New bed material on GM
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 899
Likes: 328
No need to. Carbon fiber is a better alternative for weight savings. However, I bet is comes at a premium-cost option. Thing is, the bed floor and sides don't account for much weight at all, in the scheme of things. Doesn't matter if it's high-strength steel, aluminum or carbon fiber. I believe they said this one saved 62 lbs. Sure, it accounts for something and will likely help with payload numbers, but the inner parts of a bed usually are coated with a bedliner.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 464
Likes: 29
I honestly didn't think we would ever see carbon based materials in pickups for a very long time still if ever. But obviously gm has proved me wrong. Also the material is not carbon fiber, it's carbon reinforced nylon. How much is it going to be to fix it? That's what I worry about but at the same time, they said it outperforms even their steel bed as far as durability so you may rarely ever need to fix it.
This has got me thinking though, what are trucks going to be made of in 10 years? I really hope the frame is still steel but I don't know if that will be the case. What about the body? What about the cab substructure? Actual carbon fiber is coming down in price fairly rapidly an as it's used in tons more applications every day, the price is expected to keep dropping rapidly within the next 10 years or so. With that being said my ideal setup would be full carbon fiber body and cab structure, steel frame, and composite bed lining and bed rails.
This has got me thinking though, what are trucks going to be made of in 10 years? I really hope the frame is still steel but I don't know if that will be the case. What about the body? What about the cab substructure? Actual carbon fiber is coming down in price fairly rapidly an as it's used in tons more applications every day, the price is expected to keep dropping rapidly within the next 10 years or so. With that being said my ideal setup would be full carbon fiber body and cab structure, steel frame, and composite bed lining and bed rails.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 21
From: Western MA
I was just talking to the guys at work today about a resin or plastic based bed. We were installing the Ford storable ramps in our brand new F150 and checking out the quality of the Ford factory Bedliner. (Soon to be getting a 2018 F250!!!). I love that bed from GMC! You know who doesn’t love it? Line-X lol
the tailgate is cool too. I could definitely use that high table top on the job site and the “bed extender” built in seems helpful for home duties.
the tailgate is cool too. I could definitely use that high table top on the job site and the “bed extender” built in seems helpful for home duties.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 264
From: Southwestern Pa.
It won't matter much...we won't be driving them. They'll be be electric powered and self driving. We'll beckon them and set up the route with an app on our phone.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
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Cargo Master
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 464
Likes: 29
Lol you are so very wrong. Will the be electric? Yes. Will the be self driving? Yes, but it will be on an on/off switch like adaptive cruise control is now.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 563
1/2 tons arent my cup of tea but when the new ram 1500 hits dealers next month, you can bet ill go have a look . 12" touch screen sounds cool. hybrid engine system. composite upper a arms. while i have zero interst in a half ton, i like seeing new tech and how it will carry over to the 2500
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 464
Likes: 29
1/2 tons arent my cup of tea but when the new ram 1500 hits dealers next month, you can bet ill go have a look . 12" touch screen sounds cool. hybrid engine system. composite upper a arms. while i have zero interst in a half ton, i like seeing new tech and how it will carry over to the 2500
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 158
Likes: 84
Looks a lot like the composite bed in the Toyota Tacoma trucks. I'm guessing that it will be slick as snot when it's wet. I love the innovation and we need to keep progressing our trucks, but I'll be watching as things unfold.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 2
From: Hatfield's side of river
Howie Long made fun of Ford for having what he called a "Man Step" on the tailgate. Looks like Howie has one of his own on the new Chevy. (It just took GM 9 years to catch up)
Hey Howie,,, how's that Crow tasting?
Hey Howie,,, how's that Crow tasting?
