Faith in Trucks?

[tuffr2]

I am getting queasy thinking about the new F-150 which is reported to be using a lot of aluminum. Also to add to that the accelerated truck wars between the Big 3. Trying to out do each other. Couple this with new EPA regulations and I can see a possible torque bubble that will burst.

The competition is so fast and furious I am not sure how the new engines are being tested.

Seems only a matter of time before a truck is made that is junk. Either the paint will not stay on the new F-150 or turbo's will catastrophically fail on the super duper diesel engines.

Or - are the engineers and bean counters smart enough to keep pulling off very impressive trucks?

[Cumminsfan]

Then buy a Ram.

[hone eagle]

Some class 8 semi's had or have had al frames and most cars have al body parts ,the F150 already has a al hood.Fear not grasshopper ford is the first but will not be the only.
CAFE will see to that.

[wingnut60]

And GM never had any paint problems?

According to some of the posts on different forums, all 3 mfgs are already making junk...

And, hopefully, the airplane mfgs can help Ford with the aluminum.

Your fears are probably just a little paranoid. When the aluminum trucks hit the streets, (most) everyone will like them, except those with magnetic signs...

Joe

[Scottybdivin]

Originally Posted by wingnut60

And GM never had any paint problems?

According to some of the posts on different forums, all 3 mfgs are already making junk...

And, hopefully, the airplane mfgs can help Ford with the aluminum.

Your fears are probably just a little paranoid. When the aluminum trucks hit the streets, (most) everyone will like them, except those with magnetic signs...

Joe

I've been driving Ford diesels, with one exception, since 1982. At 33,000 miles, I can unequivocally say my 2013 F350 is the quietest, most powerful, most comfortable, and most pleasurable truck I have ever driven. Will I say that at 200K? Only time will tell.

P.S. The one exception was a 07 Chevy 3500 D/A, and it was an incredible truck also for 186K almost trouble free miles, and enabled me to skip Ford's 6.0L and 6.4L diesels.

[tuffr2]

I am talking about the truck industry in general. Ram, Chevy, and Ford. Not necessarily one vs the other.

How far can they push the HP/Torque envelope? How much more can these trucks (which are all great) be improved. Maybe install a warp drive or make them fly?

Now most gas powered 1/2 ton trucks can produce 400 plus ft. lbs torque.

Diesel trucks are around 800 or more.

Think in the next 10 years we will see 1,000 ft. lbs. or torque? 550 from gas engines?

[SeeTheUSA]

I just read a day or two ago that Ford logged yet another year, 32 I think now in a row, with the F-Series as the Number One Seller, Chevy truck was Number Two, maybe Toyota Camry was Number Three, Ram truck was Number Four . . . . best I can recall.

With trucks being 1, 2 and 4 top sellers, can't imagine they'll do anything but improve and try to keep their spots secure.

Now as far as aluminum - it's not really the sheet metal that gives a truck, which still has a frame, it's rigidity. Could make the panels from plastic (oh, already have some of that!). If you take away the good stiff steel frame, then that's a whole other issue.

[bartlettj]

I think all this competition is great. Wait a couple of years and you can figure out which truck is best, and get a good deal on it used.

[Cumminsfan]

Not sure they can get too much more power w/o compromising mpg. Like anything else technology is always evolving. Hard to comprehend what the next big improvement will be. I know Ram jumped the CTD to 850 tq, and I heard that Ford is working on improvements for the 6.7. New turbo, cooling etc and HP is near 420 with TQ near 880.
I would much rather have less HP/TQ and get better mpgs.

[tuffr2]

Ford, Chevy, Ram - the 1st one to warp drive wins !!!

So Ram is now at 850 torque, Ford will bump that to 880.

No doubt in 10 years you will be able to buy a 1,000 ft lbs. torque truck if not more.

All I can say is holy cow...what's next?

[jamesrxx951]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

Not sure they can get too much more power w/o compromising mpg. Like anything else technology is always evolving. Hard to comprehend what the next big improvement will be. I know Ram jumped the CTD to 850 tq, and I heard that Ford is working on improvements for the 6.7. New turbo, cooling etc and HP is near 420 with TQ near 880.
I would much rather have less HP/TQ and get better mpgs.

One thing to consider is that the older diesels like the 7.3L and the 5.9 Cummins that got over 20 MPG did not have any MPG robbing emissions stuff. The newer diesels out of the big three are seeing pretty similar MPG (seen a Ford 6.7L 4x2 super crew truck get 22 MPH) while almost putting pure air out the tail pipe. So we are seeing high HP/TQ numbers with similar MPG's

[TXiceman]

Captain, the dilithium crystals are about to go critical.

Ken

[wingnut60]

I don't think there is ever going to be a 'best' truck, if there ever was one. All 3 mfgs are making good trucks--each person has to figure out which one suits their needs best. Almost never hear of a transmission failure any more, engines are another deal entirely. When they start forcing emissions crap onto the trans, then they will probably also have growing pains--I just wonder how many gears you can get into the same housing, without raising the floor hump.
And for sales figures for the F-series: do they include all F trucks; and do the sales of GM include all the Chevy/GMC 1500 to 3500s?
Joe

[tuffr2]

I saw sales figures for 2012. The Ford 'F' trucks sold the most. But Chevy/GMC was very close behind. These two trucks were #1 and #2 of vehicles sold. Ram was in the top 10 but I do not remember what #.
Camry and Accord cars were in the top 5 if I remember correctly.