RRSport

That's for sure.

Curmudgeon

GM is planning aluminum truck bodies for 2018, not 2016. It's common news online, e.g. Wall Street Journal, with deals being cut with suppliers such as Alcoa.

BTW, GM has announced that they will be assembling the trucks with a welding process rather than Ford's SS rivets & adhesive process. Ford's assembly process is nearly identical to aircraft production processes...GM appears to be striking out in a less proven direction and IMO wants to avoid any appearance of copying Ford's proven methodology.

PhiDeltDave

Yeah, my bad, I got the year wrong. Regardless, GM is seeing how Ford does with aluminum before following suit. Ford leads the way.

RRSport

2016 raptor mule spied http://oak.ctx.ly/r/10qbo

Curmudgeon

Ford will assemble with rivets & adhesives while GM will assemble with a welding methodology. Ford's approach closely resembles current aircraft assembly methods while GM appears to be using a relatively untried approach.

hydro

I'll make the prediction now. Ford F-150 will do what ram did. Back to back Motor Trend truck of the year. 2015 F-150 the first year and Raptor the next.

WikkedFX4

What rims are those?

Ftruck150

I wouldn't fly on any beer can airplanes, they gotta be made out of solid steel or they're junk! Aluminum is for beer cans only!

And to say that using rivets and and adhesive would be copying ford is a bit disingenuous, as there are many automakers that have been using that process before Ford.



Maybe in trucks. It's nothing new though

Ftruck150

Yeah I think it's safe to say they have already sealed the deal on truck of the year being the first aluminum paneled truck, as well as more new motors and a complete redesign

Curmudgeon

Either you jest (?) or the last steel airplane you flew in was assembled in Germany in the 1930s.