Why is Ford Choosing to Stick With Aluminum?

Ford has been criticized in the past for using aluminum to construct its heavy-duty trucks. But according to recent interviews, the company is quite content with its choice of material and plans to stay the course.

By Jeffrey Bausch - January 24, 2018

 

It seems to have payed dividends in fuel economy and it is certainly selling.

 

Chrysler Prowler
1960's Jeep.. made steel and aluminum bodies.
MB gull wing was aluminum in the 1950's.

600 pounds is a lot of weight savings...

 

if aluminum is so damn bad, why is government motors switching to all aluminum body panels too?

 

Not exactly but close!

 

according to a report i read last year, by 2020 all government motors trucks will be made out of aluminum just like fords are.

it actually said they would be following fords lead on aluminum and waiting a few years to learn from fords mistakes.

 

I read that too but the 2019 Silverado that was enveiled will still have a steel bed.

 

aluminum is different,, not bad..

harder to paint
harder to weld
harder to reform..

easier and cheaper to recycle..
aluminum melts at 1,220 degrees "F"
steel melts at 2,500 degrees "F".

 

The melting point is a fair statement. I've seen many pics of Postal LLV's that caught fire and they melted to nothing in around where the fire occurred which was the engine bay.

Having said this, if my steel truck caught fire, I expect that it would be totaled anyway. So, to me it's a non issue.

 

for you and me.. I agree.

but think of all the cars/trucks that get recycled every year...
remember when all car/truck wheels were made of steel...

to make steel and aluminum is almost the same for Cost these days.

aluminum is easier on the stamping dies.. and the presses...
and to extrude it.

 

but a 2019 truck is is made before 2020

 

I doubt the 2020 will be different from the 2019 but I guess we will see.

 

as americans are getting fatter we need to save all the weight possible on the trucks to keep the payload high.