcome this and still maintain or extend its advantage over the competition."

The increased payload will make the truck a viable alternative to the F-250.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Airstream Forums mobile app

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

" No specific tow rating or payload figures have been released, but Ford has revealed a few things.

All maximum tow ratings and payloads will rise from last year because of the reduction in vehicle weight. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 was rated at 11,300 pounds last year.
The new 2.7-liter EcoBoost will be good for about 8,000 pounds of towing capacity, a useful figure that plugs a hole between the entry-level V6 and the 5.0-liter V8. Last year these were able to tow roughly 6,000 and 10,000 pounds, respectively.
All 2015 F-150 tow ratings will be certified to the new SAE J2807 standardized tow rating procedure. The Big Three have previously been reluctant to adopt this standard because it would result in a loss of about 300 pounds of capacity and no one wanted to blink first. This time Ford is confident it has made enough gains to overcome this and still maintain or extend its advantage over the competition."

The increased payload will make the truck a viable alternative to the F-250.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Airstream Forums mobile app

From what credible source did you hear that Ford will move to J2807 with their introduction of the new F150? Our intel says otherwise...but there could be some "hoodwinking" going on.......

Help me out here, please reference your source, please.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

From what credible source did you hear that Ford will move to J2807 with their introduction of the new F150? Our intel says otherwise...but there could be some "hoodwinking" going on.......

Help me out here, please reference your source, please.

He's quoting the Edmund's article to which I linked in a post yesterday.

I missed the J2807 reference when I first read the Edmund's article Sunday night, I think that's great. I expected Toyota's adoption to drive the change faster, but GM and RAM released new trucks without mentioning the test... If Ford can exceed their competition's marketing numbers with J2807 numbers, it may finally push the others to play ball.

[dznf0g]

Thanks, The author doesn't cite a source per say. Interesting though, since there was some gentlemen's agreements sort of in place to accept all at the same time....but, like I said, hoodwinking does occur. I'll pass on and I guess we'll see how it pans out.

[Jim Clark]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

My 1967 MBG-GT had an aluminum hood... got replaced with steel after it the latch failed and it wrapped back over the top of the car.

Aaron

My 58 MGA has aluminum Hood/Bonnet, doors, trunk. My TR3 and TR6 all steel. I don't know about the older models. I will be ready for a new truck in a couple of years, go Ford.

[mojo]

More info...
Ford Just Unveiled It’s New F-150 Truck and It’s Being Called ‘Radical’ | Video | TheBlaze.com

[graysailor]

Ford is having problems with the Aluminum and are hoping to have matters worked out in time for the 2015 model year. They are working with Alcoa. Should be a great weight saver which will contribute to increased fuel milage. Aluminum is also easier to shape into the panels that they will be using. Should be no structural difference but I am hoping that they stick to steel for the frame.

[WineStream]

You guys got me all excited... I'll be at the auto show in Detroit for the next two days. I'm going to have to hang out by this truck for a while and check it out.

-sent from the Airforums mobile app

[samyjam14]

I saw this thread and had to laugh!

We drive a 99 jeep grand Cherokee and a 2003 minivan, no TV yet. We just got our '72 sovereign in late September with plans to have it parked for a couple of years until we are ready to buy a proper TV (cash)
Today, DH walks in the door after work and asks 'will we have cash to buy a truck in 2015?'
You guessed it! He wants this F150!

We better start saving! :-)

I'm afraid of showing him this thread!
:-)

[switz]

Aluminum is expensive to make, work with, and repair, so the real world operational costs and associated prices may change the tune in the crowd of potential buyers.

Those with the newer 8,000+ pound 30' and 31' Airstream trailers may find these enhanced hypothetical payloads are still inadequate.

Someday, I hope sooner than later, our Classic model 30 will cross the scales as it's last official Airstream factory activity and I will be interested to see how the real number (without propane in the tanks) compares to the 7,365 pounds in the literature.

[TinShack]

It's a nice looking truck. Just saw this broadcast on the NBC Nightly News...
Aluminum Ford F-150: Is it Ford Tough? - Video on NBCNews.com

[Andrew T]

I just posted here a little information about my experience with an aluminum tow vehicle. I think it is a great move for the pick up. Worried a little about what it will do to the price of Aluminum.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...ml#post1403696