2015 Ford F150 goes on a diet, loses 700 lbs. (Aluminum)

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

We can have the truck weigh as little as it did 40 years ago, but it would have to haul a lot less and have a smaller motor.

As with most things American, the 1/2T pickup grew in size. It used to be called a 1/2 ton because it was rated to only haul 1000 lbs in the bed. Nowadays it's rated to haul 3120 lbs.

I'm less concerned with how fuel efficient a working truck is because it's purpose designed to haul a lot of weight. If it were a commuter vehicle, then I would be more concerned with fuel economy. That said, reducing weight is a great thing because it increases the available payload.

Don't you know, trucks aren't for hauling, they are for commuting and solo tearing around. Since that is an inarguable fact these days, I think the "1/2T" trucks really should be 1/2T like they used to be, then you really can lighten it and downsize the engine and gear it right and etc. and the poseurs and short people and the genitalia challenged can buy them because we all know they can't be seen in something sensible like a Ranger. For those in the minority that really haul and tow, they used to have this thing called the 3/4T truck- make that one capable of heavier work.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Giovanni LiCalsi

Everyone in America thinks that we must long haul an entire family around, everywhere we go.

That is how you use the carpool lanes!

No, people just want vehicles large enough for complete families, even if they never have a passenger.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Giovanni LiCalsi

If every other household had a lightweight single place EV in its garage, it would save a tremendous amount of oil.

I think an EV makes sense for most every family with 2 or more vehicles. My plan is to buy a Prius and eventually replace the TSX with an EV. This will fulfill my short and long range traveling needs.

The problem is, EVs are way too expensive for what they are. How the heck does the Leaf cost $30,000 when it only consists of wheels, chassis, motor, controller, and battery? It's far simpler than an ICE, and yet costs as much as a luxury vehicle. I want to pay $15k for an electric with a 100 mile range.

[Giovanni LiCalsi]

Nissan has invested a billion dollars in it's battery development and God knows how much in the rest. They are outselling all the other EVs, combined. You can't slight them for charging what they cost.
My reverse-trike will cost about the same price as the a Leaf but mine is custom built, not an assembly line build. My RT will also use a lot of carbon fiber and Alulight aluminum foam panel. It will weigh only 25% (800lbs.) of the Leaf EV curb weight. With half the battery weight, I'm estimating around 150 mile range.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

For those in the minority that really haul and tow, they used to have this thing called the 3/4T truck- make that one capable of heavier work.

Where I live, the truck poseurs don't buy '1/2T' models, they buy 3/4T or 1T dually diesels. (Then they cut huge holes in the bed for their melon-shooter exhaust stacks.)

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'd be more enthusiastic if a full-size 2015 1/2T pickup weighed less than it's 40- or 50- year-old "low tech" predecessor.

Well, to put on my contrarian hat today.... We DO have full sized 1/2T trucks that are about the same weight as their ~40 year old predecessor...

We just call them "mid-size" now.

Compare the specs of a new Colorado work truck with a 67 Chevy C10. Weight is nearly spot on (lighter if the old truck had a V8), the Colorado actually has a longer overall length but slightly shorter wheelbase. The modern 4-cylinder even makes more power than the old base V8s (when you account for Gross vs Net ratings). I couldn't find the width dimension, and I suspect that is the biggest difference. But, overall the trucks are pretty close in size.

I have a 68 C10. Every time I hop in a newer truck I'm amazed at just how huge they are compared to my little classic truck.

[redpoint5]

Technology has come a long way. I have a 1976 Buick Riviera 455ci (7.5L) V8 that weighs 4250 lbs and only outputs 205hp. My TSX has half as many cylinders and 1/3rd displacement, and yet it puts out 5 more horsepower!

... and I'm one to talk about how half-ton trucks are for work. I'm commuting in my 3/4 ton Dodge/Cummins since I sold the Jeep and Pontiac. This is temporary while I find my Prius. After that, I'll send the Beast back to the farm to go about normal work.

[slowmover]

If I needed a 1/2T, then this looks like a starting point. Think what an Aerolid would do . . . and maybe even that tiny motor could make for a decent tow vehicle where an aero trailer is set up with it. Not everyone is soccer mommy or softball daddy, after all.

It's a step in the right direction.

.

[user removed]

Build a Ranger out of AL. Put a 1.6 liter ecoboost engine, or a small diesel and you would have the right truck as long as it had brakes to tow. Make the bed so you can lay a 4X8 flat and close the tailgate. 40 MPG.

regards
Mech

[Thenorm]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Build a Ranger out of AL. Put a 1.6 liter ecoboost engine, or a small diesel and you would have the right truck as long as it had brakes to tow. Make the bed so you can lay a 4X8 flat and close the tailgate. 40 MPG.

regards
Mech

i was thinking along the same lines.

why are trucks shaped the way they are?

i think the bed is the biggest constraint. you need to fit a 4x8 sheet between the wheel wells, so that governs your width. But why are they so tall? 98% of trucks don't need such serious off road capability. (im making that stat up).
Also why are the cabs so tall.

so ,build a ranger out of aluminum, but make the cab look more like a Ford Falcon Ute from Australia (like an El camino). low and swoopy. make the bed fit a 4x8. keep the whole thing alot lower to the ground. add a belly pan.
40mpg.