Should you go with steel or aluminum truck side panels? Which is best for your vehicle? At Central Alberta Paint & Supplies (CAPS), we have an extensive inventory of truck autobody parts for drivers in need of replacing a panel on their current vehicle. Read below about the pros and cons of different auto materials.

Steel

One of the most common materials used in the construction of truck body parts is steel. While the use of steel has been consistent, its application is always evolving to higher efficiency and better passenger safety.

Pros

Steel is one of the most reliable materials used in autobodies today. Both stronger and harder, steel is a common material you will find in truck side panels, doors, and more. It is 2.5 times denser than aluminum and will withstand natural driving conditions for longer. If your vehicle is a daily commute for you, consider using steel body parts. Compared to aluminum, steel is more cost-effective, giving you all the protection you need without the price tag. But what are the downsides of steel?

Cons

Steel is heavier than aluminum, but for good reason. The difference in extra gas that you will be paying for the steel will make up for with safety. The biggest flaw of steel is that it is prone to rust faster than aluminum. While this is true, it is easy to prevent most rust from forming with a good-quality protective paint coating. If you keep up with maintaining your vehicle’s paint job, you will not see rust nearly as quickly.

Aluminum

Aluminum was first introduced in the automotive industry in the early 1900s. This material is often used in truck side panels, doors, and boxes. Is this material right for your truck?

Pros

The most significant benefit of aluminum is that it is lightweight and less prone to rusting. Compared to raw steel, aluminum will withstand rusting for longer. This means that your aluminum-panelled truck may not rust as soon as a steel equivalent. It has been in circulation in the car world for a long time, as it is better for maximizing fuel efficiency. While you may get better mileage with aluminum body parts, there are many downfalls to using aluminum.

Cons

Should you experience an event that leads to denting or pitting of the car’s body, such as rock damage, hail, collisions, or other events, the aluminum body will be expensive to repair and replace. If you have the cash flow to pay out of pocket for your aluminum truck parts as well as sufficient funds for damage maintenance, you may benefit from aluminum. But these costs can pile up pretty fast, depending on the driver.

What About Fiberglass?

Not many manufacturers make fibreglass auto body parts, and for a good reason. While it may look good, the expense to keep up with repairs is not worth having this material on your truck body. In addition, fibreglass needs added reinforcement to be stable. Due to the many elements needed to be met in order for fibreglass to be a viable option, it is uncommon in vehicle body use.

Get Durable Steel Truck Side Panels at CAPS

The new truck side panels, truck doors, and other body parts you purchase should be of the utmost quality for your safety as well as the truck’s durability. All of these you can get in steel vehicle body parts at CAPS. Contact our team today to learn more about our truck panels.

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