Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Rumorpile: Ram Keeping It Steel Till 2021

      Steel Is Good Enough For Ram... For The Timebeing

    With new fuel economy regulations coming around the corner, many automakers are trying a number of things to meet those upcoming standards. Case in point: Ford is using aluminum in the next-generation F-150, and General Motors is reportedly doing the same for their next full-size truck. What about Ram Trucks? A new report says the brand will be sticking with steel for the time being.

    Reuters has learned from two sources that when Ram gives their truck a refresh in 2017, aluminum will not be in the picture. The earliest that Ram would add the material is after 2020 when the truck will be redesigned.

    This move could either hurt Ram if aluminum proves to be ticket for sales, or could actually help if reports of aluminum stockpiles are short because of more automakers using it in their vehicles.

    Source: Reuters

    William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    I really don't see AL being a selling point- it's an intangible and so is weight to a sizable degree. In fact I tend to agree with reg that a lone steel truck line MAY actually be the only selling point rather than AL.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Ram trucks have a good rep these days, and a tough rep.  I have 2 people i know well who ditched other brands to go to Ram. One was a Chevy truck lifer.  Didn't like the new Chevy's.  I think Chevy erred badly on the styling of their new trucks.  Not man enough.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I consider myself a Ford truck man (have had 4), but I drive a Chevy and I think the current Rams are often gorgeous (in some trims/colors).

     

    IMO, there's not a thing "wrong" with this :

    clip_image002_0002.jpg

     

    ...and one guy moving to Dodge is meaningless. Mercedes gets about a 30% loyalty figure. No vehicle is for everyone.

    • Agree 4
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Chevy trucks win because of longterm quality, something Dodge trucks lack.  Although if the Coke can Ford falls flat on its face, I hope it is not too late for GM to hedge their bets toward steel.  It takes a huge investment to be able to work on aluminum.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Not sure I agree on the long term quality of Ram Trucks. I actually think they are fantastic, at least the newer ones. And this is coming from me, the C and G resident Mopar H8er. Agree with Balthy also that they are sweet in some colors or trims.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I can actually see GM doing a Hybrid style of Truck. Inside Truck Bed is strong Solid Steel, Outside of bed being the body panels are aluminum. Still built like a Rock! :P

    Problem with hybrid truck bodies is that you get galvanic corrosion where dissimilar metals touch.  Its one thing on a engine where gaskets separate metals, metals are thick or alloys prevent the problem to certain degrees.  I imagine you need spacers where ever AL and FE touch.  Body movement would likely wear off paint or even these spacers.

    I just don't see the weight savings worth the effort.  I think this effort will go the way of GM's 1980 AL hoods and '90s plastic fenders and fiberglass door skins.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Yeah, Ford is advertising a "special coating" to prevent aluminum corrosion on their new truck.  I'll believe it when I see it over time... we still see plenty of corrosion on Ford aluminum body panels - hoods and liftgates.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Yeah, Ford is advertising a "special coating" to prevent aluminum corrosion on their new truck.  I'll believe it when I see it over time... we still see plenty of corrosion on Ford aluminum body panels - hoods and liftgates.

    Don't drive your aluminum Ford behind a truck spilling mercury thermometers...

    I think its especially ironic that mercury would doom an aluminum Ford now that Ford killed off Mercury.

    Aluminum corrosion is awful.  Rust sucks, but at least some metal remains.  You can't salvage aluminum when its turning into something akin to alka-selzer.

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Those that cannot accept a multi-cultural world and immigration deserve to lose everything. I will stay professional, but believe that our North American Economy is about to get far worse over the long term than it is now. It is amazing how people do not seem to realize that the first two years of a new president is dealing with the ramifications of the last president. The high inflation was due to the failed policies of those before. We now have low unemployment and a strong economy. Will be interesting to see how it ends.
    • I say, let it get worse.  The people have spoken and this is what the MAJORITY voted for.  He even got the popular vote.  Therefore the people of America have spoken.   This is what they want.  This is what they feel comfortable with.   But I dont want to hear ANY whining from ANYBODY about what possibly may happen with him Him in power.  Fool me once,  shame on you!  Fool me twice, shame on me?   Technically this is how that saying goes.  But you never know. Maybe it really IS the lefty libtards that are the problem.   Hopefully it IS the lefty libtards that are the problem and the Messiah Trump will BE the solution to ALL of our problems.   I will be the first one to apologize if He actually does fix America's and Canada's problems.  And unite ALL of the world and the world gets to sing Kumbaya ALL in unison. Hopefully He is the next coming of Christ.   Keeping my fingers crossed but I aint holding my breath if you know what I mean.   
    • @oldshurst442 This pretty much sums up just how bad it is going to get. Trump's economic plans would worsen inflation, experts say | AP News
    • Not just iPhones... He tariffed Canadian wood the first time around as Pres and the prices of wood skyrocketed so American home builders bought American wood which was and is more expensive than Canadian wood.  I guess that is good for American wood producers. But for the fact that house prices also skyrocketed.  And considering that Canada and US have a more or less good trading thing going on...so not that good.  Not for the US and not good for Canada.  But Donald thinks otherwise. And all the folk that voted for him this time around think that the economy will get better?  I hope so for their sake. But Elon and Jeff B's billions rose quite a bit upon the announcement of his re-election.  I wonder if those  people that voted for him, I wonder if their wealth also rose instantly?    You poor bastards... You have no idea what is coming to you... (those that voted for him.  With the excemption of the rich of course)     Donnie Rides Again
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search