Aluminum started out with a stigma against it. Many long-time Ford F-150 enthusiasts swore to switch brands rather than drive a "soda can." It has been two years since Ford's most popular pickup traded in its heavy steel body for a lightweight aluminum alloy, and most of those critics changed sides when it became clear that an aluminum truck was a more capable truck.
A few of aluminum's more desirable qualities include:
- Lighter weight
- Superior dent resistance
- No rusting; resists corrosion
If you could cut the weight of a truck's body in half without negatively impacting durability or safety, then why wouldn't you? In Ford's early field tests of the F-150, they loaned out aluminum-bodied trucks to unsuspecting construction companies, telling them only that something was different, and asking them to report back after rigorous, on-the-job use. Even after extreme use, none of the beta testers suspected their trucks were aluminum.
Ford is always careful in the way it engineers its F-Series Super Duty models, because these trucks are expected to stand up to the demands of professional, commercial use. For the 2017 model year, Ford is confident enough in the performance of aluminum to let Super Duty customers reap the benefits.
In the attached video, five real-world customers, including business owners and utility workers, get a chance to see the underpinnings of the 2017 Super Duty on the factory floor, feel the difference in weight between steel and aluminum doors, and go for a towing test. With weight reinvested in performance-critical components like the frame, brakes, and suspension, nobody walks away disappointed.
The 2017 Super Duty arrives in Zelienople later this year. Customers all across the Cranberry Township, Beaver Falls, New Castle, Butler area can expect fast and affordable body repairs at the aluminum-certified Baierl Ford Collision Center.