Posted 2013-12-29 6:32 PM (#156476 - in reply to #156468) Subject: RE: FORD TRUCK ALUMINUM BODY
Veteran
Posts: 218
Location: Ohio
Not sure how I feel about that. For a car, no big deal, but for a truck...it needs to stand up to some punishment. Will the aluminum stand up? I guess horse trailers are made of it and they seem to do well. I love Ford trucks and have always driven them. I am going to take a wait and see on this one.
Posted 2013-12-29 6:51 PM (#156477 - in reply to #156468) Subject: RE: FORD TRUCK ALUMINUM BODY
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
I can't believe they waited so long... Early 2000 model F150s, Expeditions and Rangers already have aluminum hoods.... All heavy trucks (F650 and larger) have fiberglass hoods too....
Posted 2014-01-01 2:54 AM (#156560 - in reply to #156468) Subject: RE: FORD TRUCK ALUMINUM BODY
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
I'll be willing to bet the F150 aluminum hood will have instructions on how to close it without denting it...drop it when it's about 8 inches from connecting...:). Chevy Volt's aluminum hood has the same instructions...and the owners that don't follow those instructions now have little dents from where they tried to push the hood closed...
Posted 2014-01-06 10:35 AM (#156702 - in reply to #156468) Subject: RE: FORD TRUCK ALUMINUM BODY
Veteran
Posts: 109
Location: Florida
Aircraft are made from aluminum (not to many think twice when going 500mph at 35,000 ft), so I am sure any vehicle on the road will be just fine.
IMO, they waited so long because aluminum cost more then steel and now the weight savings makes up for the cost (even if the consumer will be paying that extra price in one way or another).
Posted 2014-01-06 3:21 PM (#156714 - in reply to #156468) Subject: RE: FORD TRUCK ALUMINUM BODY
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
With the new mandated CAFE standards, auto makers have to have better fuel mileage in the future. Here's an example of weight reductions and mileage gains: