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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,207
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,207 |
Just visited my local Ford dealer and thought you all might like to see the thickness of the new F-150 aluminum body panel compared to a quarter. Fewer dents - no rust - the new F-150 will continue to dominate half ton truck sales.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
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And talk of a new Ranger with a 5 cyl diesel option, of course not available in US or Canada :-(
Mike
God, Family, and Country. NRA Endowment Member
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,075 |
God, Family, and Country. NRA Endowment Member
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,719 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,719 Likes: 2 |
If I were hunting for a truck the new Ford would be on the top of my list. No Eco-Boost though.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,730
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,730 |
The Ecoboost engines didn't set the world on fire like Ford thought they would. They aren't exactly duds, but I think most people would be happier with the std engine. That said, they've got the new 2.7 & 3.5 litre engines. How will they work?
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,896
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,896 |
I'm not concerned with the thickness as my aircraft skin was only .036 and held up extremely well to the elements and an occasional 7.62x39 but hope Ford gives the entire chassis a good Zinc Chromate dunking or Dichromate plating.I see one of these in my driveway sooner than later..
You better be afraid of a ghost!!
"Woody you were baptized in prop wash"..crossfireoops
Woody
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,816 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,816 Likes: 2 |
One of the general problems with aluminum is, while lighter than steel, it has to be thicker to yield same strength losing some advantage.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,230 Likes: 24
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,230 Likes: 24 |
It is expected to be 700# lighter than steel. That ain't no pop can!
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,816 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,816 Likes: 2 |
understand that. Just explaining why the panel is so thick and that the need to make it thicker hurts the possible weight savings. Could be made thinner and lighter with better grade but $$$. No free lunches...
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,966
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,966 |
Wonder what costs will be for insurance and overall costs separate tools and body shops for the body work.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20140303/RETAIL/140229852/large-ford-stores-say-cost-of-aluminum-body-shop-will-surpass-$70000
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 613
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
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One of the body shops I sell to is dumping 30 grand into tools and equipment to be able to do work on the new aluminum stuff. You can guarantee those costs will be passed on...
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,156
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,156 |
It's the wave of the future so they'd just better learn to deal with it. Within 5 years all the manufacturers will be making their trucks out of aluminum, fuel economy is going to demand it and now that Ford has initiated it they're all going to have to follow suit to compete.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 12,895
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 12,895 |
It's the wave of the future so they'd just better learn to deal with it. Within 5 years all the manufacturers will be making their trucks out of aluminum, I suspect as demand increases, the price of Aluminium will rise to the point it will be too expensive for wide spread adoption. Personally, I would think some of the carbonfibre composites are the way forward, as in the aircraft industry.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,853 Likes: 4 |
aluminum is something like the fourth most common element on earth, so shortage is hardly likely. The aluminum cost is basically the cost of electro refining it. As the cost of electricity goes, so goes the cost of aluminum.
Sic Semper Tyrannis
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,457
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,457 |
I briefly looked into the new aluminum body and saw that the fuel savings was something like 300 bucks a year compared to a 5.0 with a steel body. Given a rise in insurance, and the cost as an option, I did not think this was a wise purchase. Was that article accurate? I was actually concerned about galvanic rust induced between the aluminum body and steel frame.
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,583
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,583 |
I/m saving my beer cans for a long time bfore I take them in for money.
220 Swift still king.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,126
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,126 |
I believe Audi has been using aluminum for uni-body frames and body panels in the A8 for years. Their corrosion warranty is 11-12 years IIRC.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,109
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,109 |
The Ecoboost engines didn't set the world on fire like Ford thought they would. They aren't exactly duds, but I think most people would be happier with the std engine. That said, they've got the new 2.7 & 3.5 litre engines. How will they work? what do you mean they haven't set the world on fire? 40% of the engines ford puts in f150's are ecoboost. That is probably the most popular engine in the f150, The other makes simply have no answer for it. yeah they all are pretty close in mpg but the ecoboost is like a diesel engine that runs on gas. it puts out its power and torque at a very low rpm. I really like mine and even with a trailer I seldom rev the thing, it just does its thing with no fanfare.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,156
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,156 |
Yea, I think the ecoboost engines as a whole have been a success. I think the only failure was that expectations were a bit too high in the mileage department, many were expecting extreme gains in fuel economy and the gains are more incremental. Between the ecoboost and the aluminum body we now have full sized 4x4 trucks that are getting 23 mpg on the highway. That might not sound impressive but the truth is that a decade ago the most you could reasonably expect from something comparable was about 15 mpg. That's a big percentage increase and the ecoboost is a stronger engine. Ford has a 10 speed transmission coming out that'll likely add another 1 or 2 MPG.
Little increases add up. There is no one thing that will make a 5000 lb. rolling brick magically break 30 mpg. They're going the right direction though and the best thing is that the other manufacturers will be forced to respond to stay competitive. I'm not a huge Ford fan, but if it forces Toyota to make a 25 mpg Tundra 4x4 then I'll be all over it.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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The aluminum cost is basically the cost of electro refining it. As the cost of electricity goes, so goes the cost of aluminum. That is going to be the issue..producing aluminium requires huge amounts of (expensive) electricity and unless that changes, I think its going to be a sticking point.. I think its more likely that over time, the increasing cost of gas will coerce a higher percentage of Americans into driving smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, basically following the European trend..
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