Ford, GM to reduce weight of pickup trucks to meet fuel economy standards

To comply with the new stricter standards for fuel economy but without having to compromise strength or towing capability, the major carmakers are shaving the weight off their future pickup trucks. Since the mandates will take effect in 2016, automakers such as Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. have only one design cycle to make revisions, which include the use of expensive steel substitutes such as aluminum, new steel alloys and magnesium.
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ImOnABoat - 12/29/2010 4:42:51 PM

-1 Boost

Actually - do you have any idea how many small businesses are literally fueled and 100% reliant on the ability to tow massive loads and load thousands of lbs in the bed of their trucks? America is effectively driven by our big trucks.

If you owned a landscape company or were involved in any construction industry you're desire to tell other people not to drive big trucks would be eliminated very quickly.

upwards - 12/29/2010 5:58:35 PM

0 Boost

Ignorance is a deadly disease....... Upwards

Joe_Limon - 12/29/2010 6:39:08 PM

-1 Boost

GMC Canyon - 3366lbs
Ford Ranger - 3069lbs
Lexus LFA - 3263–3483 lbs

Just sayin...

truckman - 12/30/2010 4:46:39 AM

-1 Boost

That pC ideology is getting old, we live in a free world, but It would be nice to see people drive cleaner vehicles, does anyone know how much 2 stroke mopeds pollute? lol most people think that they are being greener driving one, but they would be better off in a Hummer. Hate votes please

truckman - 12/31/2010 5:18:19 AM

-1 Boost

— nonofyobus I was referring to 2 strokes not the cleaner burning 4 strokes.

Threepoint141592 - 12/29/2010 5:27:58 PM

-3 Boost

OP, just because you own a sports bike, live in metropolis and have your furniture delivered, doesn't mean that no one needs a truck which is capable. You can make fun of the ladies parking their F350s in front of Nordstrom's all you'd like but in my part of the country, people actually do need to be able to tow 20K lbs on occasion. It's nice to actually have a vehicle on the market that can meet those needs.

veyron1001 - 12/30/2010 9:53:47 AM

+6 Boost

While true, I see about one truck a day yes 1 being used for what it was bought for and yes i live in the south. So yea its nearly just compensation.

truckman - 12/29/2010 7:16:43 PM

+1 Boost

Great! It will slightly effect the towing ability won't it?

toolatetorace - 12/30/2010 10:31:42 AM

0 Boost

Haul furniture ? Yep ,you see many trucks helping out the less fortunate whenever the end of the month rolls around and people need to find a better living situation . What would these impoverished people do if it was not for relatives or friends with a pick up ?. They don't have money to hire a mover .

uaw_lax - 12/30/2010 12:18:47 PM

-1 Boost

more than just hauling furniture trucks are better on unpaved roads and in the snow,and for small business owners, sorry most of you guys live in the south and on the west coast and cant really relate to why trucks are useful.

truckman - 12/31/2010 5:25:27 AM

-2 Boost

Sportsbike80, Why is a truck better on an unpaved road? please! You have never driven off road obviously, and If I could afford the gas I would own a truck too, there is so much I can't do owning a Civic, I have owned trucks since I was 16 and for the past 3 years I have owned my little 07 Civic, I have to rent trucks to haul my art around, I get stuck on my way up the mtn to go for hikes.... If you like cars stick with them, some people use them for work, I will own another truck soon, along with my Civic.

truckman - 1/1/2011 2:38:50 AM

-2 Boost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpjj5ow9gs4

When I drive off road I always have a destination,I can't quite figure some of these guys out that drive around in circles? But I can relate,lol I am nowhere near as hard core as these guys, I can appreciate the engineering that they have done to there 4x4s, you can't do any of this in and suv,cuv or stock truck, no civic could do any of this, even if it were stolen,lol When any salesmen ask me if I need the extra traction of a 4x4 I want to stop talking to them immediately and talk to someone with some brains, The nerve of them trying to sell me a 4x2, it would NEVER happen! If the 4x4 doesn't have 2 lockers in the diffs it's only a 2 wheel drive, even if it has brake traction control.