06 is it 3 gen or......

[KDoerr]

Good day all. So is the 2006 ram 3 Gen or is it the 4th gen Dodge? It looks different then the 03 -05 dodge and the cab is bigger. So is it the 4th gen dodge. I think Not.

 

[SRadke]

Nope, third gen. Same engine..... more or less

 

[madduck]

How about 3. 5 gen?

 

[tgrfan2]

I'll vote for that. We picked up my 3500 SRW 48re today. I love my friend's 03 HO like it, but this truck really motors! If it limbers up like his did at about 12K it will be really something. I can't wait to put a load behind it.

I am not as sure about the seats yet. They seem comfortable but the headrest is a little goofy looking.

 

[JRD]

I like to call it the "ugly twin sister" of the previous 3rd gens. Although my neighbor bought an 06 today... headlights are better, and interior is better IMO. But I still love the overall look of my 05.

 

[GWBourne]

I like to call it the "ugly twin sister" of the previous 3rd gens. Although my neighbor bought an 06 today... headlights are better, and interior is better IMO. But I still love the overall look of my 05.

GRRR... i personaly can not stand the interiors... i had a smokign deal set up to trade my 04. 5 in on an 06 dually. same truck, just long bed dually. i could not bring myself to do it. well, same truck minus leather. . i GOT to have my leather.

Grant

 

[Highfinance97]

they changed the interior on the 06'?? i didnt know that

I like 3. 5 gen

Michael

 

[BHolm]

Still 3rd gen. There are no hard part upgrades. Same engines, transmissions, frames, suspensions. That is the stuff that makes a real difference to me. Some new headlights and interior just don't make it a new gen in my book, not even half a gen :-laf

 

[jjdiesel]

It's like when they made some changes to the 2nd gen in '98. 5, went to 24 valves, other major engine changes... . new dashboard etc, and still... . from '94-'02 = 2nd gen.

 

[Scrappy]

the generation change is a total redesign. all they did for '06 is just cosmetic refreshing

 

[jwilliams3]

How about this one:



03-05 3rd Gen.

06 and up UGLY 3rd Gen.

 

[GWBourne]

How about this one:



03-05 3rd Gen.

06 and up UGLY 3rd Gen.

i concure, but i still might end up buying an 07 or 08... .

Grant

 

[tgrfan2]

You might want to study up on what will be required to meet the new emission standards.

The solutions might be "ugly".

 

[DJennings]

Still 3rd gen. There are no hard part upgrades. Same engines, transmissions, frames, suspensions. That is the stuff that makes a real difference to me. Some new headlights and interior just don't make it a new gen in my book, not even half a gen :-laf

There is a lot more new to the 06 than just headlights and interior. There were changes to the frame to make it stiffer and quieter. It is foam injected I believe (quiet steel?). The have redone the door seals. The CP3 is different. The harnesses are different. The exhaust has some sort of resonator after the muffler (not all the changes were good).



I'm not saying that it is 4th gen or anything, but there were some solid changes.



Personally I could care less what the front end looks like. When I'm driving, I don't have to look at it. This truck is quieter. The seats are more comfortable. It has way more room for me to work out of.



I only have a few complaints so far. One is that green indicator letting me know that I turned the fogs on. The other is the lack of a weather boot on the drivers side of the intercooler.

 

[TowPro]

There is a lot more new to the 06 than just headlights and interior. There were changes to the frame to make it stiffer and quieter. It is foam injected I believe (quiet steel?). .

Is the frame foam injected? should make installing my 5th wheel hitch fun

 

[MRFost]

I thought that they put an IFS under the '06. That would be suspension changes, No?

 

[SRadke]

There were changes to the frame to make it stiffer and quieter. It is foam injected I believe (quiet steel?).

The term "quiet steel" as it relates to vehicles is metallurgically absurd. It's a term some Ford marketing guy who knew absolutely nothing about metals came up with. Let's just say if the metal has the properties you want for something like a frame it will be far from quiet. Those of you with third gens that travel gravel roads should know what I'm talking about.



As for IFS in 06, that's one I hadn't heard and IF it's true, the truck I have now will be the last new one I'll ever buy.



-Scott

 

[JTryles]

I thought that they put an IFS under the '06. That would be suspension changes, No?

No IFS on the 2500 and 3500's...



The 1500's have had IFS for a number of years but for 2006 they have made some changes to the design (for the better I understand).

 

[DJennings]

No IFS on 2500's and 3500's. They redid the IFS on the 1500 and gave the 1500 the hydroformed frame our trucks have had.



As for SRadke's thinking STEEL cannot be "quiet". He's right, but you can make the FRAME quieter. Foam injection will reduce or eliminate the resonation of sound and bumps through the frame. They also changed the body mounts to help reduce the transfer of noise and vibration from the frame to the cab.



I don't know the specifics on the frame. I read somewhere that they are doing foam injection for 06, but I haven't been able to verify it. All I can say is that this truck has a completely different "feel to it". It is much quieter and much smoother feeling than my 04. 5. I only had that truck for a year, and I sat behind the wheel for almost 1000 hours. I have also been alternating between them for the last few days, and it is very noticeable.

 

[Eric Lee]

I think they should leave the design alone for at least 5 yrs. The 'first gen' style was pretty much untouched for a long time - late 70's??? to 98. (I had an '83 Gas 3/4t on 38. 5s that lived through my drinking days - not much else did. )



Then 5 yrs for the 2nd Gen and the 3rd only 3 yrs - It took 4 years to get comfy with the 2G. I was almost getting to like the 3rd Gens... and then they do this.



At this rate I won't ever be able to buy a new truck. Just about the time they start to grow on me they change up again. Good thing I'm still tickled evertime I jump into my 2G.



- Eric



I even called DC and pitched a *****. Basically saying - 'With the new production technology you can produce a different style every year or so - but should you?'