2015 aluminum body Ford.

Brad Buchanan · May 26, 2014

Hey folks.

I was at the local Ford dealer chasing parts and got into a discussion with a sales gal about the new aluminum body f-150.

She said that the dealer had to send two people from the body shop to school to learn to fix the new bodies.

What say you about this new concept?

Will this truck be more resistant to the enemy of vehicles in the Northeast: rust?

Personally I need at least a 3/4 ton pickup for what I do but the truck seems attractive. Losing 700 lbs. with the new body has to make them a bit snappier.

Brad

bigt68 · May 26, 2014

i will be going to that training class in two weeks its going to be very interesting

Ultradog MN · May 26, 2014

I can't say.
I hang out on an Airstream Trailer forum.
The old Trailers used an aircraft quality aluminum for the skin and it has lasted for 70 years.
The new campers use a different type of aluminum and there is a lot of talk about oxidation - the dreaded white powder.
I doubt those skins will last as long.

Mike M · May 26, 2014

The way the Fords in Ohio rust away I'd rather they used stainless steel. At least that way it would justify the high price tag.

ericlb · May 26, 2014

it will help some, the truck still has some steel componets that will rust and i hope somebody was smart enough to place gaskets where the aluminum contacts the steel to prevent corrosion, aluminum truck bodys arnt a new idea big rig manufactures have been making them since the 1950's

Billy NY · May 26, 2014

My friend bought a new F150 this winter and mentioned the aluminum body for 2015. Incidentally, this truck he bought with the features, power, is initially, so far, very impressive, he put it right to work hauling his firewood, been in the field a little, not bad.
One darned thing I totally dislike and am in disbelief, is why in heck don't the inner fender wells protect the engine compartment? It has to be the dumbest blunder in design, all the road spray can get right into the engine compartment, and it will destroy things over time, sure they don't want them built so people don't buy new, but that is an issue that makes no sense, I've digressed here, back to the Aluminum body.

I've worked with aluminum in architectural applications, all kinds of assemblies, curtain wall, window wall, store fronts, custom extrusions, architectural panels, ornamental, decorative components etc. The first thing that comes to mind is the finish. The 2 I am familiar with is Kynar and Duranar the latter being the better of the 2, I have to wonder, what kind of finish will be applied to the base aluminum material, if its similar to any of these, it would seemingly be an expensive proposition, durable sure, but what about repairs, not the same as whats applied to steel. My thoughts are based ont the assumption that to put a finish on aluminum, it will be along the lines of the above finishes, which in architectural applications are not cheap by any means. You can't fix Kynar or Duranar in the field, and have it the same as it came from the factory, so this does raise the serious question about finishes, there has to be something exclusive to automotive applications that is cost effective, both in manufacture and aftermarket repair.
Kynar

PPG Duranar

notjustair · May 26, 2014

To meet the demands of the EPA they continue to make vehicles lighter. I don't like the way lighter feels when towing something substantial.

Seems to me it ought to be like light bulbs. All of them are florescent except for heavy use/etc. Maybe all pickups should be lighter and made thin unless it will be tagged farm. Then it can be built heavier and use a little more fuel.

I'm already planning on buying a new pickup for the farm in about 2017. Can you imagine what they will be like then?

Ian Beale · May 26, 2014

Just a reminder that Landrover bodies have been aluminium since 1948

S2710 · May 26, 2014

I am not 100% sure on this but someone was saying that all of the company's are making them that way and if you want inner fenders you have to pay extra for them.

Bob

Bob M · May 26, 2014

I have a late 70's Kenworth K100 (cabover) 10-wheel "project" truck. It has an all-aluminum cab.

The truck spent its 20+ year working career running salt-covered highways in NY and southern Ontario, Canada.

The cab panels are remarkably corrosion-free - only some mild cosmetic oxidation around rivet heads, etc.

The steel components however are another story. The cab tilt hinges, fuel tank and battery tray brackets had to be replaced. The steel air cleaner canister - tucked behind the left front wheel - literally disintegrated. The compressed air tanks and mounts developed rust perforations and had to be replaced. You get the idea...

Bottom line is unless an aluminum-bodied truck is never driven where deicing salt is used - or non-ferrous is used for ALL steel components (not just sheet metal) - it likely will not hold up any longer than standard steel-bodied truck. The reduced weight will help fuel economy, and will make the truck drive a bit "snappier" however.

Jason the Red · May 26, 2014

My company has been working on the conveyor switchover at the Claycomo plant to accommodate the new pickup. I've seen first hand the processes they will be using to build the truck and have talked to employees at the plant. All I will say is I won't ever own one. It will take at least a few years to get the new body perfected.

Sprint 6 · May 27, 2014

Ford has been using aluminium body parts for a long while. Hoods in particular. The trick is keeping paint on it. Fords with aluminium hoods eventually corrode under the paint.

Dusty MI · May 27, 2014

We have an '01 E-350 under a motor home. When we first got it I was going to put a magnetic base CB antenna on the hood. That's how I discovered it has a plastic hood.

Dusty

Bret4207 · May 27, 2014

I don't care what they make them out of, I just wish they;d do it right. Friend works in the steel industry. He made me a gutter cleaner chute out of some galvanized sheet metal. This stuff DOES NOT RUST! Why can't the auto makers build a frame and body out of good stuff and galvanize it? Get under any Jeep in the rust belt and dollars to doughnuts you'll find the frame rusted through if it's more than 8 years old. Same for a lot of cars and trucks.

Talk about a pet peeve! :twisted:

M-MAN · May 27, 2014

Just trying to make it sound special. The full size Fords have been using aluminum hoods and deck lids for 20 years. There haven't been any problems with them.

DaninKansas · May 27, 2014

Curb weight of a 2014 Ford F150 super cab with a 5.0 engine 5,169 pounds. Curb weight of a 1994 Ford F150 Suber cab with a 5.0 engine 4,196 pounds.

Pops1532 · May 27, 2014

I had an '89 Lincoln with an aluminum hood. Didn't have any corrosion or paint problems.

Pops1532 · May 27, 2014

But that same Lincoln had a steel cross member rust through. grrr.

mkirsch · May 27, 2014

Usually I'm optimistic about this stuff because most of you guys poo-poo it based on nothing else but "It's DIFFERENT!" Knowing the chemistry and physics behind things helps to form a more objective opinion.

In this case, knowing the chemistry and physics, I can see MAJOR problems with these bodies.

Any time you put aluminum, steel and moisture together, you get galvanic corrosion. There are way too many points on these trucks where steel and aluminum come together. There is no way Ford is going to be able to effectively isolate them all, for the long haul. Eventually washers will wear away due to vibration, steel contacts aluminum, splash through a salty puddle in mid January, and the truck body will be gone by Easter.

Pops1532 · May 27, 2014

I had a 1972 aluminum body Grumman-Olson/Chevy step van.
Just retired it 2 years ago. Never had a corrosion issue.

Also have a '68 jobsite trailer. It has an aluminum skin with steel door frames that are in direct contact with the aluminum. No corrosion.

JF in MI · May 27, 2014

This could be a big gamble for Ford what with the F-150 already the best selling vehicle in NA. But if it works the pay off will be enormous. No other manufacturer will be able to touch the fuel milage and they will be forced to get onboard with their own aluminum bodies.

DaninKansas · May 27, 2014

Its hardly a gamble - give it 5 years and 1/2 ton pickups will be rare. The external_link administration saw to that with the new CAFE mileage requirements.

JRSutton · May 27, 2014

Well it's good - but there's still the frame to worry about.

So kind of a moot point since you can't really have one without the other.

Tom-NoCenTX · May 27, 2014

Dan, are you sure the 1994 Ford F150 had a 5.0 engine?? I know in 1997 most of them had either a 4.6 or a 5.4 engine if a V8. Tom

JMOR · May 27, 2014

(quoted from post at 07:25:50 05/27/14) Just trying to make it sound special. The full size Fords have been using aluminum hoods and deck lids for 20 years. There haven't been any problems with them.

or several years, Ford owned Jaguar & Rover and both used aluminum bodies, as do several other makers such as Audi models and others. Repair processes are a little different, but so are they for Fiberglas.

IH2444 · May 28, 2014

(quoted from post at 06:35:45 05/27/14) Ford has been using aluminium body parts for a long while. Hoods in particular. The trick is keeping paint on it. Fords with aluminium hoods eventually corrode under the paint.

I have a 93 town car with aluminum hood. The finish is still outstanding.

Brad Buchanan · May 28, 2014

Wow, thanks for the responses.

I have my own opinions about the issue.

I worked with aluminum, fabricating and installing aluminum signs and building accessories.

I found that if nominal attention is paid to not directly mount bare steel and aluminum together the galvanic corrosion has never been a particular concern.

That being said most of the stuff I worked with lived a few feet to many feet above the ground and the environment auto bodies are subjected to is much harsher.

If they make a 3/4 or ton model with the aluminum body I might think of trying it.

Again, thanks for the replies,

Brad

Bob · May 29, 2014

IMHO, MOST of the participants around here don't keep vehicles around long enough for rust/corrosion/decomposition to be a problem.

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2014

I hope Ford puts more engineering thought into it than GM did for the 14 Silverado. I've since been told to wait a couple of years after a big change in design comes out. I learned my lesson the hard way. A very frustrating and expensive mistake to trust GM.

JMOR · May 31, 2014

(quoted from post at 15:52:16 05/31/14) I hope Ford puts more engineering thought into it than GM did for the 14 Silverado. I've since been told to wait a couple of years after a big change in design comes out. I learned my lesson the hard way. A very frustrating and expensive mistake to trust GM.

as anyone checked with their insurance company to determine how the aluminum body impacts insurance premiums? Almost certainly, the collision repair cost will be greater than with steel?

2015 aluminum body Ford.

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