new aluminum bodied F150

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112racing

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Just when you thought you'd figured the fullsize truck market out, Ford goes and throws us a massive curve ball with the 2015 F-150. The big headline news aren't tow or payload ratings, though we're sure those figures will be fully competitive if not class leading, they haven't yet been announced. Instead, the big headline news Ford is highlighting are the truck's new aluminum-intensive structure and 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.

And with good reason – all that aluminum means that Ford was able to cut a massive 700 pounds from the truck's curb weight. That is going to cause all sorts of great things to happen to the 2015 F-150's driving dynamics, performance and fuel efficiency, not to mention its ability to haul heavy loads. For those customers worried about the strength of aluminum versus the more conventional steel, Ford is quick to point out that many military vehicles, such as the HMMWV and Bradley Fighting Vehicle, use a very similar sort of aluminum alloy in their construction.
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http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/13/2015-ford-f-150-detroit-2014/
 
It's going to be interesting watching how the full sized half ton pickup market plays out as the new models come on line. Ford went aluminum for reduced weight, Ram went with a new to pickups (but proven in other applications) diesel from their Italian partners in an unabashed move to have the economy king in the full sized half ton market while still allowing the owner to haul his boat to the marina or his 4 wheelers to the desert or mountains on weekends, and then Nissan confounded the Ram followers (and surprised most of the rest of us) by picking up the option on the 5 liter Cummins V8 diesel that Ram passed on, because Nissan felt that the hole in their line was a truly HD half ton pickup.
 
I wish Ford would put about a 4.5L diesel into a F150. That, plus a different transmission and in the lightweight package. Funny thing is, I wonder if the new aluminum bodied truck is about the same weight as a current GM or Dodge? Both are considerably lighter than the current F150.

Regardless, there's no way I'm affording a $40 to $50k truck!!! I don't care who makes it.
 
My first thought was; who is going to be first to strip the paint off one and shine the aluminum to a mirror finish? ... :)
 
all i can say for that "aluminum to the rust belt" racket is i hope they planned on painting every square inch inside and out! also i hope they put one heck of a chip guard on the bottom of it and mabie even a powder coated paint job for the rest of the body. if they thought rust was the problem, wait till the body starts oxidizing apart! at least with rust i can cut it away and weld on new pieces. i would have to buy a whole new welder to do bodywork when it comes time.

only in my neck of the woods you can throw a cup of hot water in the air and watch it vaporize and 6 monthe later you can fry an egg on the sidewalk!
 
I've read a lot of articles on the alumonum bodied F Series and no where do I recall reading where they thought "rust was the problem". The original post pretty well sums up the reason for their direction.
 
Vintagequest said:
I've read a lot of articles on the alumonum bodied F Series and no where do I recall reading where they thought "rust was the problem". The original post pretty well sums up the reason for their direction.
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if you click on the link, right at the top it says somthing for the rust belt. thats where i got it from
 
Rest assured they (Ford) has scoped out what it would take to make the aluminum last. Cars now are "dipped" into a river of primer, I would imagine they will treat all the aluminum to a Yellow Chromate or other oxide inhibitor in a similar way. Also makes it so the paint will stick.

I agree, the diesel in the 1/2 ton is a waste of time and money. If you're gonna tow more than 9000# with a 1/2 ton, you bought the wrong truck. JMO

IMO look for GM to do the same with their truck bodies in another couple of years ............ which is the norm for GM compared to Ford.

Dave E.
 
Exactly what Cheyenne said, My bet is that if the alum. parts aren't annodised they will melt even faster than rusted parts. My '86 Suburban had the exh. sys. and lower control arms extremely rusted due to the liquid spray they used on roads in N.J.
 
prob gonna be $60k or more depending on package. I just priced a 2014 ford f150 crewcab xlt with off road package. $51k! Holy crap batman!
LanexaSpeedway said:
I wish Ford would put about a 4.5L diesel into a F150. That, plus a different transmission and in the lightweight package. Funny thing is, I wonder if the new aluminum bodied truck is about the same weight as a current GM or Dodge? Both are considerably lighter than the current F150.

Regardless, there's no way I'm affording a $40 to $50k truck!!! I don't care who makes it.
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CULVER MOTORSPORTS said:
prob gonna be $60k or more depending on package. I just priced a 2014 ford f150 crewcab xlt with off road package. $51k! Holy crap batman!
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Holy crap batman for sure! I have a loaded 3/4 ton 2007 4wd towing package crewcab Duramax diesel that cost about $7000 less than that when I bought it new. If they're all going there, I'm glad I bought when I did and assumed that this truck will last this old man until he dies...
 
Grumins mail trucks need I say anymore. They have been made from aluminum for a long time my pap used to work at the Mongomery plant in Pa. they used to do a plant tour once a year for the employees family members and let me tell you back then I remember all the trucks getting a good dose of primer then paint.
 
my buddy has a 92 grummin van for his daily driver up here in the rust belt. the floor under the drivers seat and the floor right around where the doghouse is is all pitted from the outside. not completely thru but pitted real bad. im certain ford ain't going to shell out the cash to put that thickness of aluminum like the grummin trucks have. he put a good coat of tar and grease on it then sprayed it with oil. so hopefully they come up with some sort of goop to put on it. i had an 86 dodge daytona with the rusty jones car saver system. i sold it about 7 years ago and there was not 1 spec of rot on the entire body.
 
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