Chevrolet News:Spying: Next-Generation Chevrolet Silverado To Retain Steel Bed?

[William Maley]

We have to admire the chutzpah put on display by a spy photographer when getting these shots of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado.

A video shows one of them running up to one of the mules when sitting in traffic with a magnet in hand. The goal was to see if the bed was made out of aluminum - something we have been hearing about the next-generation Silverado. What the video reveals is that the Silverado mule is using a steel bed with a 'clang' of the magnet attaching to the bed.

Does this mean that the production Silverado and GMC Sierra will stick with steel beds in the next-generation? That is tough to say since we don't know how along GM is in the development cycle or if this particular mule's configuration will stay the same. 

As we mentioned, there have been rumors of General Motors doing an extensive weight-loss program for their next-generation trucks with aluminum being used for various body panels.

The spy photographer also notes that the mule had an auto stop-start system.

The next-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are expected to arrive sometime next year.

Source: Left Lane News, Truck Trend
Pic Credit: William Maley for Cheers & Gears

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[riviera74]

Given the steel bed Silverado vs, the F150 aluminum bed ad still playing on a TV channel near you, GM should not just give up that advantage.  I understand the weight issues, but there should be other ways of making the trucks lighter.

[daves87rs]

Well, some folks would rather still have a work truck that can handle the tough stuff over mileage.....

[G. David Felt]

Yawn, no big deal, Ford fans will still buy Ford, GM fans of Chevy or GMC will still buy them. Honestly, plenty can be redone on the trucks to reduce weight and they could have Aluminum external panels with a steel bed. Or high strength steel complete bed, so I am happy to wait and see.

[daves87rs]

Was hearing some rumors of changing the old two bar headlight to either a more 70s or 80s like single one.

 

Kinda hope that it is true....

[Scout]

Because everyone with a truck looks for tractors filled with concrete blocks waiting to dump them into the bed from six feet above the bed. That's what "real" people do. The steel vs aluminum thing is pretty dumb. If people want to be honest about the whole thing then Honda probably has most durable bed. The Honda bed can claim weigh savings, no rust, and tuff like Ford. It can also claim scratch and dent resistance like GM. Honda even went as far as having a tractor dump concrete blocks into the bed from six feet above the bed because that's what "real" people do. And it faired better than Ford and GM. If you're debating if aluminum or steel is better then I guess the marketing team is doing a good job. 

 

On a side note, I folded the bed rail on a GMC strapping down a dirt bike. It may be steel, but what is the point if the steel if it is so thin and weak that it folds like tinfoil?

[A Horse With No Name]

As an electrician who worked on job sites, I cringe at the thought of the tounge lashings coming to the idiot who does the types of abuse shown in truck advertising to someone's fifty grand rig.

2 hours ago, Scout said:

Because everyone with a truck looks for tractors filled with concrete blocks waiting to dump them into the bed from six feet above the bed. That's what "real" people do. The steel vs aluminum thing is pretty dumb. If people want to be honest about the whole thing then Honda probably has most durable bed. The Honda bed can claim weigh savings, no rust, and tuff like Ford. It can also claim scratch and dent resistance like GM. Honda even went as far as having a tractor dump concrete blocks into the bed from six feet above the bed because that's what "real" people do. And it faired better than Ford and GM. If you're debating if aluminum or steel is better then I guess the marketing team is doing a good job. 

 

On a side note, I folded the bed rail on a GMC strapping down a dirt bike. It may be steel, but what is the point if the steel if it is so thin and weak that it folds like tinfoil?

The Ridgeline is not My cup of tea but it is unique and actual owners love them.

Even though I like the F series really well I would take a Ridgeline over an F series just because I know so many people who have had issues with Ford trucks and because I really don't like the Ford Motor company.

[Scout]

50 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

 

As an electrician who worked on job sites, I cringe at the thought of the tounge lashings coming to the idiot who does the types of abuse shown in truck advertising to someone's fifty grand rig.

 

I've had a lot of different things including rocks loaded into my truck from tractors. And every time the operator got as close as he could to the floor of the bed, and dumped the materials as gently as they could.

I can also tell you if someone loaded my truck like they do in the commercials I would drag them out of the tractor and beat the ever loving sh!t out of them. Then charge the company for any damages done. 

And "Real" people who use trucks for work on a regular basis would have some kind of bed liner to protect the truck. 

 

 GMs Real people advertising for both cars and trucks is just one of the stupidest campaigns I've ever seen.  

Edited June 24, 2017 by Scout

[Scout]

 

GMs Real people advertising for both cars and trucks is just one of the stupidest campaigns I've ever seen.  

 

But it does seem to work on some people

"Well, some folks would rather still have a work truck that can handle the tough stuff over mileage....."

[Guest AsianPersuasian]

Sounds like a half measure.  Ford seems to have proven that Aluminum is up to the task.  GM must not be willing to eat crow, after investing so much in negative Ford ads. I don't think many people are as dumb as GM pretends, dropping sharp boulders from 10 feet in the air in their trucks, and if they, they sell protective covers.

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, Scout said:

 

GMs Real people advertising for both cars and trucks is just one of the stupidest campaigns I've ever seen.  

 

But it does seem to work on some people

"Well, some folks would rather still have a work truck that can handle the tough stuff over mileage....."

I agree...as a MINI fan it makes MINIs moronic advertising look downright appealing.

51 minutes ago, Guest AsianPersuasian said:

Sounds like a half measure.  Ford seems to have proven that Aluminum is up to the task.  GM must not be willing to eat crow, after investing so much in negative Ford ads. I don't think many people are as dumb as GM pretends, dropping sharp boulders from 10 feet in the air in their trucks, and if they, they sell protective covers.

Aluminum I think is up to the task...

[Scout]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

GM must not be willing to eat crow

Again and again. 

 

Any one else remember when GM ran the commercial for the Suburban touting how the Ford Expedition was in a class of it's own?  Almost instantly Ford ran commercials saying "We couldn't have said it better ourselves" quoting GMs commercials. 

 

GM has a way of putting feet in mouth. 

 

As far as aluminum goes, I wouldn't be surprised if they just aren't production ready for it and that's the holdup. Maybe not wanting to retool the plant at the moment. Perhaps even some kind of copy right holding them back.  But we all know it's coming. 

[aurora97]

There is advertising, there are "real world" uses for the product, and then there are MPG mandates. 

The "truck" manufacturers are stuck between a rock and a hard place when building something that has the same regulations as a passenger car.

[A Horse With No Name]

34 minutes ago, aurora97 said:

There is advertising, there are "real world" uses for the product, and then there are MPG mandates. 

The "truck" manufacturers are stuck between a rock and a hard place when building something that has the same regulations as a passenger car.

Given that those same regulations killed off the old full size cars... something to be concerned about.

Brazil uses biological products that it grows itself to largely fuel it's vehicles. If we could just do the same thing!

I live at the edge of a major city... people around me use trucks for both agriculture and construction. 

We need to keep options open for people who need and want trucks.

[Drew Dowdell]

On 6/24/2017 at 2:12 PM, Guest AsianPersuasian said:

Sounds like a half measure.  Ford seems to have proven that Aluminum is up to the task.  GM must not be willing to eat crow, after investing so much in negative Ford ads. I don't think many people are as dumb as GM pretends, dropping sharp boulders from 10 feet in the air in their trucks, and if they, they sell protective covers.

GM has become the best at mixed material vehicles.  All of one material isn't necessarily the best.

If switching a part to Aluminum saves 2 pounds but then requires 2 pounds of sound insulation to isolate the car from the road, what was the point?

GM has been using aluminum in various body panels of various cars for years. 

[G. David Felt]

On 6/24/2017 at 2:58 PM, Scout said:

As far as aluminum goes, I wouldn't be surprised if they just aren't production ready for it and that's the holdup. Maybe not wanting to retool the plant at the moment. Perhaps even some kind of copy right holding them back.  But we all know it's coming. 

Plenty of stories about aluminum supplies. Ford hit issues getting the right quality of raw material to build their bed. I would not be surprised if GM is also having to work out supply issues to get more of what they need to make the move.