F150 aluminum & resulting MPG

I'm not surprised at better mpg for new F150. When towing you have to factor in wind resistance. Probably better mpg than older PUs. Most likely lower than what they say in their advertisement.

My 2 cents is they will match Ram 1500 and say 25 MPG if they have the 8 sp.
Just for the heck of it I reduced my wt from 7700lbs to 7200 lb on my rig and gained .44mpg difference over a 950 mi trip.
went from 13.33 avg to 13.77

RWDIII wrote:
My 2 cents is they will match Ram 1500 and say 25 MPG if they have the 8 sp.
Just for the heck of it I reduced my wt from 7700lbs to 7200 lb on my rig and gained .44mpg difference over a 950 mi trip.
went from 13.33 avg to 13.77

If you got a small 1/2 you would reduce it much more.

Reporter got at least one thing wrong I think , both plants will not be shut at the same time one will continue to build the 'classic' for a while until the aluminum gets up to speed been some delay already.

I don't see this helping the RV industry. It will only effect daily driving/empty. I get the same 10mpg average with my 4500 lb camper that I got with my 2900lb camper and my 6500lb camper. It's all about wind-resistance when towing. Plus, I don't want a lightweight truck when towing. I want something that's going to be able to control the weight of a camper. I don't want a lightwight aluminum truck that an RV is going to push all over the road.

An aluminum truck?? Dont want that!! I have hit some bugs going thru the mid west that would total an aluminum truck!! You think a hail storm causes damage? Imagine what a few big bugs will do to your hood?? I ran into a swarm of Dragon flies driving a semi,, Sounded like I was being shot at!! If you have ever traveled down I-5 in California from Sacramento to Bakersfield you have encountered the Swallows that nest under the over passes,, I have hit a few of them with a truck fairing and cracked it!! (the fairing), The bird disintegrates!!
Imagine a swallow smacking into an aluminum car or truck???

my question is...

reduce by 750 pounds.. but will the Frame be made stronger...??
the loss of weight will mean ..
less strong (weaker) springs/shocks/control arms!!!!!! Brakes... axles....

Less weight might make a difference in town, where lower speed's the rule. Highway driving- nah. As mentioned before, at highway speeds it's almost all about aerodynamics except maybe on long uphill pulls.

I'm thinking the market for this pickup is grocery-getter/town "truck", so the lower weight fuel saving "advantage" will probably appeal to that market.

More than anything I'm curious to see if the GVW, tow ratings, etc. change or remain consistent with the current offering.

There are many different types of aluminum some much harder than others and aluminum vehicles have been around a very long time. I think the mistake Ford is making is continuing to make the box from steel.