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FREEDGUY 
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 Topic: The Aluminum Truck Bed ??
Posted: 26 Feb 2021 at 8:18pm |
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What ever happened to them ?? Several years ago every-other truck commercial (FORD) touted the aluminum bed and possibly frame?? There hasn't been any ads for them in several years ??
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shameless dude
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Posted: 26 Feb 2021 at 10:10pm |
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it's simple...they was made outta 1/2 steel and 1/2 alum, when the steel rusts out, the alum just falls out! then it's flatbed time.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 26 Feb 2021 at 10:28pm |
The FRAMES are still steel.... Chevy tried to make a big deal out of FORD aluminum beds for a couple years.... FORD still doing good , so Chevy stopped the adds... better things to talk about.
Aluminum-bodied Ford trucks
Since 2015, the Ford F-150 has had an aluminum body. ... At the moment, the Ford F-150 and F-Series Super Duty are the only trucks that have both aluminum bodies and aluminum beds. For 2019, the Chevrolet Silverado did replace some steel body panels with aluminum ones, but not the bed.Nov 23, 2019
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 26 Feb 2021 at 10:30pm |
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The BIG thing for FORD was the LOSS of 700 POUNDS of weight... better gas mileage.
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WF owner
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 6:56am |
Despite GM's ads telling how bad aluminum is, all of GM truck body moving parts (doors, hood and tailgates) are now made of aluminum.
Fiat uses a "selective mix" of aluminum and composites in the Ram pickups.
Edited by WF owner - 27 Feb 2021 at 6:57am
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FREEDGUY
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 5:56pm |
Thanks for the replies, but there are NO more ads on tv touting the aluminum beds of any manufacturer  ?? Why ??
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AllisFreak MN
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 6:13pm |
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Because it's old news and nobody cares.
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'49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2
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plummerscarin
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 6:19pm |
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Was thinking the same thing
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DMiller
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 6:46pm |
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Do not hear much of the Super Stiff Dodge Truck frames either. BAD Juju, if does not flex will break, standing engineering principle.
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ACFarmer
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 6:47pm |
 FREEDGUY wrote:
Thanks for the replies, but there are NO more ads on tv touting the aluminum beds of any manufacturer ?? Why ?? |
Why would they?? Its old news... Nobody spends advertising dollars on stuff that's been out for years now. Like has already been said, Ford has had aluminum beds now for 5-6 years.
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Making a living farming with and working on Allis Equipment
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DMiller
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 6:51pm |
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Bunch of neighbor cattlemen have aluminum flat beds, can get more gear On the truck and not be overloaded by flatbed weight. HOWEVER, are a PITA to find a decent welder to patch cracks or make mods to, as well still corrode and corrupt.
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plummerscarin
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 8:06pm |
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Welding oxidized or dirty aluminium requires a whole different skill set vs new metal IMO.
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HD6GTOM
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 8:13pm |
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When the old cows get to ramming around and push one another into the aluminum side, they cave it in. Last I talked to the body shop man you had to replace the whole box, can't buy the sides. He was buying steel boxes to replace the crumpled up aluminum boxes or replacing them with flat beds.
Edited by HD6GTOM - 27 Feb 2021 at 8:14pm
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 10:44pm |
WE have two chevy commericals on the TV here..... One talks about the tail gate step... the other is an "off road truck", that has Ranchero shocks and 2 inch spring lift.... thats the "NEW IMPORTANT THINGS". 
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Jordan(OH)
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Posted: 28 Feb 2021 at 1:34am |
HD6GTOM wrote:
When the old cows get to ramming around and push one another into the aluminum side, they cave it in. Last I talked to the body shop man you had to replace the whole box, can't buy the sides. He was buying steel boxes to replace the crumpled up aluminum boxes or replacing them with flat beds. |
Yet you will never give a source for these "steel boxes." They must be piled beside your 16ft tall trailer.
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WF owner
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Posted: 28 Feb 2021 at 5:21am |
steve(ill) wrote:
WE have two chevy commericals on the TV here..... One talks about the tail gate step... the other is an "off road truck", that has Ranchero shocks and 2 inch spring lift.... thats the "NEW IMPORTANT THINGS". |
Ford has had the FX4 off road package with Rancho shocks and a tailgate step for years .
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FREEDGUY
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Posted: 01 Mar 2021 at 6:20pm |
ACFarmer wrote:
FREEDGUY wrote:
Thanks for the replies, but there are NO more ads on tv touting the aluminum beds of any manufacturer ?? Why ?? |
Why would they?? Its old news... Nobody spends advertising dollars on stuff that's been out for years now. Like has already been said, Ford has had aluminum beds now for 5-6 years. |
So, am I to "assume" that ALL truck beds are aluminum now ?? No steel offered at all ??
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 01 Mar 2021 at 6:23pm |
NO.... Ford is the only one with an aluminum BED as far as i know... everyone else uses aluminum in the fenders / doors / hood / and trunk lid of cars to save weight.. Some use a lot of aluminum, some only do hood and trunk lids.
Like mentioned, it is so common any more... nobody says much about it.
Edited by steve(ill) - 01 Mar 2021 at 6:25pm
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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FREEDGUY
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Posted: 01 Mar 2021 at 6:34pm |
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Thanks for the clarification Steve.
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JohnColo
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Posted: 01 Mar 2021 at 9:21pm |
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Years ago a friend had an Oldsmobile with an aluminum hood. Went to a funeral and the director put a flag with a magnet on the hood to indicate the end of the procession, every time he stopped it would slide around, finally stopped and put it on the top or somewhere.
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DMiller
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Posted: 02 Mar 2021 at 4:48am |
GM and Dodge truck NON Dually beds are steel, have gone to some plastic/composite fenders on Dodge and plastic extensions GM but only Ford has all aluminum beds and cabs. All you need do is search.
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jaybmiller
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Posted: 02 Mar 2021 at 7:17am |
Austin-Healy hoods,maybe fenders were aluminum...
Land Rovers were aluminum, least the beds....'highly resistant to sheep urine'
WHY I know this knowledge instead of important stuff is beyond me...
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Alberta Phil
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Posted: 02 Mar 2021 at 11:06am |
Austin Healey hoods, doors, fenders and trunk lids are steel. It's the rest of the front and rear body panels that are aluminum. I've restored more than my share of them for others. I believe the early 100 series Healey's also had aluminum doors. Many Brit vehicles used aluminum body panels. Land Rovers have steel frames and cowl/firewall sections. All the rest of the body is aluminum.
I have had several and still have a '72 that we use like a quad around the farm. Advantage being, it hauls more, has a roof and a heater for winter!!
After WW2, Britain had a serious shortage of steel, but lots of aluminum from re-cycled aircraft. That is one of the main reasons for common use of aluminum in auto manufacturing.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 02 Mar 2021 at 4:14pm |
After WW2, Britain had a serious shortage of steel, but lots of aluminum from re-cycled aircraft. That is one of the main reasons for common use of aluminum in auto manufacturing.
Thanks Phil.......... i have never heard that story.. Didnt know that..
Son has a 2000 Explorer 4x4.. Cost $1000. ... uses it in place of a $15K side by side... Not aluminum, but WORKS GREAT !
Edited by steve(ill) - 02 Mar 2021 at 4:18pm
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Kansas99
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Posted: 02 Mar 2021 at 9:13pm |
Does this new Ford have a aluminum box? 
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"Thank you for your service Joe & the Ho"-----Joseph Stalin
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FREEDGUY
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Posted: 03 Mar 2021 at 5:53pm |
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Kansas99
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Posted: 04 Mar 2021 at 12:25pm |
Actually Freed, I'm going to have to go with OJ on this one, don't look to bad. 
I actually have thought the newer 1/2 ton Ford pickups are pretty sharp, but boy them new GMC's sure look good coming down the road. I've owned a couple Fords but pretty much a GM guy. After all I kinda owned the company at one time.
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"Thank you for your service Joe & the Ho"-----Joseph Stalin
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