Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Repairing the aluminum body Ford F-150

Part 1

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-...-cl=84924572&feature=player_embedded[/video]



Part 2

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=...l=84924572&feature=player_detailpage[/video]

Put together with Rivets and Glue .

WHOA on the bux for that tail light... YOWZA!!!!

Well, I think I'll just keep my STEEL F-350 for, like, EVER...

drills some holes in it and slap on some bondo

and I'd [bleep] myself when the parts guy told me $800 for a taillight

$900 for a tail light assembly.............holy kielbasa.

But it's military grade aluminum...

So military grade that it cannot be welded

only for the 1%

I would like an all aluminum truck.
It wouldn't rust out.
Rusty trucks suck!

They better start making locking mech's for the taillights at that price.

I'm going to just stick with my old 1988 4Runner. Geez.

Had no idea Vince Gill worked w' Edmunds.

In Hail Central, USA, the cost to insure that sucker would be equal to the cost of buying it.

May have to look at Toyota, or even Dodge...

Insurance is going to be more expensive.

Question is, will all of us absorb the increase, or just the ones that own that type truck?

That 2014 outside is looking better & better...

That "test" is being roundly denounced.

I understand Ford has been training body shops on how to do the repairs. The parts are glued together, so replacement actually goes pretty fast.

I suppose there were people who objected to Ford adding colors, and of course how was the car ever going to be a substitute for horses?

An excellent point to consider..


I sent an email to my son saying that he best be considering buying that loaded up '13 F-150 he's leasing when it's due in '16...

A few vids like the ones above - if they get around - may very well cause sales of those Alumafords to drop like the fly balls at Target Field..

All of the lots I've seen in my travels have tons of '14s left, and I imagine one could score a pretty good deal on one. I had a '12 F-150 4X4 with the 5.0 V8 and wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

Local dealer told me they took another 100+ '14 F-150s due to the late arrival date of the new Alumafords..

I have a feeling they'll actually make some real bux on those - after people research what the new AFs are gonna cost; not only in repairs, obviously, but when (not if) insurance companies charge a premium (PUN!) for those particular units..

At one time I had a 1986 Toyota pickup 4x4, 22RE engine, great truck. Except for the rust.

Typical Toyota traitor comments along with the anti-capitalist media's manufactured narrative trying to discredit the new F-150. But let's look a bit closer, shall we?

First, Edmunds hit the truck with a sledgehammer not once, but twice. Why?

The rear of the bedside took the impacts since it couldn�t be replaced, it would have to be repaired. To the pickup�s credit, the only reason associate editor Travis Langness hit it twice was that the first sledgehammer blow didn�t do as much damage as Edmunds wanted.

Click Here

That what you call.....



Here's a sample of that aluminum body I was shown at my local Ford dealer.





Now, look carefully at those images. They are NOT going to be damaged by hail, unless we're talking the baseball sized stuff. That an insurance savings.

Next up, did any of you even bother to watch the video's? No, I didn't think so, because if you had you would have learned that the $800 tail light you're blathering on about has a proximity sensor built into it that is only included in a driver awareness option package on high end models. That's why it cost so much.

Finally insurance. Oh the cost to insure the new F-150 blah blah blah. Look closer. There are three main components of your auto insurance policy, comprehensive, liability and injury. If indeed the new F-150 is more expensive to insure - and I have yet to read anything that says it will be - only the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance that covers damage you cause to your vehicle will increase. So that's 1/3 of your policy that might be affected. That's more than offset in my book with higher resale values for Ford F-150 owners when it's time to trade or sell because the vehicle doesn't have rust holes in the body panels.

Will the media keep trying to disparage the new F-150? You bet. Will they succeed? Nope. Are the Tundra and Titan about to become a distant memory? Stay tuned.

I owned an 89 Toyota that was so rusty I could have used it as a cheese grater.
once I was underneath and noticed the frame was rusty and poked my finger right through the frame.
I would like stainless steel even better than aluminum.

I thought they made it pretty clear on two points

1. that the guy didn't do enough damage with the sledge hammer in the first hit. I thought the goal was to show what the repair cost would be on a collision for the Ford in that particular section that wasn't bolted on. I guess they could have slammed a car into at 30mph, right?

2. Yes, the taillight had an optional sensor in it. It doesn't change that the taillight was $800 to replace because Ford sold it as a sealed unit.

I can't speak to insurance costs. Did the video discuss them?

My 86 Toyota was the same way. I sold it before the frame started rotting out. Nothing anyone can do
if a man can poke holes in a frame. Next I got a Pontiac Firebird ... very big mistake.

I'm still stuck on the 52K price tag for a truck that is glued together. Bet the tail light without the sensor would cost $700. And I think they are pulling your leg on the thickness, my F-150 has an aluminum hood and it is no where near that thick maybe about as thick as that quarter.

2015 F150 tail light = $890
2014 F150 tail light = $165

Fuuuukc!

TRAITOR!!

2 years from now there will be Chinese knockoffs on ebay for $150

I'll just wait and see how they do over the next couple years.




Travis

Too fuggin' funny.




Travis

I just picked a 14 for 15000 off!!!!! sticker was 48,915.

Maybe I'll eventually adjust but I can't ever see a time when I pay that kinda money for a truck.

That is serious sticker shock for me. (and I drive a King Ranch)

+1 ... $50,000 for a pickup truck is that aluminum or gold

Thats for a loaded XLT 4x4 Supercrew Ecoboost with leather, HIDs, 20s... You should have seen the price for a limited 56245....

Probably not.. Insurance companies are loathe to do any consumer 'savings'.. As to hail size, you may note that insurance is higher in states (such as SD) that has, on average, more often and larger hailstones than we normally experience here.. I have compared insurance rates between here and SD - and they're higher there, due to hail (sez the agent in SD). And frankly, hail damage will most likely not be as common as a simple minor crash/accident.

Can't speak for the others, but I did watch the videos.. And yes, that tail light assembly is for the higher-end packages.. You really think most buyers are just going to buy the stripped-down F-150?? Maybe in your area, but not even CLOSE here in these parts..

No - it's liability, comprehensive and collision.. Only the liability might not be affected by insurance premiums..

As soon as my agent gets back from lunch break I'm going to give her a call and ask if she has any new info on ins. rates for the new Alumaford..

(And, FWIW, I'm not knocking it at all; I've been a dedicated Ford truck man since my first new one in '73...)

The '11 I'm driving now had an MSRP of a hair under $62K..

I bought a 4 bedroom home in 1999 for $77k

Fords always seem to be way higher than GMs. Oh, the GMs are high enough, but they offer incentives and all that that seem to get them down a bit.

I know all this "Number one truck in America..." stuff. But in my area at least, if you count GMC and Chevrolet, then there are far more GMs on the road than Ford trucks.

Fords have that 60 year old man styling thing going on a lot more than GMs.

Just talked to my agent. She has no info yet on what these may run compared to the '14s...probably due to the fact that these trucks literally just hit the showfloors about a month ago..

All we can do now is wait and see.

It's the only way they can move those pos off the lots....




(popcorn anyone?? )

Anyone have a guess as to why aluminium repair is twice the steel labor rate. I know that welding skills and equipment is slightly different but holy [bleep]. If it is more difficult and takes more time that would reflect hours not rate. Or is it a smoke and mirrors game till these repairs become more common. This idea is not new, real trucks have been aluminium for decades.

When repairing aluminum as opposed to steel . the aluminum is easier and stronger to do a proper job. Adhesives and rivets are stronger then 99% of most welders ability and do not introduce corrosion problems like welding. A lot of repairs on steel are partial replacements and are corrosion havens.... Aluminum panels and structures are replaced as whole units and are as strong as new. The cost will be more but I think in the long run Aluminum is a better material for most vehicles. Repair costs are more also because all retainers are replaced every time , because they are coated to reduce electrolysis between steel and aluminum components.
But this is just my opinion , but I worked in Bodyshops for 20 years and a lot of that at an Audi dealer and dealt with a lot of aluminum vehicles.....

P.S. I think Plastic composites are better yet because of cost, corrosion resistance and easily recycled. Alot of the components on trucks , bedsides , tailgates ,hoods , etc. would be better off composite. Anyone remember the Saturn ads with shopping carts bouncing off them.

never had a saturn but have not heard of any big problems with the composite panels. Really thought that was the near future but in normal cars those have not caught on. How much thought is given to repair profits when designing a new car? More a Ford hater than a love but anyone driving a newer car is riding in a vehicle held together by adhesives. Also a lot of steel repair panels are being held on by glue these days.

Can you give an example of what is held together by adhesives on new vehicles?

Thanks.



Travis

Why did they not make the box a modular panel system? 20 hours of repair seems excessive over a modular panel system.

The easiest and most visible is the windshield and backglass. One would be surprised how much support those windows give to some modern car bodies. Also some models glue in the firwall and certain dash components. Those are actual structural components that make the body stronger

How about driving safely and not having any wrecks to repair?

The tail gate locks. Has to be opened to remove tail light assembly...

problem is, as my daughter found out the first day she got her licence, even if your damn carefull other phuggers arent always and not all of them carry insurance, especially around here....within literally an hour of getting her licence she had a gal change lanes and run into her so quick she couldnt do anything...cops told her(and us) not a damn thing she could have done different...

My beef with plastics is as they age the plasticizers evaporate out and the plastic becomes brittle, same thing happens in extreme cold. Hence those nice compliant plastics that should bend instead of bending end up shattering and what should be a small dent or repair on say an air dam requires you to replace the whole thing.

No big deal if your someone who always has to have a new car, but if your someone who keeps a car for a decade or two plastic is not for you.

The easiest and most visible is the windshield and backglass. One would be surprised how much support those windows give to some modern car bodies. Also some models glue in the firwall and certain dash components. Those are actual structural components that make the body stronger

I stopped at my local Ford dealer last week to check out the new 2015 F-150s. The salesman that I was talking to showed me the King's Ranch the owner was driving.

The sticker price? $71K plus.

Now THAT is sticker shock.

donsm70

Bought a house for less than that in 2000. Wont be paid off for a few months. If i paid that much, for that long, on a truck I would hate that SOB.

I drive an old King Ranch

Many have the door hinges glued on.

Had 2 new GMCs in the early 90s, liked them both but never held them long term. 98 dodge and 2000 ford super duty. Kids and divorce ended my new truck buying. Currently driving '04 chev. That thing sure doesn't like U.P. winters. Speedo doesn't go back to 0 as soon as it gets cold. Now the same thing is happening with temp gauge, it's about to make a full circle. Also have to put new bulbs in brake lights and headlights often. Think I'll go back to Ford next time.

But it rides just like an 85k Mercedes GL. Maybe better!

Buy a set of stepper motors off if ebay for a few bucks each. An hours time start to finish after reviewing some online tutorials and you'll be in business. My 03 was same way.

Prices on trucks is ridiculous, a person puts 20-30 grand down and that's really stretching it for 9 outta 10 people and they've still got a huge payment.

I see some cash flow sheets on a weekly basis through work and there's a lot of people out here paying 900-1100.00 a month on their truck payment.

My opinion, if you're paying 900-1100.00 a month for one vehicle payment you're driving more vehicle than you can afford.

The worst part is depreciation.

And for some people their vehicle is probably worth less than they owe.


Our local dealer gets quite a few fairly low mile F350 trade-ins that are about $20k less in price than a new one. Mostly farmer highway pickups that are in great shape as well, let someone else eat the depreciation.

Actually, I did watch it you old grump. How do you think I saw how much the tail light was? I also saw it has the back-up sensor in it. Stupid place for it if you ask me. I'm a Ford guy through and through, but they've priced me out of the game. I bought a Ram last summer. The difference between the Ram and the Ford weren't worth $7300 to get me to stick with Ford.

And as much as I've been very hard on Dodge/Ram, it's been a very good truck so far.

There's a reason. I won't have another GM, due they fact that the one I bought in 2006 was a complete POS. I would have loved to see that sumbitch burn to a lovely death. Actually, I'm surprised it didn't.

Yeah. They're called pieces of schit.



Travis

I don't know how they sell them

Yeah, ok right. The first few new F-150's to hit the dealer were ALL loaded to the gills models. Same thing happens whenever the newest latest and greatest comes out, the high end models come first. You pay to be an early adopter. Ford dealers won't be getting additional models until the end of March or early April, so what they have on the lot today for new F-150's is all their going to have for a couple more months.

There are plenty of new Ford F-150's priced to fit everyone's budget. And while I know most of you have already been checking them out and building one on Ford's web site, but for those that have just crawled out of a cave, hit this link and oh - welcome to the future.

Click Here to Build Your New Ford F-150

Know a guy that does the loan work for the local Dodge/Ford dealer. You would not believe the folks who are rolling the loan from their trade in to the loan for the new car. He was telling of a guy who shares the drive to the Washington DC area (130 miles) with 2 friends, and only one of them drive. This guy traded an F150 that was 4 years old with 120K miles. He rolled almost $9k into his new truck loan!!!

I wouldn't have a Ford if someone gave it to me.

Oh, I don't know. I mean I agree with to an extent, but if I can get two percent interest or less (and I can) why not finance that sucker for 72 months and put very little down with big payments? The time value of money means that I coming out ahead instead paying as much down as I can possibly afford.

But just like everything else in the world, low interest rates have created a bubble in the car industry. There are billions of dollars out there of upside down car loans. Billions and billions and billions of dollars to be sure.

Not surprised at all. Seems everyone around here under 40 thinks they need the latest and greatest truck or SUV. Then they take it off the lot and install lift kits and rent-to-own wheels/tires. It's the new economic mentality: I deserve it, can convince myself I can make the payment, and nothing will ever happen.

I've got a friend who makes about $300K a year getting people into cars they cannot afford or don't have the credit rating. He gets a woman with $5k take home a month and a $2,800 mortgage into a $80k car. Insane.

Which is why I could never be a car salesman.

Guy I used to work with bought a Honda bike shop.
said it was sad the folks that came in to buy a four wheeler for their kids. He would run the credit and just shake his head. They paid 7-8k for a kids toy and were already strapped.

He isn't a salesman. He is a type of F&I guy.

Which is the highest paid salesman in any dealership.

It's tough to get ahead these days, and even tougher when you are making big vehicle payments, not to mention the insurance associated with a high dollar vehicle. I don't live like that.

He doesn't work in a dealership.

no chit, going to be looking for something under $10,000 soon as i get a couple paychecks under my belt.....should be able to find a decent reliable used truck for that....hopefully less than that

Good luck on getting back on your feet. Pay yourself first by getting in the habit of squirling away a decent amount of cash every single month.

Last truck I bought I paid cash for it and it already had a salvage title. I worked in Body shops long enuff to realize that all vehicle end up in the same place, I just want one that starts and drives and does not leave me sitting, otherwise I could care less if I am cool or up with the neighbors. I see lots of people around here spending big money on one ton diesel trucks and never use them for any work... makes sense to me????????

Nobody makes a better work pickup than Ford.

Especially if they're 2wd and have a 300/I-6

Don't knock the 4X4s. I had an '86 F-150 regular cab short bed 4X4 with the 300 six and 4-speed manual. That little truck did everything I asked of it without complaint...including towing trailers I shouldn't have. Wish I could have that one back.