Making Your Car Interesting

When shopping for a new truck, you may discover that one of the trucks available to purchase has an aluminum flatbed. As a long-time driver of pick up trucks, you may be more accustomed to driving trucks with steel flat beds. To know whether a truck with an aluminum flatbed is right for you, you will need to know the difference between an aluminum and steel flatbed.

Aluminum Is More Resistant To Corrosion

Aluminum is famous for is resistance to corrosion. When exposed to oxidation, aluminum naturally forms a protective layer that causes the material to not corrode. As a result, an aluminum flatbed can last longer and will require less maintenance. Also, because the aluminum doesn't rust, it will usually have a higher resale value. By not rusting, the aluminum flatbed will usually come with a much longer warranty.

Aluminum Is Lighter

Aluminum is a lighter metal than steel. Therefore, it can provide better fuel economy and generally causes less wear and tear for the vehicle. Some consumers may be worried that aluminum is weaker than steel, but the type of aluminum that is used for truck beds is an aluminum alloy. This material includes zinc, copper, titanium and chromium, which makes the aluminum alloy as strong as steel.

Another advantage of the lighter aluminum flatbed is that the lower weight increases the payload that the truck can be increased by. This can be highly beneficial if you use your truck for work because you will be able to transport more while taking fewer trips. 

Aluminum Is Easier To Repair And Maintain

Aluminum beds do require some maintenance. For example,they need to have the hinges and latches lubricated occasionally. However, steel flaatbeds suffer from a much larger number of maintenance issues than aluminum flatbeds. For example, owners must make sure that damage never occurs to the extent where it might expose bare steel, which will corrode if it is not dealt with. It is also very expensive to repair galvanized steel beds. Before the steel can be welded, the galvanic layer must be removed. Aluminum, on the other hand, can be inexpensive to repair because the damaged sections are easier to cut. Steel was once seen as a material that was easier to repair, but this was only because welders were less experienced with aluminum. As welders have become more experienced with aluminum, the cost for repairing a flatbed has fallen.