Jump to content
Create New...

Ram News: Rumorpile: Ram Keeping It Steel Till 2021


William Maley

Recommended Posts

With new fuel economy regulations coming around the corner, many automakers are trying a number of things to meet those upcoming standards. Case in point: Ford is using aluminum in the next-generation F-150, and General Motors is reportedly doing the same for their next full-size truck. What about Ram Trucks? A new report says the brand will be sticking with steel for the time being.

Reuters has learned from two sources that when Ram gives their truck a refresh in 2017, aluminum will not be in the picture. The earliest that Ram would add the material is after 2020 when the truck will be redesigned.

This move could either hurt Ram if aluminum proves to be ticket for sales, or could actually help if reports of aluminum stockpiles are short because of more automakers using it in their vehicles.

Source: Reuters

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.


View full article

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I consider myself a Ford truck man (have had 4), but I drive a Chevy and I think the current Rams are often gorgeous (in some trims/colors).

 

IMO, there's not a thing "wrong" with this :

clip_image002_0002.jpg

 

...and one guy moving to Dodge is meaningless. Mercedes gets about a 30% loyalty figure. No vehicle is for everyone.

  • Agree 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chevy trucks win because of longterm quality, something Dodge trucks lack.  Although if the Coke can Ford falls flat on its face, I hope it is not too late for GM to hedge their bets toward steel.  It takes a huge investment to be able to work on aluminum.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure I agree on the long term quality of Ram Trucks. I actually think they are fantastic, at least the newer ones. And this is coming from me, the C and G resident Mopar H8er. Agree with Balthy also that they are sweet in some colors or trims.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can actually see GM doing a Hybrid style of Truck. Inside Truck Bed is strong Solid Steel, Outside of bed being the body panels are aluminum. Still built like a Rock! :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting idea. Meanwhile, I lust over the idea of a fifties truck with a real hardwood floor in the bed!

Edited by A Horse With No Name
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can actually see GM doing a Hybrid style of Truck. Inside Truck Bed is strong Solid Steel, Outside of bed being the body panels are aluminum. Still built like a Rock! :P

Problem with hybrid truck bodies is that you get galvanic corrosion where dissimilar metals touch.  Its one thing on a engine where gaskets separate metals, metals are thick or alloys prevent the problem to certain degrees.  I imagine you need spacers where ever AL and FE touch.  Body movement would likely wear off paint or even these spacers.

I just don't see the weight savings worth the effort.  I think this effort will go the way of GM's 1980 AL hoods and '90s plastic fenders and fiberglass door skins.

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, Ford is advertising a "special coating" to prevent aluminum corrosion on their new truck.  I'll believe it when I see it over time... we still see plenty of corrosion on Ford aluminum body panels - hoods and liftgates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, Ford is advertising a "special coating" to prevent aluminum corrosion on their new truck.  I'll believe it when I see it over time... we still see plenty of corrosion on Ford aluminum body panels - hoods and liftgates.

Don't drive your aluminum Ford behind a truck spilling mercury thermometers...

I think its especially ironic that mercury would doom an aluminum Ford now that Ford killed off Mercury.

Aluminum corrosion is awful.  Rust sucks, but at least some metal remains.  You can't salvage aluminum when its turning into something akin to alka-selzer.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search

Change privacy settings