2017 F150

[94BULLITT]

Composites such as Glass or Carbon Fiber are difficult and expensive to repair and not a lot of people have experience. They also don't absorb energy like metals making crash safety an issue. A major benefit of carbon fiber in aerostructures is fatigue and corrosion. Composites don't fatigue like aluminum and this means the differential cabin pressure can be much higher vs. aluminum making a much more comfortable environment especially on long haul flights. The humidity can be much higher as well. If anyone has flown a 787 long distance they know what I am talking about.

As sld mentioned, mating aluminum and carbon fiber needs careful design attention. Often titanium is used instead of aluminum to mitigate galvanic issues but this is an expensive and usually heavier option.

I suspect composite usage in ground vehicles will continue to increase especially as new manufacturing processes are developed and refined. Additive manufacturing is changing things as we speak.

You bring up a good point on the composites not absorbing energy like metal. I wonder if that is one of the reasons (other than weight savings) that Ford went aluminum.

 

[94BULLITT]

Dump trailer + F150 is very useful. I got a 10k 5x10. It is easy to move around and tow.

Loadtrails are very nice. They were a very close second when I was shopping for dump trailers.

 

[robertm]

I've had several Load Trail and PJ trailers. They are built by brothers. I think I am going to sell my current HD R&R aluminum deck-over 16 footer for a steel deck-over. I ordered this R&R with custom HD ramps specifically for my tractors, but used to use it for hauling quads. That phase of my life is all but dead since the kids are growing up and college is on the horizon. This trailer is somewhere near a 4,500# capacity, with all LED lights, dual brake axles and five-star aluminum mag wheels. It looks great and handles so well with torsion axles, but it sits 364 days a year. If I can get a steel trailer again, I'll let my dad use it for his heavier tractor, and then we both can split the cost. While these dump styles look great, they aren't as functional for my use.