2015 ford truck simple wreck, big results - check this out

[odcics2]

Next buzz words on the 'net;  "The Ford Tear"

Apparently, the new Ford truck doesn't crush or wrinkle, but tears into pieces.
Looks like it backed into a can opener...

[RallyeMike]

How could this happen? It's "military-grade"!

[myk]

More information is needed...

[Alaskan_TA]

Looks like one of the new aluminum bodies & thin aluminum is easy to tear.

[polywideblock]

did it in fact back into  something , or has it taken a fairly substantial blow to the extreme  right rear corner from the side 

[el dub]

How could this happen? It's "military-grade"!

Different than mil spec.
Never heard of military grade.

[odcics2]

did it in fact back into  something , or has it taken a fairly substantial blow to the extreme  right rear corner from the side 

maybe it was RAM'd....   

[garner7555]

It side swipped something.  See how the bumper and bedside are ripped toward the back of the truck, not toward the front.

[birdsandbees]

I build and rebuild aluminum airplanes for a living. My '11 x F150 will be my last Ford until they go back to the shit steel they were already using.

Aluminum "Military Grade".. give me a break it's all made to MIL spec.

[73rallye440magnum]

Are the passengers safe?

Who cares about the truck?

What difference does it make if the steel bends or the aluminum tears?

My two cents- it was engineered to fail this way.

Function before form, fellas.

[birdsandbees]

It was engineered for sales propaganda.  As for how it fails, now it's sell you a complete new panel vs straighten, fill, prime and paint. But the shop probably prefers that!.. if they can just find more guys that know the proper way to paint aluminum! Yes it's another art..

[73rallye440magnum]

It was engineered for sales propaganda.  As for how it fails, now it's sell you a complete new panel vs straighten, fill, prime and paint. But the shop probably prefers that!.. if they can just find more guys that know the proper way to paint aluminum! Yes it's another art..

Yes the shop definitely prefers replace. When I heard aluminum bodies my first concern was the failed collision body and paint repairs!

I don't regard a lighter aluminum body as sales propaganda. Hard to argue with better mileage and performance.

[Mike DC]

            
The switch to aluminum bodies is entirely about MPG.  

We're talking about the weight of a V8 engine removed from the vehicle, in such a way that 95% of the customers won't miss it.  There isn't any other way to do that.



Ford isn't stupid and they aren't getting cheap.  They have spent a shit-ton of money on this switch.  Lighter weight bodies are the future of the auto industry.  Every other car company should be putting this much effort into new materials too, if they want to stay in business.  


GM & Mopar will point fingers & laugh at Ford's early failures with aluminum . . . right up until Ford has worked out enough of the bugs and govt MPG rules are rendering it necessary for everyone.  Then suddenly GM & Mopar will be scrambling to catch up.  

 

[JB400]

I don't see the hype about a torn bedside.  A person can easily tear a pop can in half.  The airplane industry knows all about aluminum tearing under stress.  This is no different.

[Stevearino]

I would ask how does the truck with a lightweight aluminum body perform when you are'nt  running into stuff.

[garner7555]

Ford trucks have had aluminum hoods since 1997.  Many other makes have too.  It's not as new as you guys think.  Ask any of us guys in the collision industry and you will find out aluminum isn't that uncommon.  Ford is just the first to go complete aluminum on a non-performance, mass produced domestic vehicle.   Be prepared,  it's the future. 

[Mike DC]

  
Don't the modern Challengers have aluminum hoods, too?

[Stevearino]

   
Don't the modern Challengers have aluminum hoods, too?

I don't know about the base models but the hood of my donor SRT-8 is aluminum.

[Aero426]

           
The switch to aluminum bodies is entirely about MPG.  

We're talking about the weight of a V8 engine removed from the vehicle, in such a way that 95% of the customers won't miss it.  There isn't any other way to do that.

This is exactly the reason it is happening.  

Now, the use of aluminum does NOT mean that repair costs, the need for special equipment and the complexity of the repair will go down.    Those costs will ultimately be passed along to consumers in the way of increased premiums.  

[c00nhunterjoe]

Mopar had aluminum front clips in 63'.......

[crj1968]

           
 Then suddenly GM & Mopar will be scrambling to catch up.  
 

THIS ^

Hopefully they wont need tax payer money this time around.  GM and Fiat/Chrysler (whoever they are now) are darn lucky Ford isn't the only US automaker left.   

[HANDM]

My daughters first Cadillac (95 SLS) had an aluminum hood

[stripedelete]

GM, Ford, and FIAT have all approached MPG from different angles.  FIAT built a truck that squats.   GM went smaller (Colorado).   I wonder who will go all plastic first.

[crj1968]

GM, Ford, and FIAT have all approached MPG from different angles.  FIAT built a truck that squats.   GM went smaller (Colorado).   I wonder who will go all plastic first.

Saturn (GM)

[stripedelete]

GM, Ford, and FIAT have all approached MPG from different angles.  FIAT built a truck that squats.   GM went smaller (Colorado).   I wonder who will go all plastic first.

Saturn (GM)

...... with 1/2 ton trucks.

[crj1968]

GM, Ford, and FIAT have all approached MPG from different angles.  FIAT built a truck that squats.   GM went smaller (Colorado).   I wonder who will go all plastic first.

Saturn (GM)

...... with 1/2 ton trucks.

as long as it's military grade plastic, I'm good.   

[Mike DC]

         
I'm amazed that GM is poking fun at Ford for the aluminum.  Does GM think they won't have to obey the coming mileage regulations too? 

Where do GM & Mopar expect to get another 10-15 MPG?  The laws of physics won't be different 10 years from now.  The low-hanging fruit from existing vehicles is already long gone.  They are not going to have the luxury of choosing which new drastic steps to take for MPG - it's gonna take everything.   

[RallyeMike]

build and rebuild aluminum airplanes for a living. My '11 x F150 will be my last Ford until they go back to the shit steel they were already using.

Aluminum "Military Grade".. give me a break it's all made to MIL spec.

I'm just repeating what Ford is using to tout the new aluminum body like they are some kind of high-tech armored replacement that's better than steel. It's Ford's PR term. 

It's starting to look like they may want to drop that act and stick to the fuel economy angle.

[skip68]

If you look closely underneath the bed it says made in China.   

[daveco]

Didn't Chrysler use a few aluminum structural components on the light weight A Bodies in the 70s?
(Feather Duster)

[crj1968]

Didn't Chrysler use a few aluminum structural components on the light weight A Bodies in the 70s?
(Feather Duster)

http://www.technologytell.com/in-car-tech/5209/old-school-hypermiler-1976-dodge-dart-lite-and-plymouth-feather-duster/

The Dart Lite and Plymouth Feather Duster achieved that impressive number by old-fashioned methods. First, they were roughly 150 lbs lighter than standard Darts and Dusters thanks to a smattering of aluminum. (And here you thought using aluminum was a new phenomenon for American automakers trying to squeeze more MPGs out of their hulking full-size trucks!) The four speed manual transmission casing was made of the metal, as were bumper supports, hood and trunk supports, and intake manifold. Other weight savings were found in lightening the engine block, crankshaft, and "pinching" the aluminum bumper, hood, and trunk supports into place instead of welding them.

[odcics2]

Saw a TV ad for the Ford that said it had "Military grade aluminum". 

Did you know the Ford out weighed the RAM by 300-400 pounds? 
Now, they only have a few hundred pound advantage.

Gas has hit $1.49 a gallon in MI.