2015 Ford F-150 Aluminum Bed

[Community Alumni]

Here's a video from Ford displaying the strength of their new aluminum bed when compared to the steel bed. They got a few athletes to throw and shoot a few things at it and compared the damage from each. It's not a practical test, but interesting nevertheless. The action starts at the 1:30 mark.

The 2015 Ford F-150 takes on Top Athletes

[FishOnOne]

spoon059 wrote:

BillyW wrote:
So... Is the tailgate aluminum? If so, just how stout will it be? The structure will already be somewhat compromised with the integrated step ladder and hand rail. Will we still be able to pull ATVs and motorcycles in and out and rest the rear wheels on it?

Double check your current truck... you probably aren't supposed to load an ATV or motorcycle over the tailgate, nor are you supposed to rest any significant weight on it while in motion.

It surprised me... but it clearly stated it in my 95 F150, my 2010 Tundra and my buddy's 2007.5 Chevy 2500.

Only a Toyota owner would be critical of putting too much weight on a tailgate and we all know why. :W

We've put farm equipment tools and parts on our Ford truck tailgates that I was scared the steel cable was going to snap.

[TurnThePage]

I totally appreciate the manufacturers' efforts to save me a buck on fuel, but that's not going to change how I use my truck. Spoon059, you are correct, technically, but that won't change anything. For instance, if you are going to load an ATV or motorcycle that totally fits in the bed of your Ford and is within GVWR, are you going to remove your tailgate to do it? NOT!

Nature of the beast.. My 19 year old F150 has yet to complain about it by the way. 🙂

[BenK]

spoon059 wrote:
snip....


Double check your current truck... you probably aren't supposed to load an ATV or motorcycle over the tailgate, nor are you supposed to rest any significant weight on it while in motion.

It surprised me... but it clearly stated it in my 95 F150, my 2010 Tundra and my buddy's 2007.5 Chevy 2500.

Consider that the 'recommendation', 'rating', 'limit', 'spec', etc
from the OEM on HOW2 use their tail gates...

Then consider how many come looking for towing advice and get advice to ignore
and exceed the OEM's 'recommendation', 'limit', 'rating', etc...as they
have been doing that for a long time with no issues...am now hoping
you will speak up when those advisors, provide advice to go ahead and
over load...you might get the derogatory 'weight police' label

I will admit to exceeding that 'rating' often on all of the steel
tailgates I've owned, borrowed and rented

Or tell that to the fork lift driver who places a pallet weighing
hundreds of pounds 'partially' on the tail gate. Or the guys at some
of the loading docks loading my pickup that has been backed up to their
loading dock.

They must weigh over 200 lbs easy, each and the two are holding a box
that weighs several hundred pounds as they both step onto my tail gate

I've seen many V8's strapped onto the tail-gate and none of it's weight
is on the bed...out on the freeway too

Those examples go on and on...are real world metrics as to how 'some'
of the pickup beds/tail-gates are used...vs the marketing ad showing
a pro drive a golf ball into the bed...how many times have any of you
done that?....how many of you can even drive a golf ball 200 mph?

PS...just because I've overloaded my tail-gates, will continue to do
that...that I've seen others do that...does it make it right either...

[spoon059]

BillyW wrote:
So... Is the tailgate aluminum? If so, just how stout will it be? The structure will already be somewhat compromised with the integrated step ladder and hand rail. Will we still be able to pull ATVs and motorcycles in and out and rest the rear wheels on it?

Double check your current truck... you probably aren't supposed to load an ATV or motorcycle over the tailgate, nor are you supposed to rest any significant weight on it while in motion.

It surprised me... but it clearly stated it in my 95 F150, my 2010 Tundra and my buddy's 2007.5 Chevy 2500.

[RobertRyan]

ib516 wrote:
Ford always does such a great job with their advertising - particularly online. The other guys should take lessons.

Strangely absolutely appalling in Australia. They released the slightly smaller Transit, not a mention., no mention of the Ranger as well. Toyota , Jeep and some others do advertise a lot more.

[jerem0621]

I just hope this new F150 is a hit with F150 owners so the 09-14 models will come down in price. I'm not a big fan of the 2015's styling. Love the 09-14 though. Lol

[TurnThePage]

I've seen steel tailgates fail under load more than once. That's why I'm curious about an aluminum one. The aluminum needs to be significantly thicker to provide the same strength. Things like built in step ladders would appear to eat into that. Paint would be an issue too, but I'm much more concerned about strength.

[BenK]

Painting is close, but there are differences

I don't stand on hoods....often.... :B

I do stand on tail gates and very often...even load a few hundred pounds
of gravel/rocks/fire wood/etc...and often

Even have the obligatory 'dent' when backing up to then nail whatever.
Not by me, but brother and a few who have borrowed my Silverado. Common
on most pickups that are used to do work.

Or have a load of 2x4's or whatever lumber laid down to stick out
past the tailgate edge...to then have that unloaded by sliding the
lumber on the tailgate in off loading

Have had a fork lift drop a load on the tail gate. Back up to then
push it in farther into the bed. Biggest were several pallets of
garden rocks. Must have been several hundred to close to 1,000 lbs
would be my guess...as it dropped the suspension a lot...my heavy
half ton has 1 ton helper springs on the rear axle

Local gardeners never close their tailgates because they have their
lawn mowers on it. Chained and lots of 'steel' tail gates are bent
or bowed over time. Most of them no longer have paint, but a rusty
surface patina from spilled gasoline, hands, etc

Never have I done any of that on a hood...

I have no issue with Aluminum except for the bed or frame

[RAS43]

DirtyOil wrote:
Typical interweb fears and folklore.... Aluminum has been used as body panels for years... example Land Rover series 1 built back late 40's 1947 or 1948 they used the Jeep chassis and engine to start with.

I agree. Most medium and heavy duty trucks have had aluminum cabs, hoods and fenders for decades without issues. Fords F650's and F750's were included so I am sure that they are knowledgeable about using aluminum in their pickups.

[Fordlover]

BenK wrote:
The applications of a hood vs body vs pickup bed are very different and
out of context to compare them

It can be done...but at a cost and that is then dependent on their bean counter
managers allowance to 'do it right'

Galvanic action is huge and am constantly surprised at how highly educated engineers
design things that have no clue on galvanic action

Take GMT400's rear AC. Galvanic action welds the mating parts together and the
only recourse is to cut them out and replace. Either make up new with the correct
metals in contact, or go OEM to have it repeat the cycle

Al does NOT have the flexing and work hardening 'resistance' that steel does. Or
have they found a new alloy that I don't know about? Key will be how they managed
the natural harmonic vs the actual harmonics it will experience (the
frequencies must be far apart)

If I owned one...the first thing I'd do is to have a liner. A VERY THICK liner.
Either a sprayed on, or vacuum molded...or both. I do for the Silverado's steel
bed (molded)

Can you explain to me why it is out of context to compare paint adherence to an aluminum hood vs. an aluminum tailgate? The leading edge of a hood is commonly one of the most paint damaged parts of a vehicle where I live. Most late model 1/2 ton's (and 1 ton's for that matter) have a pristine bed in the land of trucks, Texas.

[DirtyOil]

Typical interweb fears and folklore.... Aluminum has been used as body panels for years... example Land Rover series 1 built back late 40's 1947 or 1948 they used the Jeep chassis and engine to start with.

[TurnThePage]

So... Is the tailgate aluminum? If so, just how stout will it be? The structure will already be somewhat compromised with the integrated step ladder and hand rail. Will we still be able to pull ATVs and motorcycles in and out and rest the rear wheels on it?

[BenK]

My 1996 Trek aluminum MTB has some cancer where I've dripped sweat and missed it
when cleaning & waxing my bike

No broken paint to expose raw AL to sweat, but the salts went through the paint
over time. How long, have no clue

The other spots with chipped/scratched/etc paint are not corroded like the spots
where sweat has done it's work. ALWAYS garaged, except for the times out camping

My cast AL patio furniture has one chair that is always corroding. Even after
sand blasting and repainting with white Rustolium. It's sisters and brothers (other
chairs and table) are just fine sitting out in an uncovered portion of the patio
They are about 25 years old now

On one of my apartments...one units AL sliding doors rot out often
and has to do with the steel railing nearby. Al is sacrificial to FE
The other units have same/similar setups & location to steel railing,
but that one unit rots regularly

My partners in one of my old boats learned to NOT install anything AL without
a sacrificial magnesium slug screwed onto it

Any of you guys with these boats ever have corrosion problems on your outboards?
Depends what chemical make up of the water you boat in, how you hose it off and
how it is stored, IMO

[camperforlife]

PAThwacker wrote:


40 year old aluminum jon boat. Spent entire life outdoors.

I have a beautiful 73 18' Starcraft Holiday aluminum V hull stern drive boat that has been very tough and still turns heads. My 42 year old antique aluminum boat is a great testimonial to aluminum durability especially when boats can be prone to galvanic corrosion. Although my experience with Ford products will prevent me from ever purchasing another one, aluminum bodies certainly isn't a concern.