How much aluminum?

[limepickle]

Does anybody know which body parts are aluminum? Is the frame all steel? So far I've only heard that the hood and swing gate are aluminum. I was hoping for as much aluminum as possible.

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[BroncoHooves]

Does anybody know which body parts are aluminum? Is the frame all steel? So far I've only heard that the hood and swing gate are aluminum. I was hoping for as much aluminum as possible.

Frame is fully boxed high strength steel. I believe doors are aluminum too.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Will the metal body panels hold up to corrosion and not be a repeat of the S550 hoods (mind you where such corrosion has been an issue on many Ford’s since 2005+)?

 

[SliderJack]

People don't necessarily realize aluminum has corrosion problems as well.

 

[limepickle]

People don't necessarily realize aluminum has corrosion problems as well.

True, but at least aluminum oxide does not flake away. In fact, the corrosion can actually be reversed without losing any metal.

 

[SliderJack]

True, but at least aluminum oxide does not flake away. In fact, the corrosion can actually be reversed without losing any metal.

I just wanted to point out that it's not without its own problems.

It can make a mess under the paint. Or even result in holes.

 

[MaverickMan]

I just wanted to point out that it's not without its own problems.

It can make a mess under the paint. Or even result in holes.

Still better than steel ive seen stuff out here with holes in 3 or 4 years.

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

From Jalopnik:

Makes sense. The parts that do most of the keeping-you-alive are steel and the parts that keep you clean are lightweight.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

I wish they were using steel for the body panels. One thing I dislike about my JL Wrangler is that I can't stick on any magnetic armor to protect the Jeep from trail rash. I offroad my vehicles and I'd like to put something better than a wrap on to protect the paint.

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

I wish they were using steel for the body panels. One thing I dislike about my JL Wrangler is that I can't stick on any magnetic armor to protect the Jeep from trail rash. I offroad my vehicles and I'd like to put something better than a wrap on to protect the paint.

Hopefully it is an extension of the philosophy behind the F150, in that the exterior panels are designed to be inexpensively amd easily removed and replaced.

 

[aman43]

I like the concept of aluminum body panels. if you take care of your car the panels will last forever. Not the paint. But the panels can always be repainted. only issue is if you get a dent you are in big trouble

 

[limepickle]

I like the concept of aluminum body panels. if you take care of your car the panels will last forever. Not the paint. But the panels can always be repainted. only issue is if you get a dent you are in big trouble

I've read that Ford invested in repair training and tools such that repairing aluminum parts is no longer expensive.

It seems like everything with body paint is aluminum. The only thing that Jalopnik didn't explicitly cover is the windshield frame.

 

[OpenAir25]

From Jalopnik:

Awesome. Are the rear quarter panels removable and aluminum as well?

 

[indio22]

Still better than steel ive seen stuff out here with holes in 3 or 4 years.

Agreed. I'll take some paint bubbles any day over entire panels and floors getting eaten through by rust. You can leave an aluminum row boat out in the elements all year and wet, with little damage. My 1972 aluminum Land Rover even where the paint has completely worn away is solid.

Compared to my CJ7 and even later model TJ, which I'm constantly fighting against rust, what a pain. Ask any CJ owner if he/she would rather an all aluminum body. In fact a company sells a premium replacement aluminum body.

 

[OpenAir25]

Actually yes. This is a really cool feature of the Bronco that Ford hasn't talked about much yet for some reason. Both the front and rear fenders are designed to be user-replaceable. If you look at the photos in this thread, you can see that there exposed bolts on the top of the rear fender, in the door jamb, and under the hood along the top of the front fender. These handful of bolts are easily accessible and allow the fenders to be removed by the user. That means the fenders can be easily replaced if damaged on the trail, or they can be swapped out for aftermarket parts for a different look.

That is really cool

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