Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
I'm curious why Ford choose to use aluminum for the body and steel for the frame instead of the other way around? I would think the bulk of the weight is in the frame. Body damage is also more likely than frame damage, so making the body out of steel would reduce repair cost.
I have a feeling my insurance rates are about to go up as the cost to repair vehicles skyrockets.
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Truck bodies are split in the middle (between bed and cab) so the body does not add to the rigidity of the frame. As you load up the truck and/or go over large bumps, the frame will flex in the middle. With a steel chassis, this flexing won't damage it because steel has a very high fatigue life. Aluminum will eventually fatigue and crack unless a lot of extra material is added. This would probably exceed the weight of the steel frame for the same load.