2015 Ford Super Duty uping the ante

[milehighassassin]

From what I heard is GM will be going all Aluminum in 2016. Something that is uniquely different on the GM aluminum is they won't have to do the almost Billion dollar factory re-tool like Ford has done. GM filed something like 15 patents on a new way to weld aluminum. So where Ford is riveting the aluminum, GM has a new procedure to weld which means they can fit their current equipment with the required parts for probably 1/4 of what Ford spent.

Good article on it:

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...pends-big-gm-joins-aluminum-with-simple-welds

 

[milehighassassin]

Also it looks like from VIN decoding that GM has left a spot in their motor codes on the VIN for a diesel motor...

 

[tar]

Aircraft cost tons more as well.

Just making the point that aluminum bodies are nothing new.
I had a 1979 KW with an aluminum cab, plywood floor and a fiberglass hood, never any problems. Truck spent most of its life off road.

Tar

 

[boondocker97]

Riveting the aluminum together may be more expensive, but I can think of two immediate reasons they would do it that way. The first is easier repairs. The second has to do with the strength of the joint. Welding on aluminum weakens the area substantially unless it is re-heat treated. This would be a rather expensive secondary process to maintain the properties of the high-strength aluminum Ford is touting. I'm sure it's fine for door panels, hoods, and tailgates, but not as great for structural pieces like cabs and boxes.

 

[nerradsrednuas]

to get back on topic........lol

I have a 2015 f250 diesel with the 440/860. If I had my time back I would have gotten the 2014. it was a noticeable difference in power, nothing major, but could actually feel it.

however, fuel economy is way worse. several friends of mine have 2011-2014 f250's and get 13-14L/100km (Canada) I get about 17L/100kms, we all have a similar driving style and all have small lifts and 35/12.5/20's.

I will say that the 2015 is nicer, changed the dash. back-up camera is better. Fuel economy isn't everything. but when you drive a lot it adds up.

only 13000kms so far, so it may get a lot better as the motor breaks in.

I also idle a nice bit as I typically wait for the trans temp to hit 30 degrees celcius. back luck in the past.......

 

[Powderboy]

I'm too lazy to try and convert that to US MPG....


States guys what type of mileage are you getting?

 

[knaffie]

to get back on topic........lol

I have a 2015 f250 diesel with the 440/860. If I had my time back I would have gotten the 2014. it was a noticeable difference in power, nothing major, but could actually feel it.

however, fuel economy is way worse. several friends of mine have 2011-2014 f250's and get 13-14L/100km (Canada) I get about 17L/100kms, we all have a similar driving style and all have small lifts and 35/12.5/20's.

I will say that the 2015 is nicer, changed the dash. back-up camera is better. Fuel economy isn't everything. but when you drive a lot it adds up.

only 13000kms so far, so it may get a lot better as the motor breaks in.

I also idle a nice bit as I typically wait for the trans temp to hit 30 degrees celcius. back luck in the past.......

You're not the first to make that complaint for sure. A few things I've read on the forums that has helped others....

Make sure the hubs are set to auto (they apparently come from the factory locked).
Make sure your trailer sway control is turned off.
Buy a $15 laser thermometer from Amazon (or where ever) and make sure none of your brake calipers are hanging up.
Stick with 10W-30, although in your case in Canada, you might need 5W-40.

I pick up my 15 F350 tomorrow and the biggest thing I'm worried about is how much worse my mileage is going to be than my LBZ. Some guys have reported 8 MPG towing an enclosed trailer similar to mine. I get 12 with my LBZ. That's 50% more fuel. I sure hope it isn't that bad or the truck will be replaced in a year or less.

 

[347strokin]

You're not the first to make that complaint for sure. A few things I've read on the forums that has helped others....

Make sure the hubs are set to auto (they apparently come from the factory locked).
Make sure your trailer sway control is turned off.
Buy a $15 laser thermometer from Amazon (or where ever) and make sure none of your brake calipers are hanging up.
Stick with 10W-30, although in your case in Canada, you might need 5W-40.

I pick up my 15 F350 tomorrow and the biggest thing I'm worried about is how much worse my mileage is going to be than my LBZ. Some guys have reported 8 MPG towing an enclosed trailer similar to mine. I get 12 with my LBZ. That's 50% more fuel. I sure hope it isn't that bad or the truck will be replaced in a year or less.

I understand where you are coming from, but you will be spending way more money to dump a new truck and buy another than to just put the extra fuel into the Ford. I'd like to see a calculation comparing the two scenarios.

Hopefully you'll get better fuel economy than that though!

I'm getting 13.5mpg out of my 14' F350 with the mods listed below. Mixed driving with a fairly heavy foot.

 

[christopher]

And here I am just trying to squeeze one more season out of my 2005 F250 V10..

180K and I am starting to get nervous about that engine.
4x4 pulling the 30ft trailer, 6mpg!!

 

[108snowbandit]

I've got a 15 350 drive wot everywhere and get about 12 with or with out a trailer. Whe I drive with out a lead foot it gets better


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[347strokin]

And here I am just trying to squeeze one more season out of my 2005 F250 V10..

180K and I am starting to get nervous about that engine.
4x4 pulling the 30ft trailer, 6mpg!!

Those Ford V10's have proven themselves quite reliable workhorses.

 

[nerradsrednuas]

just got back from a 1000km trip (roughly 600miles) avg was 14mpg one way and nearly 17mpg on the way back. perhaps its finally breaking in. exhaust regen was brutal, about 30 miles @ 7-8mpg. used the fuel guage calculator on the way out and used the trip meter on the way back.

in the end it doesn't matter, I love the truck.

can't wait to start lugging sleds around....

 

[christopher]

Those Ford V10's have proven themselves quite reliable workhorses.

So far so good.
But I admit, I am getting "Nervous" as the miles rack up higher and higher and the inside of the motor has NEVER been touched. Only thing to fail in 10 years is the alternator. Lost a couple injectors to a coolant leak, but thats it so far..

 

[Powderboy]

So far so good.
But I admit, I am getting "Nervous" as the miles rack up higher and higher and the inside of the motor has NEVER been touched. Only thing to fail in 10 years is the alternator. Lost a couple injectors to a coolant leak, but thats it so far..

Didn't know the V10 was a old stalwart. Pretty cool. Why didn't you go diesel Chris? Just curious.

 

[milehighassassin]

I'm too lazy to try and convert that to US MPG....


States guys what type of mileage are you getting?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=+17L+per+100+km+to+miles+per+gallon

 

[milehighassassin]

And here I am just trying to squeeze one more season out of my 2005 F250 V10..

180K and I am starting to get nervous about that engine.
4x4 pulling the 30ft trailer, 6mpg!!

We should all be figuring fuel costs on miles per $100 or something. Not sure where you're at Chris but here Diesel is at least $1.00 more a gallon, sometimes more. I put fuel in my 40 gallon suburban the other day for $1.54 a gallon. Diesel was at like the $2.60 mark.

Lets say you went 1000 miles at 6 miles a gallon. At $1.60 it would cost you about $266

A diesel getting 12 MPG would cost $216

I know must of us know this for the diesel will have an easier pull but when you spend $8,000 more for the diesel up front and then $1 a gallon more, economically it doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless you are doing a lot of towing. Even when you trade the trade value of the diesel is what? $2k more? $3k more?

 

[knaffie]

EDIT: I confirmed 2016 will be a carry-over from 2016. New model will be 2017.

Here's my 2015.

 

[MORSNO]

I was definitely wrong about the new model being a 2017. 2016 is definitely it. Order cutoff for 2015 trucks is coming up in a few months and the first 2016 trucks will first be built in May 2015.

Here's my 2015.

Where's the snow? I see palm trees!

 

[knaffie]

Where's the snow? I see palm trees!

If it was my sole decision where to go for Christmas break, I would be in the snow. But my wife likes to be warm and we have family in Florida. I prefer to ride the mountains a little later in the season when there is more snow anyway. These new sleds break too easy when you hit a rock that is a couple inches under the snow - been there done that.

 

[Powderboy]

We should all be figuring fuel costs on miles per $100 or something. Not sure where you're at Chris but here Diesel is at least $1.00 more a gallon, sometimes more. I put fuel in my 40 gallon suburban the other day for $1.54 a gallon. Diesel was at like the $2.60 mark.

Lets say you went 1000 miles at 6 miles a gallon. At $1.60 it would cost you about $266

A diesel getting 12 MPG would cost $216

I know must of us know this for the diesel will have an easier pull but when you spend $8,000 more for the diesel up front and then $1 a gallon more, economically it doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless you are doing a lot of towing. Even when you trade the trade value of the diesel is what? $2k more? $3k more?

This argument has successfully been made before. There isn't a real reason to buy a diesel I agree unless you tow all the time. I buy them anyway because I like them better. But if you're a GM guy you have to admit the gas engine offering is not inspiring. At least not to me