GMC is offering us the first carbon fiber truck bed the industry has ever seen. This new truck bed is made from the same ultra-strong and light materials used in some of the high-end sports cars, but with a different goal. While it’s certainly a positive attribute that this truck bed is 62 pounds lighter than an all-steel box, the toughness and strength are the most important aspects of this new bed. What’s interesting about this new GMC CarbonPro truck bed is how it’s made, which is a lot different from a steel box.
A Different Kind of Stamping Process in the GMC CarbonPro Bed
Because carbon fiber isn’t a solid material like steel, it can’t simply be shaped and molded when it’s hardened. The sheets of carbon fiber used for the GMC truck beds consist of a mix of fibers and resins that require shaping in order to be made into the parts that are needed. In order to do this, every sheet of carbon fiber is heated to make it malleable and able to be shaped and stamped into the bed that we want to enjoy in the new or used GMC Sierra models that offer this bed as a great choice for you.
Scraps Aren’t Tossed
Normally, with steel, you see the excess and scraps tossed out to be melted down and made into new sheets somewhere off-site, but with the scraps of carbon fiber that are cut off the bed structure, new sheets and items can be made. These scraps are collected and turned into a shape that looks like a log to create the hooks and smaller items that are part of the truck bed assembly. This means there’s a lot less waste when making the GMC Sierra truck bed out of carbon fiber, which will make environmentalists happy.
A Unique Addition in the GMC CarbonPro Bed
The idea of creating a carbon fiber truck bed isn’t a new one for GM. In fact, Tim Connors, who was the chief engineer of manufacturing was a strong supporter of the carbon fiber bed for many years. Unfortunately, he was killed in a motorcycle accident a few years ago. To honor Connors and his influence in this new bed, the words “Connors Way” is stamped on the underside of every one of the CarbonPro truck beds that are created for the GMC Sierra. This is an important way to honor someone who didn’t get to see his influence come to fruition.
The Final Product
After cooking, shaping, stamping, and gluing, the final CarbonPro truck beds are created and a few of them will be torn apart to make sure they meet the standards set by GM. This is part of the quality control process. This new truck bed is offered on the 2019 GMC Sierra Denali and AT4 trims and it will be more available in the 2020 models of this truck. This is certainly an incredible addition to the truck bed market and with the CarbonPro truck bed in place, you won’t need a spray-in liner to be placed in the bed of your new GMC Sierra.
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