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Composites May Make Truck Bed Corrosion a Thing of the Past
One of the biggest assets of composites has always been their superior corrosion resistance. Indeed, the automobile industry has increasingly begun to capitalize on this and other benefits of composite components ranging from body panels to firewalls. Now, this benefit is coming to a new facet of the automobile: the truck bed.
Benefits of corrosion-resistant composite truck beds
Composite materials have brought corrosion resistance to many automotive applications, but they’re now poised to begin adding their benefits to pickup truck beds.
The GMC Sierra Denali is the first truck model to have a composite truck bed, which is made of carbon fiber. This composite truck bed is known as the CarbonPro, and it replaces the standard steel inner bed panels and bed floor with composite panels.
One of the biggest advantages of this new type of bed for truck owners is that it has excellent resistance to corrosion. Indeed, one of the biggest issues with truck beds is that heavy use often leads to damage and, ultimately, rusting. This rusting can then lead to a weakening of the structure of the truck bed, and the weakened structure can impair the vehicle’s ability to carry large amounts of cargo.
One solution to this problem with steel truck beds has traditionally been to cover the truck bed with a bed cover or a bed liner to reduce the chance of damage and rust. However, with the corrosion resistance offered by composite truck beds, there would be no need to spend extra money on covers or liners any longer.
In addition, the strength and corrosion resistance of the composite truck bed reduces the likelihood of damage that can lead to rust. This means that the structural integrity of the truck bed and its cargo carrying capacity will remain high for the entire life of the truck. It also means that maintenance and upkeep costs for the truck would be reduced.
In addition to the fact that composite truck beds are corrosion-resistant, they also offer several other benefits for these vehicles. Some of these benefits include:
- Being 62 pounds (28 kilograms) lighter than steel truck beds
- Increased fuel efficiency of truck due to lower weight of truck bed
- Higher scratch and dent resistance than truck beds made with steel
Thanks to the corrosion resistance and other benefits of composite truck beds, this composite component can add significantly to the durability and dependability offered by future truck models.
Composites One leads North America in composite materials distribution
If your company provides composite truck bed panels or other composite parts to the automotive industry, then ensuring you have a reliable source of composite materials is a vital component of your business’s supply chain.
At Composites One, our team is here to help you ensure you have all the composite material supplies that your business requires. We can offer this thanks to the thousands of composites products we offer from more than 600 suppliers.
We can also help you find a supply location that’s located close to you thanks to our 41 locations across the United States and Canada.
To find out more about the composite materials and other services that we offer, contact the team at Composites One now.