Some Rebels getting steel hoods?

[Jonathan19Limited]

I was looking at some new Rebels for sale online, and came across this one (1st one built in Molten Red color), and noticed it has "Steel Sport Hood" listed under optional equipment on the window sticker. Has this been a thing before???

 

[Eighty]

I'm sitting on over 100,000 build sheets for MY2026, so I just checked. There are currently 1,145 build sheets that contain that term ("Steel Sport Hood"). Not sure what it's all about, but there are definitely several of them out there now. In more than just the Rebel trim. I see Laramies, Rebels, Sports, Limiteds, etc. And with a mixture of Hurricane and Hemi engines.

 

[Eighty]

Is that VIN #1C6SRFLT9TN219211? That's the only Molten Red Rebel that's gotten a window sticker (so far).

EDIT: Nevermind, I didn't realize you had a link to the window sticker. Yes, it's that truck.

 

[kapinallinen2]

Are we maybe running short of aluminum? What advantage would a steel hood have, short of being able to use a magnetic antenna mount on it.

 

[Eighty]

Are we maybe running short of aluminum? What advantage would a steel hood have, short of being able to use a magnetic antenna mount on it.

Could be a tariff thing. Domestic steel vs. imported aluminum.

 

[kapinallinen2]

Could be a tariff thing. Domestic steel vs. imported aluminum.

A good possibility.
Here is my recent experience ordering from overseas.

The goods value was 75.00
Regulatory charges 1.34
Import export duties 11.39
Duty tax processing 17.00

I would buy domestic but not available locally.

 

[Jonathan19Limited]

I'm sitting on over 100,000 build sheets for MY2026, so I just checked. There are currently 1,145 build sheets that contain that term ("Steel Sport Hood"). Not sure what it's all about, but there are definitely several of them out there now. In more than just the Rebel trim. I see Laramies, Rebels, Sports, Limiteds, etc. And with a mixture of Hurricane and Hemi engines.

Very interesting, thanks for the info. These are only models with the sport hood, or are there any standard Laramie, Limited hoods using steel as well?

 

[Eighty]

It would appear that they've converted to "steel standard hoods" as well. Took me a minute to find the right search term, but here's what I'm seeing:
2,211 trucks with "steel standard hood", all produced from 11/26 thru today (12/11). Almost all flavors are included (Limited, Laramie, Rebel, etc., even Tungsten), but not the RHO.
1,479 trucks with "steel sport hood" (count is up from yesterday), all produced from 11/25 thru today (12/11). Also almost all flavors, except the RHO.
So they started adding steel hoods right before Thanksgiving. But given that I've found over 11,000 build sheets in that time period, it looks like only about 1/3 of trucks are being build with steel hoods.
There are a handful of trucks (54 right now) that have a line item in the build sheets saying "Adrian Steel - Kansas City MO". Not sure what that's about, maybe a new steel supplier and they're tracking trucks to see if any issues arise from this vendor.

 

[Jonathan19Limited]

It would appear that they've converted to "steel standard hoods" as well. Took me a minute to find the right search term, but here's what I'm seeing:
2,211 trucks with "steel standard hood", all produced from 11/26 thru today (12/11). Almost all flavors are included (Limited, Laramie, Rebel, etc., even Tungsten), but not the RHO.
1,479 trucks with "steel sport hood" (count is up from yesterday), all produced from 11/25 thru today (12/11). Also almost all flavors, except the RHO.
So they started adding steel hoods right before Thanksgiving. But given that I've found over 11,000 build sheets in that time period, it looks like only about 1/3 of trucks are being build with steel hoods.
There are a handful of trucks (54 right now) that have a line item in the build sheets saying "Adrian Steel - Kansas City MO". Not sure what that's about, maybe a new steel supplier and they're tracking trucks to see if any issues arise from this vendor.

Hmm, I wonder if the tailgates on those trucks are still aluminum or not?

 

[Scram1500]

What's the effect on payload? When they were first hyping the DT the selling point was that it was on average 200 lbs lighter than the DS

 

[Eighty]

Someone on the RHO forum mentioned something about a fire at an aluminum plant - I'm trying to find out more about this.

 

[Jonathan19Limited]

What's the effect on payload? When they were first hyping the DT the selling point was that it was on average 200 lbs lighter than the DS

Probably around a 15lb hit on payload. The weight savings on the DT mostly came from lighter, but stronger frame, and alum. suspension pieces & tailgate. The DS's hood was already aluminum I believe.

 

[Eighty]

So there was a fire that has impacted Stellantis. I guess these steel hoods are a short term substitution until the supply chain recovers. The second fire happens a few days before Ram started installing steel hoods.

Timeline of Events:

• Sept 16, 2025: Fire at Novelis Oswego plant damages the hot mill.
• Oct/Nov 2025: Ford and Stellantis announce production cuts; financial impacts become clear.
• Nov 20, 2025: A second, smaller fire occurs at the same Novelis facility, disrupting recovery plans.

Overall: While the main event wasn't in Sterling Heights, the disruption at Novelis sent major shockwaves through the Michigan-centered auto industry, affecting local plants and jobs due to the shortage of critical aluminum.