For those considering the new aluminum F-150

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, you know, and I know, that anytime something is new or slightly different, people tend to charge more for working on them. As for repairing steel or aluminum, very few body parts are repaired. Most are replaced. That front fender that got smashed on your 1936 Ford was hammered out; The same thing on your 1996 Ford was replaced. Quarter panels are replaced more than repaired. How many hoods have you seen straightened out? Little thumb dents, different story. People will tend to discount or bad mouth Ford's Ecoboost engines and the aluminum bodies until their favorite brand starts doing the same thing. Then it will be a great idea! GM already has been playing with twin turbo 3.6 L V-6's.


Note: body repairs on Airstreams are outrages. Might be cheaper if the body panels were stamped out and were direct replacements. Every panel has to be custom made or made to fit.

[flaagan]

And this is while I like the 'first gen' Avalanches. That plastic cladding everyone seemed to love to hate on is flippin awesome for shrugging off damage.

[ALANSD]

Originally Posted by 50KIP

For What It's Worth: This "ding" in my aluminum Airstream cost $11,000 to repair Attachment 231964

The word ripoff comes to mind

[tjdonahoe]

Instead of rusting out , it will probably corrode away especially in high salt areas.....

[Howard L.]

I think an Aluminum TV is a great idea for us Airstream owners. We are all well versed with Filiform Corrosion. Just another couple cans of Corrosion X and we've got everything covered.

[scamp]

Originally Posted by Howard L.

I think an Aluminum TV is a great idea for us Airstream owners. We are all well versed with Filiform Corrosion. Just another couple cans of Corrosion X and we've got everything covered.

If the new fords corrode like airstreams I ain't bying one!

[KJRitchie]

Just don't drive it near the ocean or where they salt the roads.

[carl2591]

Originally Posted by Howard L.

I think an Aluminum TV is a great idea for us Airstream owners. We are all well versed with Filiform Corrosion. Just another couple cans of Corrosion X and we've got everything covered.

I doubt you will EVER see a corroded out ford f-150 in the next 50 yrs. The alum is military grade, not airstream grade.

you guys are getting ridiculous with this alum body stuff.. The truck or a prototype of the truck ran the baja 1000 with the same alum parts used on the production model you see today.. of the 300 trucks that started only half made it to the end.. one of them was the F-150, then it was driven back to dearborn mich.

Ford’s Epic Gamble: The inside story - Fortune

give it a read..

[carl2591]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

I rather like stainless......




Bob

early DeLorean ?? bet they did not do a "gold plated" version of the '36 like American Express and DMC did in 1980's. Three were sold, two are in museums and one is still around some where.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

I rather like stainless......




Bob

Hi, only Bob could afford to buy one of these. Not this Bob, but the one on the other side where it snows a lot.

[tjdonahoe]

On a warm summer night you will be able to hear your alumium ford corrode away.....

[NavyCorpsman]

Question. Did Ford think or was there a need for a sacrificial anode? The body and bed would be protected with the bushings, but the owner that is not up to speed on the effects of Galvanism could / would be in for a rude lesson if they install something without full consideration. A non-issue?

[KJRitchie]

The sad part of the 2015 F150 is the expected payload increases haven't materialized except for the high end trims like Platinums. 2014 models had as high as 7700lb GVWR before you needed to order the HD Payload Pkg (8200lbs). For 2015 the highest GVWR is 7050 before you go to HD Payload pkg (7600 GVWR with 17", 7800lbs with 18").

I was hoping payload close to 2000lbs without having to special order one with HD Payload since you can never find one on a dealer lot. If you find a left over 2014 with your payload requirements might as well buy it at closeout prices vs a 2015.

Loosing interest fast.

Kelvin

[r carl]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

The sad part of the 2015 F150 is the expected payload increases haven't materialized except for the high end trims like Platinums. 2014 models had as high as 7700lb GVWR before you needed to order the HD Payload Pkg (8200lbs). For 2015 the highest GVWR is 7050 before you go to HD Payload pkg (7600 GVWR with 17", 7800lbs with 18").

I was hoping payload close to 2000lbs without having to special order one with HD Payload since you can never find one on a dealer lot. If you find a left over 2014 with your payload requirements might as well buy it at closeout prices vs a 2015.

Loosing interest fast.

Kelvin

Why don't you just get a f250 and have some reserve capacity?

[KJRitchie]

Don't really like the Ford 6.2L or Chevy 6.0L engines compared to my Tundra 5.7L. The gas engine in a F250 is having to deal with over 1000lbs of truck vs the F150 before you even attach the Airstream. I'm not sure I want to mess with diesel. I've also read some say insurance is higher on a 3/4T truck but haven't verified that myself.

I went to look at a gas 2015 F250 but discovered because of the snow plow pkg the truck body looked lifted compared to the diesel models. I'm looking at XLT models and navigation isn't available on the F250 XLT according to the build site while it is for the F150 XLT even with HD Payload.

I wonder what the F150 ride quality is like with HD Payload? With the extended wheel base 157" is it comfortable? Can't test drive one with HD Payload because dealers never carry them.

Kelvin

[kscherzi]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

The sad part of the 2015 F150 is the expected payload increases haven't materialized except for the high end trims like Platinums. 2014 models had as high as 7700lb GVWR before you needed to order the HD Payload Pkg (8200lbs). For 2015 the highest GVWR is 7050 before you go to HD Payload pkg (7600 GVWR with 17", 7800lbs with 18").

I was hoping payload close to 2000lbs without having to special order one with HD Payload since you can never find one on a dealer lot. If you find a left over 2014 with your payload requirements might as well buy it at closeout prices vs a 2015.

Loosing interest fast.

Kelvin

I wonder if Ford is using lighter running gear in the 2015s or just de-rating the truck's capacity to avoid overlap with the f250's.

[jcl]

I would hope they are using lighter running gear. That is the advantage of making the truck lighter, you get to make the rest of it lighter as well so the weight reduction benefits are multiplied

I don't think they went to the trouble of using aluminum for payload. It was all for fuel efficiency.

Kelvin, if you don't want HD payload, I see from the payload calculator that they list up to 2290 lbs payload on a supercab, and 2230 on a crewcab. Deduct options from that.

Personally, I would order what I wanted. I have special ordered our last four vehicles, and much prefer to have exactly what I want and not unnecessary options that add weight and cost, in addition to being something else to fail. Tell your dealer that you want to test drive one first, and let them worry about finding one.

Jeff

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

I wonder if Ford is using lighter running gear in the 2015s or just de-rating the truck's capacity to avoid overlap with the f250's.

We can deduce that they have lightened more than just the body. I ran base curb weights, some time ago, between Ford, GM, and Ram. I used a regular cab, long bed work truck configuration from each (2014 models) as they are the least likely to have weight differences due to options and trim levels.

GM and Ram were within 50 pounds of each other and 350 pound lighter than F150.

Ford claims new 2015 F150 is 700 pounds lighter than the old one. That gives Ford a 350 pound lighter 2015 truck than Ram or GM. There have been all sorts of numbers thrown around on the internet on what the aluminum saved Ford, but they all seem to be significantly south of 700 pounds (like half that)....so the other "several hundred pounds" came from somewhere?????

Ford has always (until now) had unnecessarily heavy ironwork, IMO.

Ram and GM had been on slow steady diets for years, and Ford went on a "crash" diet.

[pappy19]

Here a good snow test for the 2015 F-150 with the small Ecoboost engine and 4x4.

Watch the 2015 Ford F-150 Bash Through a Colorado Snowstorm [Video] - TFLTruck.com: Truck News, Views & Reviews | The Fast Lane TruckTFLTruck.com: Truck News, Views & Reviews | The Fast Lane Truck

[KJRitchie]

Originally Posted by jcl

Kelvin, if you don't want HD payload, I see from the payload calculator that they list up to 2290 lbs payload on a supercab, and 2230 on a crewcab. Deduct options from that.

Jeff

Once you start adding trim options the payload goes down. The trouble is Ford has reduced the GVWR (max is 7050 vs 2014 7700lb) on the 2015s so an 2015 XLT SC 157"wb still has only about 1600 to 1700lbs just like the 2014s. Lariats have less. My conclusion is if you still desire or need 2000lb payload on a 2015 you still have to order with the HD Payload.

Looking at 2015 F150 vs 250 the prices are similar. I've found several examples of 2015 F250 with 6.7L diesel SC 4x4 with XLT for the same price as a non HD Payload 2015 XLT F150 (mid $40k) and several XLTs with the 6.2L gas at under $40k.

I've also read Ford recommends premium when towing on a 3.5L EB. The price difference between diesel and premium is within 20 cents now. EB don't seem to be getting great towing MPG because they are in boost. Very similar to the 6.2L towing mpg towing AS.

To get the most payload on an F150 SC you have to get the 157" wb which is the same length as a F250 SC SWB. With the F250 there is no concern with payload towing an Airstream.

If someone doesn't want a diesel then a F150 with HD Payload might still be the better option vs the F250 6.2L.

Kelvin