GM: Aluminum truck beds are stupid. Ours will be carbon fiber!

[Xist]

It also increased their load\towing capacity.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

What are the concerns with using CF to form the bed?

Probably the cost-effectiveness, and it might eventually be seen as more difficult to repair than sheetmetal or fiberglass. BTW it does sound quite surprising that GM would even attempt to use carbon fiber for such application due to the high sales volume, while it would seem easier to use fiberglass like it did not just with the Corvette but also with the Chevrolet Lumina APV, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Pontiac Trans Sport.

OTOH maybe it would be worth to consider using some vegetable fibers instead, such as the Agave sisalana.

[Xist]

I read that often people end up replacing carbon fiber parts instead of repairing them.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Xist

I read that often people end up replacing carbon fiber parts instead of repairing them.

Unlike fiberglass which they usually just patch over.

[Jez77]

Carbon fiber manufacture is pretty bad for the environment and is impossible to recycle.

I think they should go back to timber trays, at least they look pretty cool

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Probably the cost-effectiveness, and it might eventually be seen as more difficult to repair than sheetmetal or fiberglass.

I have no experience with CF and a brief horrible experience with fiberglass. What is more difficult to repair about CF compared with fiberglass? I would think they are similar difficulty to work with considering they both use a mat of high tensile material and a resin.

Can CF be used in a chopper gun like fiberglass, or can it only be laid out as a mat?

Originally Posted by Jez77

Carbon fiber manufacture is pretty bad for the environment and is impossible to recycle.

Worse than aluminum or steel? Both require mining and refining, with massive amounts of energy to process.

The recycle issue is of little concern since we aren't at risk of running out of carbon.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Remember I have worked with carbon fiber.

I, for one, will try — now that I know.

No love for basalt? It bends instead of shattering.

[Jez77]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I have no experience with CF and a brief horrible experience with fiberglass. What is more difficult to repair about CF compared with fiberglass? I would think they are similar difficulty to work with considering they both use a mat of high tensile material and a resin.

Can CF be used in a chopper gun like fiberglass, or can it only be laid out as a mat?



Worse than aluminum or steel? Both require mining and refining, with massive amounts of energy to process.

The recycle issue is of little concern since we aren't at risk of running out of carbon.

It's a bit difficult to know for sure but I've read report that say it requires 14 times more energy to produce than steel. There is also a lot of wastage in the layup process, I've read around 1/3 of the material is wastage and most ends up in land fill.
Recycling is the issue as it is the getting the raw materials that takes the most energy.

[oil pan 4]

I haven't tried using basalt, I hear it's supposed to be better than fiberglass.

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

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.

Denting wouldn't be the concern I'd have with aluminum (its presumably thicker, so more rigid anyway)...it would be metal fatigue. If I'm not mistaken, aluminum will only put up with so much flexing or stretching(as in a dent) before it cracks; steel will put up with much more without an issue.