Though many fans of classic steel-bodied trucks are skeptical, the advantage of aluminum body panels is immense. The metal is highly recyclable, which is good for the environment, never rusts, which is good for longevity, and its light weight improves fuel economy.
For the 2017 Super Duty, however, the goal was not to reduce the total weight of the truck, but to reinvest weight from the body to performance-critical parts.
New to 2017, the Super Duty is losing its relatively flexible c-channel frame, and upgrading to a rigid fully-boxed frame. Made of 95-percent high-strength steel, the new frame is 24 times stiffer, for superior suspension isolation.
To take advantage of the new frame, Ford also upgraded the Super Duty's twin I-beam suspension. Weight was also added on in the axles, driveline, and brakes to make them stronger and more capable.
Even after all these upgrades, the 2017 Super Duty still managed to remain up to 350 pounds lighter than the 2016 model year.
Willing to give aluminum a shot? Test drive a new truck at Muscatell Burns Ford in Hawley, MN.