Go Back   EcoModder Forum > Off-Topic > The Lounge
Register Now
 Register Now
 


Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 12-11-2017, 12:19 PM   #1 (permalink)
Not Doug
 
Xist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,186

Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D
90 day: 35.35 mpg (US)

Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 34.2 mpg (US)

Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.39 mpg (US)

Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.79 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7,217
Thanked 2,217 Times in 1,708 Posts
GM: Aluminum truck beds are stupid. Ours will be carbon fiber!

Courtesy of https://jalopnik.com/gm-to-start-bui...ort-1821163846

The article does not really say much, except that that carbon fiber is even more expensive (and difficult to repair) than aluminum, but Ford, on average, charges more for their trucks, and sells more of them.

Readers commented that making the back end lighter does not make sense for a RWD vehicle.

  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Xist For This Useful Post:
aerohead (07-10-2018)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 12-11-2017, 01:09 PM   #2 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,392

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,189
Thanked 4,378 Times in 3,353 Posts
I don't see the cost/benefit advantage of an aluminum bed. How much weight does it save? As pointed out, the rear end is already too light for the way 90% of trucks are driven (single occupant commuter vehicle).

Carbon fiber is a superior material and I'm sure it will hold up better than other metals. I'm surprised the auto industry hasn't made more extensive use of the material already. The cost is due to the manual labor involved, but there has to be a way to automate the process.

One challenge of using CF in the structure of a vehicle is that it is very rigid, which makes it a poor material for creating crumple zones. Steel and aluminum are good materials to collapse in a controlled way, dissipating energy. CF remains rigid until failure, and then collapses with very little resistance.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to redpoint5 For This Useful Post:
aerohead (07-10-2018)
Old 12-11-2017, 01:23 PM   #3 (permalink)
Thalmaturge
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: The edge of nowhere
Posts: 1,156

The Tinyvan - '07 Honda Fit Sport

Spicy Italian - '13 Fiat 500 Abarth

eBike - '94 Trek Mountain Track 820
Thanks: 763
Thanked 637 Times in 424 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xist View Post
Readers commented that making the back end lighter does not make sense for a RWD vehicle.
Readers are kind of idiots. Less weight in the back means you can add more weight to the back.

And as redpoint said, the back is already too light to be used like it is (around here, 75% of the trucks I see are spotless with all the paint still inside the receiver). The 2WD versions of these trucks should be FWD, honestly. And the 4WD version should have a toggle to switch on RWD/4WD.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to samwichse For This Useful Post:
Frank Lee (12-11-2017)
Old 12-11-2017, 01:26 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,561
Thanks: 7,736
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
General Motors need to join the 21st Century.

Current headlines at https://www.basalt.guru/
Ducati Monster features basalt fabric
Basalt Samples Online Store
Basalt fabric for wearable heat protective clothing
Basalt Mesh used in Concrete Countertop
Basalt vs Fiberglass
__________________
.
.
Without freedom of speech we wouldn't know who all the idiots are. -- anonymous poster

____________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2017, 01:28 PM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 5,209
Thanks: 225
Thanked 811 Times in 594 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5 View Post
As pointed out, the rear end is already too light for the way 90% of trucks are driven (single occupant commuter vehicle).
Makes them real interesting to watch in the winter, though. Especially the ones sitting in snowbanks along the side of the road :-)

But just as a practical* matter, I wonder how well the carbon fiber will resist abrasion from carrying loads of rock & gravel.

*OK, impractical seeing how few truck owners actually carry significant loads.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2017, 01:48 PM   #6 (permalink)
It's all about Diesel
 
cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Posts: 12,548
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,447 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
But just as a practical* matter, I wonder how well the carbon fiber will resist abrasion from carrying loads of rock & gravel.
The burden of resisting abrasion will be placed on the plastic resin with which the carbon fiber will be soaked.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2017, 05:04 PM   #7 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
I heard a GM ad blasting Ford's aluminum box; "yah the steel is sooo much better, it doesn't dent up when you empty that loader of gravel onto it."

1. Almost nobody dumps **** into the box like that.
2. It's advertising fluff. GM had to figure out how to bad-mouth aluminum pickups... UNTIL they get THEIRS on the market.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
aerohead (07-10-2018), Daschicken (12-26-2017), NeilBlanchard (12-13-2017)
Old 12-11-2017, 06:09 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,561
Thanks: 7,736
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
Too bad you can't buy stock in Rhino-liner. They're privately held.
__________________
.
.
Without freedom of speech we wouldn't know who all the idiots are. -- anonymous poster

____________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2017, 07:14 PM   #9 (permalink)
Corporate imperialist
 
oil pan 4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
Posts: 11,175

Sub - '84 Chevy Diesel Suburban C10
SUV
90 day: 19.5 mpg (US)

camaro - '85 Chevy Camaro Z28

Riot - '03 Kia Rio POS
Team Hyundai
90 day: 30.21 mpg (US)

Bug - '01 VW Beetle GLSturbo
90 day: 26.43 mpg (US)

Sub2500 - '86 GMC Suburban C2500
90 day: 11.95 mpg (US)

Snow flake - '11 Nissan Leaf SL
SUV
90 day: 141.63 mpg (US)
Thanks: 269
Thanked 3,522 Times in 2,796 Posts
Carbon fiber is even stupider.
Remember I have worked with carbon fiber. This is just a bad application for carbon fiber.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2017, 07:22 PM   #10 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,392

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,189
Thanked 4,378 Times in 3,353 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by oil pan 4 View Post
Carbon fiber is even stupider.
Remember I have worked with carbon fiber. This is just a bad application for carbon fiber.
What are the concerns with using CF to form the bed? I understand abrasion, but using an abrasion resistant epoxy, or a durable coating should protect against this. CF is extremely resilient against impacts and load bearing.

__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to redpoint5 For This Useful Post:
NeilBlanchard (12-13-2017)
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com