has anyone else noticed all of the "weld" dots all over their bed? I'm sure they used some industrial adhesive but there are about 40 dots scattered around the bed uniformly.

I also notice popping noises when walking around this bed. Right now I really don't trust it with anything heavier than me.
Loaded my fifth wheel hitch in last night and set it down for a second. Your could see the metal denting in and looked as if it were going to punch through. My linex gets put on next weekend, hopefully this makes the bed feel stronger.

 

The bed is more rigid than the steel bodied ones. I think you're just paying more attention to it than you would a steel one.

 

I've already carried a 2,000lb pallet of wood pellets in mine. Not a spec of damage or problems anywhere...I did order it with the Ford toughbed liner, though...which looks great and has zero grip.

 

I'm gonna carry my payment book home in mine.

I figure if it can tote that, it can handle anything.

 

I was testing bed squat under 5th wheel pressure so I would know how much head height I was going to need and check for clearances and considering a switch to a gooseneck adapter. I set 1650# down in the center on a 6x6 block laying on its side about a foot long and suspected it might bend the grooves in the floor a little. It took it all and never made a mark.

 

For the foreseeably future, and probably even after that, if you buy a Ford, you are going to get an aluminum bed.

So no point in fretting over it.

 

With the EPA cracking down on fleet mpg's, don't be surprised if you see the other mnf. going to aluminum in the coming years. They make fun of it now because they didn't come up with it first. Remember Howie Long calling the step in the tailgate a sissy step. Since they made fun of it they now build their step into the bumper.

 

GM is currently in the process of designing an aluminum Silverado / Sierra. Its an open secret. They were already doing it even as their ads shamed the Ford's aluminum, the tool box test, the "steel" bear cage, etc. The next Silverado will absolutely be aluminum.

 

When Ford introduced the aluminum in the F150, I was definitely a nay-sayer until I actually saw the product. The steel panels of trucks were getting thinner and thinner to meet fuel economy standards. I feel that the aluminum panels are much thicker, and restore that solid door shutting feeling.

 

I lol'd ...

 

GM's truck is likely to be welded, not glued and fasteners. GM has been working on perfecting its aluminum welding process for several years.

 

Imitation is the best form of flattery.

 

in an effort to compete with Ford's tailgate step, and try to not look like they are competing, they came up with that brilliant bumper step idea. It looks awful and is awkward to use.
GM should really get away from throwing barbs at Ford in their commercials, it's not a good look.

 

Chevy hired Howie Long as their spokesperson when the 2007's were introduced. 'Ol Howie knows less about trucks than a mule knows about tap dancing!

Howie said the cargo management system and the dampened tailgate were new. Uh huh, new only on the Chevy, Titan had the cargo system in 2004, the dampened tailgate in 2005.

Titan's cargo management system is heavy cast aluminum, Chevy's is thin sheet metal.

 

...and Karma is a Witch! Now that GM has stoked the fire, I gonna guess "If" GM comes out with an Aluminum truck, Ford will take the lead again with a "High Road" commercial as being the First or Leader in the technology. Just a thought.