Aluminum vs Steel truck bodies

[jyoutz]

Most automatic car washes around here are touchless pressure washer gantries, and all offer quantity discounts, either buying in bulk or monthly plans. Back when I was passing one of them every day, I would try to get each car there after each weather event, but I don't travel that route anymore.

Yeah I no longer wash cars at home during the winter. That’s a summer time activity. The automatic wash places typically have an underbody wash option for a few bucks more. They do use magnesium chloride here during severe icing events in addition to the cinders, so I always hit the car wash as soon as the road conditions clear up.

 

[nisaacs]

First, not everyone wants to live in the desert, or even in the southwest. Honestly, shoot me before subjecting me to your dry weather and long summer heat.

I guess I hit a nerve...

The thread is about rust. I posted facts and proof that I don't need aluminum or rust proofing. Why should I pay extra for something I don't need?

This trailer is a 1980 or 44 years old. Other than some surface rust from sun burnt paint, it is a solid as the day it was built.

This dump trailer from your country, not so much.

 

[newbury]

A little summary

A few months ago I watched a YouTube video from back in the rust belt someplace, where the roads were extensively salted every winter, addressing just this question. They brought in several examples from Ford, GM, Ram and Toyota, all about 8 - 9 years old and compared the body integrity. The conclusion was clear. All of the Fords with aluminum body were essentially pristine. All the others had varying degrees of rust - some were rusted through in the wheel wells.

Automakers are paying attention...I've read that other manufacturers other Ford are adding aluminum body panels also. Not positive but I think I remember reading that new GM pickups have aluminum doors and hoods.

I have a 2017 F150 with 50,000 miles and it’s still good. They sure aren’t afraid to use salt on the roads around here either. It’s got a few chips but it still looks good.

Body damage. I screwed up when backing up my trailer and had the tailgate down. I have a setback jack and but a pretty bad dent in the tailgate. If it was steel it would have been just as bad. I found a used tailgate the exact same color that even had the factory bed liner for $750.

My previous two trucks, a Dodge and a Chevy I got rid of because of rust. I’m sold on the aluminum body.

I have an Aluminum Bodied 2019 and a Steel Bodied 2013 F150. 2011-2013 F150's were prone to Cab Corner/Rocker Panel rusting out and mine has started, but has been sprayed with FF a lot. The 2019 I don't even think twice about Sloppy Salted Roads. The 2013 I spray down at the Car Wash after any Salty Rides.

I think Ford made a Great Move in 2015, switching to Aluminum, from a Rust Belt Dweller's view. Parts I can change, Rust once it starts, you can't keep up to the repairs.

Repairs are about the same costs, as Ford made removing parts easier than in the past. The only inconvenience in our Body Shop is Cross Contamination concerns. They can't be working (Sanding, Welding) on a Steel Vehicle in the same area as an Aluminum Vehicle.

Anyway, back in 2016 I bought a new F150 V8 XLT with the FX4 and the sport package. It now has 175,000 on her and the body is perfect. She is showing her age underneath but that is to be expected since I live south of Buffalo NY, where they never seem to run out of salt.

Dave

Well it seems that the majority of responders think Al is great for truck bodies.
No major complaints about repair cost. Just will make it harder to attach my $20 magnetic back up camera.


And then there is the outlier

I guess I hit a nerve...

The thread is about rust. I posted facts and proof that I don't need aluminum or rust proofing. Why should I pay extra for something I don't need?

You shouldn't. More important, WHY do you care? There are plenty of other truck bodies to choose from.

 

[5030]

Keep in mind that not only Ford is using aluminum for body panels but so is GM. GM just don't blow about it much.

Again, regardless, the under side is still steel and subject to corrosion that you just don't have in your face and domestic brake lines are all steel and also subject to corrosion.

The exterior body might stay nice, but once the frame corrodes and the brake lines fail, what do you have left? Tell me????

 

[Jstpssng]

Yeah I no longer wash cars at home during the winter. That’s a summer time activity. The automatic wash places typically have an underbody wash option for a few bucks more. They do use magnesium chloride here during severe icing events in addition to the cinders, so I always hit the car wash as soon as the road conditions clear up.

Two problems with this. Temps dropped to single numbers last night and car washes around here aren't open in cold weather because it creates an ice slick out onto the highway. it's about 40 miles to the nearest car wash so even if I could get in, the truck would be just as dirty by the time I got home. That's why I didn't stop on my way through last night.

 

[WinterDeere]

I agree, aluminum is going to prove the winner, at least for non-structure components. It does pose the risk of embrittlement and surprise failures in structural applications, so I guess that's one obstacle they'll need to work out.

But while I agree with the conclusions, I question the validity of some of the responses. For example, if your truck is a 2019, stating it has no rust because it's aluminum is a bit of a reach. Unless subjected to some very uniquely abusive conditions, no steel truck built in 2019 should be rusting today, either. Our coatings and paints have gotten very good, and even with me driving my trucks almost exclusively in bad weather, letting them sit outside damp in the shade in-between bad weather events, I never see visible body rust before 10 - 12 years. Usually sticking brake components are my first indicator of rust, then brake lines... and bodies follow well after both.

If Ram comes out with an Aluminum body, I'll be all over that. If they're still doing steel, and Ford and GM have moved to aluminum, it might be enough to convince me to switch brands again, but only if engine/trans/diff gearing options are similar across the board.

 

[WinterDeere]

Two problems with this. Temps dropped to single numbers last night and car washes around here aren't open in cold weather because it creates an ice slick out onto the highway. it's about 40 miles to the nearest car wash so even if I could get in, the truck would be just as dirty by the time I got home. That's why I didn't stop on my way through last night.

Someone said in another thread, "the trouble with living in the sticks..."

Car washes here remain open in all weather, even sub-zero. The one I use is located in a dealer service lot, several hundred feet from the road. Yeah, it's a massive ice slick on that little service road between the wash exit and the highway, but the highway itself usually remains dry. The service road is dealer private property, so I'd guess the township and state have no say in that, as long as it doesn't affect the highway (state route).

They do have to run with their doors closed in winter, which slows down the line quite a bit, on those busy days after a storm. I have a flexible schedule, so usually try to time it for way-off-peak hours.

 

[Hay Dude]

Ram 1500 truck hoods and tailgates are aluminum and have been for some time.

Are Ram 1500 Pickup Trucks Aluminum?

Here's exactly what steel Ram has replaced with aluminum.

www.motorbiscuit.com

My 5500 has an aluminum & stainless EBY flatbed. I like it a lot, because it’s less corrosion to worry about and NO paint to worry about. As is everything new I’ve ever owned, I always do something minor to damage it. I backed into something (never felt it) with the 5500 and “tore” the aluminum apron across the back ever so slightly. Not really very noticeable….

Aluminum: “Twice the price, half the weight”

 

[jyoutz]

Two problems with this. Temps dropped to single numbers last night and car washes around here aren't open in cold weather because it creates an ice slick out onto the highway. it's about 40 miles to the nearest car wash so even if I could get in, the truck would be just as dirty by the time I got home. That's why I didn't stop on my way through last night.

The hand wash stations are going away here and they are build new automated washes where all of the water drains into a sump inside and nothing goes outside. I believe the water is filtered and reused.

 

[Oaktree]

it's about 40 miles to the nearest car wash so even if I could get in, the truck would be just as dirty by the time I got home. That's why I didn't stop on my way through last night.

Yeah, you beat me to it. I'm not quite as far from a carwash as you, but it's still far enough that unless the roads are perfectly dry you're just as dirty when you got home as when you left. State highways are usually cleared enough so they might be dry, but our town roads, not so much.

They do have to run with their doors closed in winter, which slows down the line quite a bit, on those busy days after a storm. I have a flexible schedule, so usually try to time it for way-off-peak hours.

Any car washes here close the doors during wash cycle year round, at least in the auto-wash bay. Self service bays are open. They can be kinda dangerous in the winter with all the ice buildup on the floor.