Speculation: 2023 - more of the same?

[KCJackson1]

Automotive News, the industry's leading trade publication, has updated their brand forecast charts for Ram, showing that 2023 (AN goes by calendar, not model year) will have a refresh update to the 5th gen Ram 1500, but also just a refresh for the Ram HD... meaning a continuation of the 4th gen for the 2500 through 5500 lines.

If that is indeed the case, and assuming it's a delayed MY2023 like the MY2019's arrival in January 2019, that would begin the 4th gen HD's 14th model year in the same body. The 3rd gen HD was 7 years (2003-2009), the 2nd gen HD was 9 (1994-2002), so this is the longest since the last D/W (1972-1993).

The current Ford and GM cabs kill the 4th gen Ram in front and rear legroom... in fact, if you move the front seat in the Ford SuperCab or Chevy/GMC Double Cab forward to the max legroom position of the Ram, the rear legroom of those extended cabs comes very close to the Ram Crew Cab rear seat. That's just not going to be cut it going forward, no matter how much nicer the materials and components of the Ram's interior are.

Stellantis can not just sit back and be happy that Ram HD is number 2 in sales behind Ford in class 2-5 pickups and C&Cs with such a dated cab limiting their competitive advantages. The 5th gen cab would allow Ram to add the flat rear floor, reclining rear seat with full-depth lower cushion, and double-pane sunroof in the Crew. They could also reposition the front seat to improve the balance between front and rear legroom - currently 41" front and 45" rear in the 1500 - to 43/43 to better match what Ford and GM offer.

Offering 3 to 4 more years of the same body could backfire on Stellantis. Other thoughts?

 

[Ozymandias]

Don't like to hear that. It's definitely dated. And it's tough to win back lost customers...

 

[Ltngdrvr]

To change to the new cab, they will have to totally redesign the frame which will cost major bucks, so they are going to string that out as long as sales figures mean they can still make a profit.
FCA is fine with being #2 to Ford, they know they will never beat them, and are happy with beating gm.

 

[nukegm]

bummer....was hoping for new design. yes, its a long time to have same body style... i still like the look though. the new chevy/gmc looks like a designer went on a acid trip involving tonka toys somehow. maybe the supposed new transmission in the HD rams will bring over a few customers ( if it indeed comes true )? cheers comrades!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Just how DAMZ much room does one need in a cab??? I an 6' 2" and have never felt the need to have more room front or back seats.

Personally I like the 4th gen design. Just keep tweaking it as far as I am concerned.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

More room in the cab is always welcome.
If RAM would get the new 1500 cab onto the HD trucks, and get the HO engine into the 2500, and a 9 or 10 speed trans, I'd probably be looking there for my new truck.

 

[Cummins12V98]

More room in the cab is always welcome.
If RAM would get the new 1500 cab onto the HD trucks, and get the HO engine into the 2500, and a 9 or 10 speed trans, I'd probably be looking there for my new truck.

Thought you had something coming.

 

[crazy jerry]

maybe once or twice i could of used a flat rear floor but other wise it meens nothing to me. cab room is fine to me. if i had more it would just be going to waste. perhaps if your hauling 15kids every where i could see wanting a school bus sized cab.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Maybe drive one of there for a few days to reset what is plenty of room.

 

[promisedland]

Stacks on that bad-boy?
Looks nice!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Stacks on that bad-boy?
Looks nice!

Funny at first glance loading pic I went what the heck I don’t have stacks. It’s the garage door jamb.

Goof catch!

 

[DHayden]

Someone say stacks? Its amazing, no one has ever asked for use of my pictures but they are all over merchant sites on the web.
#ad

 

[BigPapa]

You have stacked AND tail pipes?

 

[DHayden]

It was a phase, I needed the stacks to do amateur truck pulls but wasnt sure I was going to keep them. Besides, the tail pipes still allowed me to smoke out ricers that kept trying to crawl up my butt. That only lasted about 6 months and I took the tail pipes off.

 

[JR]

You have stacked AND tail pipes?

 

[promisedland]

Funny at first glance loading pic I went what the heck I don’t have stacks. It’s the garage door jamb.
I see it, Still a nice Ram

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thanks, I really like it.

 

[Randomrunner12]

Just how DAMZ much room does one need in a cab??? I an 6' 2" and have never felt the need to have more room front or back seats.

Personally I like the 4th gen design. Just keep tweaking it as far as I am concerned.

I'm almost there with you. I wish my driver seat could go farther back. I'm 6'4" and the clutch is sometimes too close for me. no matter how i adjust lol.

 

[AnonEd]

I'm only an inch taller than 12V98 and I've never had an issue with room either. At some point wheelbase gets too long, maybe why Ram didn't see enough sales to justify wheelbase for a MegaCab 8-foot bed. I'd consider transmission, electrical architecture and maybe a telescoping steering column more important. Just for giggles, headroom, legroom, wheelbase for comparison:

 

[AH64ID]

6’4” here and the only issue I’ve has is in trucks with sunroofs. No headroom in a full size truck with a sunroof is a joke. My 02 Jetta with a sunroof had an amazing amount more headroom than a 4th Gen Ram.

A flat rear floor would be nice when I’ve got 5-6 people in the truck.

My brother 17 F-250 is 9” longer than my truck and it’s noticeable on tight back roads. Ford has a longer cab and sets the rear axle further back in the bed.