GMC Shows Off The Durability Of Its CarbonPro Cargo Bed

[Gorehamj]

John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
4-11-2019

GMC's new Sierra CarbonPro Editions arrive at dealers this summer, available on the Sierra Denali 1500 and the Sierra AT4 1500. GMC says that the first will arrive in June. Unlike a composite bedliner, GMC's purpose-built CarbonPro bed is the first of its kind for carbon fiber composite. GMC promises best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance. To help prove that statement, GMC has released a little bit of data on its testing. More importantly, images and video.

 

Tim Herrick, executive chief engineer, Full-Size Trucks, General Motors explained why truck buyers will want CrbonPro, saying, “The bed is the working end of a truck; it’s what brings buyers to the segment. Loaded with motorcycles, snowmobiles or dirt bikes, CarbonPro in the 2019 GMC Sierra is sure to impress with its strength, space and innovation.” Duncan Aldred, vice president, Global GMC, added, “CarbonPro is made of the same raw material found in seven-figure supercars and even aerospace applications. Coupled with offering the world’s first six-function MultiPro tailgate, the 2019 Sierra packs a one-two hauling punch for whatever the situation demands.” 

 

The GMC CarbonPro bed has best-in-class cargo volume partly because its sidewalls can be pushed out farther. This is due to the outstanding formability of the carbon fiber composite GMC chose that allows molding deep and complex shapes with variable wall thicknesses. The CarbonPro bed is large enough to slide a 2-inch by 6-inch wooden divider into pockets in the bed wall for cargo organization and separation. GMC also points out that it is possible to vary the graining of the material. Some areas are deeply grained or traction and some are less grained so that cargo can slide in and out better. 

The GMC CarbonPro bed has many design features, including:

- Spray-in bedliner not needed: Because carbon fiber composite is exceptionally durable, a spray-in bedliner is not necessary to help prevent damage and therefore will not be packaged on models with the CarbonPro bed. The composite material is rugged yet nonabrasive.
- Rear wheelhouse liners not needed: Because of CarbonPro’s increased dent resistance versus aluminum or steel, no wheelhouse liner is installed from the factory.
- Payload increase: Models equipped with the CarbonPro bed offer an increase in payload over a steel bed due to the mass savings of carbon fiber composite. Payload for these models is at least 59 pounds higher, depending on the configurations and equipment.

 

GMC laid out the type of testing that it conducts. Included are:

-Drop tests: Large and heavy loads were repeatedly dropped on the CarbonPro bed to replicate extreme use scenarios. Testing included dropping cinder blocks, 1800-pound loads of gravel and 450-pound water-filled steel drums from varying heights.
-Corrosion test: CarbonPro was subjected to corrosion testing but carbon fiber composite is naturally resistant to corrosion.
-Snowmobile test: A snowmobile with metal studs on the track was driven into the bed and accelerated at full throttle with a 250-pound rider on board with only minimal scratching evident on the bed.
-Extreme temperature testing: Validation work was performed in Yuma, Arizona, and Kapuskasing, Ontario, to help ensure CarbonPro holds up in unforgiving environments.
-Generator test: High heat exposure involved aiming the exhaust from a portable generator directly at the corner of the bed to ensure heat and vibration would not degrade the bed.

 

Who is interested in this new cargo bed? What do you like about it?

 

[SkiDooNick700]

Quote

Snowmobile test: A snowmobile with metal studs on the track was driven into the bed and accelerated at full throttle with a 250-pound rider on board with only minimal scratching evident on the bed.

 

Braaap!!!!!!!!!!!

[L86 All Terrain]

How about the carbide runners on our snowmobiles? Those cut my concrete shop floor and will do the same to a steel or spray in box liner. The only answer we had were the ribbed plastic bed-liners that they no longer use. Now I have to put a sheet of plywood in the bed to protect it. Will this offer resistance to cuts and abrasions?

[SkiDooNick700]

16 hours ago, L86 All Terrain said:

How about the carbide runners on our snowmobiles? Those cut my concrete shop floor and will do the same to a steel or spray in box liner. The only answer we had were the ribbed plastic bed-liners that they no longer use. Now I have to put a sheet of plywood in the bed to protect it. Will this offer resistance to cuts and abrasions?

 

I would think yes? Or worst  case just get a set of the plastic ski guides you would lay in a trailer.  If they actually ran a sled WOT in the bed of the truck with studs and there was hardly any evidence of that, then I think itll probably withstand the carbide runners.

 

Even if this bed is practically damage proof, I'd probably still lay down somethin before loading a sled.  That's just my craziness tho 

[GMCShack]

I wish we knew the price of this new option only available on the AT4 and Denalis this summer and hopefully more trim models on 2020 trucks. Of course our Chevy brothers still have no idea if CarbonPro beds will make it to some Silverado trim lines anytime soon or not. 

 

Car and Driver had write up on new CarbonPro beds the other day as well: 

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a27115224/2019-gmc-sierra-carbon-pro-bed/

 

 

[Sierra Dan]

Price? My question exactly.

The Denali and AT4 trim levels already exceed 62K - 70K already.

Is this bed going to fetch another 2,500k - 4K ?

It will be a waste for those who do not really haul anything and keep their truck a garage queen.

[Paintor]

They were just making commercials about how good steel beds were...oh well.

 

Youtube dot com..ahem...

 

/watch?v=hV3LugtWgwI

 

/watch?v=hgvo2yrS2vM

 

Carbon fiber truck beds....omg...Granny runnin GM has flipped her rocker....put her in a home NOW......a pickup aint no F35 or B-21 Bomber...

[Paintor]

“”Braaaaahhhhh.....got me a CARBON FIBER truck bed””””...

 

Should be gunshots heard after wards. Likely in Detroit.

 

Lets place our bets..first Carbon Fiber bed truck owner gits shot in Detroit within 60 days of release...House is betting he gets shot within 7 days...place yer bets boys....

 

House has $100 within 7 days....place yer calls....

[Paintor]

Colonel Colin Powell went on Live National TV under Obama and said he uses his military retirement checks to pay illegals to work on his house instead of Americans....so who cares if GM is paying Indonesians 1/4th of what they were paying Chinese to make Carbon Fiber beds....free market baby.....those Saudi Investors will make bank along with the CEO whom is the largest single share holder of GM...dont hate tha Playa....hate tha game