What part of Ford trucks are aluminum?
What parts are aluminum in Ford trucks?
The shift to aluminum began with the F-Series lineup in the mid-2010s and has continued to define the modern truck. The list below highlights the main aluminum components you’ll encounter on Ford’s current trucks.
- Exterior body panels: hood, doors, fenders, roof, and the tailgate are made from aluminum alloy.
- Truck bed components: bed sides and many bed components are aluminum, contributing to overall weight reduction.
- Overall body shell: the primary surface areas of the cab and cargo box are aluminum, while the underlying frame remains steel.
In practice, Ford’s aluminum usage concentrates on the body and bed surfaces you see from the outside, with the steel frame providing the necessary strength for towing and payload.
Timeline and model coverage
Ford introduced the aluminum body with the 2015 F-150 and has extended the approach across the truck lineup in subsequent years. The core idea is to shed weight without sacrificing structural integrity, improving efficiency and performance for a broad range of trims.
Why Ford switched to aluminum
Key advantages and tradeoffs
The move to aluminum offers clear benefits, along with some practical considerations for owners and repair shops. Here are the main points Ford cites and debates that have followed the transition.
- Weight reduction leading to better fuel efficiency and payload efficiency in the case of the F-Series.
- Improved corrosion resistance and dent response in some real-world scenarios, though aluminum dents differently than steel and can affect repair approaches.
- Repair costs and paint-matching considerations, which have required adjustments from service networks and body shops as durability data and experience grew.
Overall, Ford’s aluminum strategy aims to balance weight savings with strength and durability, while expanding the vehicle’s efficiency and performance across its truck family.
Summary
In Ford’s modern trucks, the aluminum story centers on the body and bed. Exterior panels—hood, doors, fenders, roof, and tailgate—and the bed are aluminum, while the frame remains steel. This combination reduces weight and boosts efficiency, with ongoing considerations for repairs and maintenance as Ford and service networks adapt to the new material characteristics. The aluminum-bodied design underscores Ford’s commitment to innovation in the F-Series and related models, shaping how these trucks perform on and off the road.
