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Spy Shots Indicate 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Will Feature Steel Bed Construction

It’s long been known General Motors will incorporate aluminum construction with its next-generation, full-size pickup trucks. However, it may not be as extensive as once thought.

New spy shots don’t reveal any new design characteristics, but they do tell us the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra will feature steel beds. It’s long been assumed GM would follow Ford with an aluminum-bed construction. How has this been determined? A simple magnet test.

The spy shots show the magnet clearly stick to the bed of the truck and the photographer confirmed there was magnetization present—aluminum would not allow this. Lightweight materials will likely still be present, but the bed seems to be off limits. That’s good since Chevrolet has been adamant to highlight steel’s benefits over Ford’s aluminum bed in a whirlwind of aluminum-shaming advertisements.

Additionally, spy photographers say a stop/start system was present on this prototype, which may indicate plans for an eAssist variant. Chevrolet rolled out a mild-hybrid Silverado last year, but in limited numbers in the state of California. It said it would evaluate the demand for the truck and take other factors into future consideration of the Silverado eAssist.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra should be revealed next year in time to go on sale for the 2019 model year.

Spy shots: Pickuptrucks.com

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. GM has the benefit of the next gen trucks riding on a new platform. They can build with weight savings in mind from the ground up, not just body panels and bits and pieces. They already don’t need to shed ‘much’ weight to under cut the F150. I’d bet they leave 100bs on the table for an easy mid cycle refresh weight loss.

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  2. the aluminum body is to raise the weight carrying capacity of the truck not get better MPG. aero is where the MPG come in.

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    1. Bull. I had 750lbs of people, plus another couple hundred in gear in the bed and went from 21mpg empty to 18mpg in my 5.3 Silverado.

      Lighter weight = better mpg, better braking, better handling, higher payload, faster, potential reduced trailering stability

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      1. stop and got traffic but at steady speed aero is more important. my 2013 5.3 get the same MPG going 200 miles to camp empty or with a ATV in the bed and the ATV weights 500 #.

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    2. In real world driving, aerodynamics means more for highway driving. But weight is more important for in-town driving where the majority of miles are put on for owners like contractors, etc. So both are important when it comes to the overall ratings for these trucks and making sure they meet gov’t requirements.

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      1. Anytime the engine is under load weight matters. I agree aero is important in the highway, drag starts to increase exponentially at speed. But how often are you driving on a flat road at constant speed. A change in road grade can take you from 20mpg to 14mpg pretty easily at 60mph. Where as cruising at 60mph vs 30mph will net close to the same MPG

        Take the corvette for instance. Relatively the same 6.2 as the Silverado, but much more aerodynamic and half the weight. Gets what 6mpg better on the highway? Add 3000lbs to the Vette and it’s highway MPG is going to be damn near that of the Silverado

        I agree aero helps. But shedding weight is the best overall performance improvement

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        1. ford trucks are lighter and have smaller V-6 engines but their MPG are not that much better than chevy’s steel trucks and V-8 engines. ford owners tell me once that turbo spools up the MPG go down. also the fords have to cost more to produce, steel vs aluminum and all those extra parts in those DOHC engines with turbos. I would guess GM make a lot more profit on each unit. check ford stock price vs GM as the auto business is not about producing vehicles it is about producing a profit.

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          1. I agree with motorman. I traded in a 2015 aluminum body F150 after only 11 months of ownership. I had a few quality issues that I wasn’t happy with. Yes they use entirely too much junk on their engines and fuel mileage isn’t that much better than GM and Ram trucks. Yes the Ecoboost engines has great power but in the long run those engines are going to take you to the bank to keep them in service. Me personally if I was to engineer a truck with light weight material. I would of kept the engine parts and weight down too. Chevy engines are simple designed push rod setup nothing fancy achieve good fuel mileage and get the job done. One turbo is all they need with their new dual injection system, push rod setup and compact graphite engine block. Sorry I will not buy another new truck with that much BS again. My 2008 f150 was a basic wt with the standard push rod v6 and it was great. Ram hemi and GM engines are the way to go.

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  3. The use of steel is not a surprise to a good number of people here. We noted long ago that the Aluminum bed damage commercials were a lead in on steel beds.

    The only question was would steel just be inside or inside and out.

    As for the cutting of weight the prime reason was MPG and MPG only. Now if it helps braking, acceleration, handeling and towing all the better. To say it was just for towing is just pure stupidity.

    Trucks in the half ton class face some nearly impossible fuel standards that will bring many changes. The start stop is only one of many more dramatic changes to come.

    In other words there is a lot more to come with changes to this class.

    I see the less regulations on the 3/4 ton will make it the prime mover in the full size class as time goes on. It once was a work truck but now it even is available in a Denali.

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    1. I wouldn’t say trailering as much, payload though very much. A trailer should only impart 10% of its weight onto the hitch; rule of thumb

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  4. Start stop tech doesn’t only have to be on e-assist hybrid systems. I’d like to see it on standard models to help fuel economy. I drive a truck every day and the stop and go traffic really is was burns most of my gas in town, well that in my 4.10 gears and mud terrain tires.

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    1. The key would be if they could offer it to be switched on and off.

      But I am not sure if the EPA will let them count the mpg rating if it can be defeated.

      While it may work fine many people would not buy it because the don’t want it.

      Also it would be key to shut off under towing and off roading.

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      1. I know the 2015 with the 2.7 ecoboost start stop can be disabled with a button on the dash. Me personally I always disabled that feature that’s too much going on in a truck. Make them more efficient without all of the stupid stuff that goes in sedans now. I pray GM don’t start putting that feature on their trucks.

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    2. Makes more sense for eAssist since the electric motors would get the truck moving before the gas is needed to be fired. When towing and hauling you definitely don’t want the engine shutting off when stopped. If you can turn off, say when in tow-haul mode, then it makes sense on all models

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  5. All purpose carriage requires a steel tray. Demolition companies and earthmoving companies use steel tray tippers. Road building companies use aluminium tray tippers and tipping trailers, as do contract carriers of grain and other bulk products.

    Regular pickup trucks require steel trays. Yes, I have driven and ridden in Series IIA and Series III military V8 Land Rovers but they were not used for the same work as a civilian pickup truck. Also, the tipper that I often drive for work (as a carpenter) would have been a joke with a aluminium alloy tray.

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  6. Our military vehicles are aluminum, and we own a Denali and a Platinum, and like em both but if GM was superior they’d outsell the higher priced Fords. What does all that mean= jack and *hit at the end of the day. Buy one drive it like and leave your neighbor alone lol

    Reply
    1. Ford sales are like Coke. Coke sell more mostly due to sales to Mc Donald’s.

      Ford sells more mostly due to fleet sales that Ford sells at rock bottom prices.

      Also they count Ford sales as F series not just F150 sales. They have many sizes of F series.

      Yet GM counts GMC and Chevy separate and do not offer as many versions.

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  7. Scott not everything in the world sucks. Our Chevy will have an aluminum bed by 2021.

    I dunno if you’re angry, our just like making definitive comments. But steel vehicles are in the past. Steel military vehicles are in the past.

    Diet Coke is #1 because it’s #1.
    F series are the most expensive trucks avail and are #1.

    That doesn’t mean our Chevy sucks. It doesn’t mean that RC Cola isn’t delicious with BBQ. Our that DR Pepper isn’t a semi miracle cure for hangovers.

    Why are you so angry?

    Are you combat arms in the Military also?

    You’ve got to calm down. Everyone likes your Chevy so let it go.

    There are bigger issues like Transgender bathrooms at Target that require more attention than which $72k truck is better.

    Did you know that GM and Ford partner to make better transmissions?

    I hope this doesn’t keep you awake at night. It’s okay, I’ve got over 120 Joe’s making sure we are free.

    It’s all good.

    In closing- In and Out, WhatABurger, Fuddruckers, and White House burgers ask have a place at the 0215 table. BTW Tacos are better than ask the above.

    I hope you’re going to be okay. Remember don’t be a hero, Mustard, Ketchup etc are all good, just don’t go without one of them.

    Reply
    1. What military vehicles are aluminum? Most are comprised mostly of steel.

      Ford invented the term “military grade”, bot the military. Does Ford even have anything to do with the Military? I know GM does as the Duramax is far more prevalent than the Powerstroke or Cummins for military rides.

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  8. Anything found on a pre production vehicle is purely speculation. We have to wait until the production version is introduced to the buying public to find out what features for sure will be on them.

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  9. Call me when they’re made from transparent aluminum.

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  10. I have a 05 chevy diesel, originally had a all steel utility body. While still under warranty they replaced the utility body best of rusting out. I paid an up charge about 2K for an all aluminum utility body still have today the weight savings is 750lb. This was welcome because at the end of a work day i could barely close the doors because of there weight. I love the difference it made in the total overall performance and handling. Lighter weight really was a great benefit. The bed is all aluminum and i use it hard still in mint condition to this day.

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  11. Really don’t like Ford’s…give me a Chevy or a GM any day or even a Dodge. I owned a Ford in the lat 70’s and Fix Or Repair Daily wasn’t too far off the mark. Bought my first Chevy in the mid 90’s, a used Cheyenne with 70K miles and kept it for 11 years, traded it in with 289K miles, got $2500 on trade for a 2004 Silverado Z71 leftover that is still going strong with 210K miles. Only repairs I’ve done are a new water pump, a new alternator and just recently a new transfer case. Other than that routine brake maintenance. And I know this is wrong but I’ve still got the original plugs, wires and coil packs and she runs like a top.

    On steel versus aluminum beds, I hope Chevy sticks with steel but if not I guess there’s always LINE-X

    Reply

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