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[RAW]<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>2005 Chicago Auto Show<BR>2006 Dodge
Ram Mega Cab 2500/3500 intro </B><br><i>Updated 02/10/2005</i></P>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Introduction</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Early last week we learned that the introduction of the
new Mega Cab Dodge Ram would take place at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show. In
preparation for the trip I discovered that the Chicago show was growing in size
this year by 42 percent to 1.2 million square feet, making it the largest auto
show in the world! I also discovered that Chrysler would have an almost 1/2
mile long test track inside the show giving attendees rides in almost all of
their line of vehicles. Enough of the background and on to what you came here
for: this is a preliminary article to get information about Mega Cab out to
you. </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The Competition</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Before the introduction at 10:45am I took some time to
check out the competition. I brought along a model with me that I believe is
typical of the average TDR member (that's right, I'm 6 foot tall and over 200
pounds). My stature will give an accurate representation of the size of the
cabs of these very large crew cab trucks. In climbing in and out of the Ford
and Chevy crew cabs I found that the Chevy was easier to climb into because of
the well placed grab handle. But, it was much more difficult to get out of
because the door jamb intrudes into the door space. The Chevy also had more
seat space and vastly more cargo space than the Ford. Placing the front seat
where it was comfortable for me. I measured the distance between the back of
the front seat to the front of the back seat. The Chevy measured 28 1/2 inches
and the Ford measured 29 1/2 inches. Once seated in the truck both had a
comparable amount of room inside.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">However, when you configure the seats for cargo space
there is a vast difference. The Ford rear seat bottom folds up with the back of
the seat staying put, a cargo floor then folds out. Therefore the entire
thickness of the upper and lower seat protrudes into the cargo area leaving 26
inches between the seats. In the Chevy the lower part of the seat flips up
against the front seat and the upper folds down giving far more room at 37
inches. The disadvantage with the Chevy is that you are using the back of the
seat to lay your cargo on. This is not as durable as the steel cargo floor that
folds out in the Ford.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">All of the Chevy's and Fords on display were 2005 models
so I have no information on changes for the '06 model year. </P>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">2005 Ford 250 Crew Cab King
Ranch</TD>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">2005 GMC 2500 Crew Cab</TD>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">2005 Chevy 2500 Crew Cab</TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The Current Quad Cab</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">I also looked at the current 2005 Dodge Quad Cab to
compare the size to the new model. In climbing in and out it was significantly
smaller than the Ford and Chevy crew cabs with only 26 inches between the
seats. You sit much more upright with your head against the glass in the back.
With the seat folded up for cargo it measured 26 inches. </P>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">Dodge 3500 Quad Cab Long Bed</TD>
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</TABLE> </CENTER>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The 2006 Dodge Ram Mega
Cab</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Now, on to the 2006 Mega Cab introduction. Chrysler
Group, George Murphy, representatives uncovered the new truck and drove it onto
the stage. It struck me immediately as having a much larger cab than I had been
expecting. Some of the rumors prior to this intro were that the bed would be
shorter than a normal short bed. The good news is that it is the same short bed
as on the current trucks at 75.9 inches long. The bad news for many TDR readers
is that there will be no long bed offered with the Mega Cab. It is built on the
same chassis as the current long bed Quad Cab and it shares the same wheelbase.
</P>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Chassis</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">The 2500 has a GVWR of 8,800 pounds with the 5.7 V8 Hemi
and 9,000 pounds with the Cummins Turbo Diesel. GCVWR for the 2500 is between
15,000 pounds with the 5.7L V8 with the six speed up to 20,0000 pounds on all
of the diesel equipped trucks. Base curb weight of the 2wd 2500 with the
Cummins, a six speed transmission, and the SLT interior is 6,939 pounds leaving
a payload of 2,061 pounds. The automatic weighs either 25 pounds or 30 pounds
more depending on where you look in the press kit. On the high end a 4wd 2500
with the Cummins, an automatic, and the Laramie interior is 7,565 pounds
leaving a payload of only 1,435 pounds.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">The Mega Cab is also being offered as an SRW model only
(more bad news - no dually because of the six foot bed) in the 3500 with a GVWR
of 9,900 pounds and the only available engine option is the Cummins Turbo
Diesel. Base curb weight of the 2wd 3500 with an SLT interior and the six speed
transmission is listed as 7,060 pounds (which looks like an error because the
automatic is listed as the same) leaving a payload of 2,840 pounds. On the high
end a 4wd 3500 with the Laramie interior and an automatic is listed as 7,617
pounds leaving a payload of 2,283 pounds. </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><b><a href="/05chicago/Ram_Mega_Cab_Specifications.pdf">More detailed specifications
by model can be found in the Dodge press release here</a></b></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The Mega Cab and
interior</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">The big news is obviously the cab which is 102 inches
long measured from the front edge of the front door to the rearmost point on the cab (compared with the Dodge Quad cab at 82 inches, the Ford at 91
inches and the Chevy at 89 inches). They added 20 inches to the existing Quad
Cab giving 71 cubic feet of interior volume. The rear door opens a full 88
degrees and measures 34.5" x 35.5" - it is noticably larger than either the
Chevy or Ford rear doors. Stepping into and out of the truck is very easy.
Dodge also has a well placed grab handle to assist in entry and exit much like
the Ford design. The rear seat is much more comfortable offering 32 3/4 inches
between the seats with the front seat set was set for my measurements. The rear
seat also reclines from between 22 and 37 degrees which is a class exclusive.
In addition there is store space behind the rear seat which neither Ford nor
Chevy offers. The rear seat is a 40/60 split bench the same as the Chevy and
Ford and the seat folds down like the Chevy except that the rear does not fold
up. With the seat folded for cargo use it measures a huge 51 inches between the
back of the cab and the back of the front seats - 13 3/4 inches more than the
Chevy and 22 1/2 inches more than the Ford. The new cab adds approximately 200
pounds to the curb weight of the truck compared to the current Quad Cab long
bed.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">There is an available DVD audio visual system for the
rear seat and there is a full moving map GPS system available for the dash.
A sunroof and a power sliding rear window are also options.</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><a href="/05chicago/cabcomp.htm"><b>For a side by side cab comparison of all the trucks
click here</b></a></P>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Powertrain</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Powertrain options are the 5.7L V8 Hemi gas engine in the
2500 and the 5.9L 24v TDHO Cummins Turbo Diesel for the 2500 and 3500. The
diesel engine will be a carry over from '05 and will not have any changes to
the power ratings. Transmissions likewise will be a carry over from the '05
model with either the 48RE automatic or the new G56 six speed manual. The press
kit lists the NV5600 so you may read that in places but I was assured that was
a mistake and it will have the new six speed which they are in the process of
changing over to right now. </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Video</B></P>
</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">-Steve St.Laurent</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Complete Official Daimler Chrysler<br>
2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab Press Release</B><BR>(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Overview<BR>
Interior<BR>
Engineering<BR>
Design<BR>
Specifications<BR></B></P>[/RAW]
Ram Mega Cab 2500/3500 intro </B><br><i>Updated 02/10/2005</i></P>
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</A></TD>
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</TABLE></CENTER>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Introduction</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Early last week we learned that the introduction of the
new Mega Cab Dodge Ram would take place at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show. In
preparation for the trip I discovered that the Chicago show was growing in size
this year by 42 percent to 1.2 million square feet, making it the largest auto
show in the world! I also discovered that Chrysler would have an almost 1/2
mile long test track inside the show giving attendees rides in almost all of
their line of vehicles. Enough of the background and on to what you came here
for: this is a preliminary article to get information about Mega Cab out to
you. </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The Competition</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Before the introduction at 10:45am I took some time to
check out the competition. I brought along a model with me that I believe is
typical of the average TDR member (that's right, I'm 6 foot tall and over 200
pounds). My stature will give an accurate representation of the size of the
cabs of these very large crew cab trucks. In climbing in and out of the Ford
and Chevy crew cabs I found that the Chevy was easier to climb into because of
the well placed grab handle. But, it was much more difficult to get out of
because the door jamb intrudes into the door space. The Chevy also had more
seat space and vastly more cargo space than the Ford. Placing the front seat
where it was comfortable for me. I measured the distance between the back of
the front seat to the front of the back seat. The Chevy measured 28 1/2 inches
and the Ford measured 29 1/2 inches. Once seated in the truck both had a
comparable amount of room inside.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">However, when you configure the seats for cargo space
there is a vast difference. The Ford rear seat bottom folds up with the back of
the seat staying put, a cargo floor then folds out. Therefore the entire
thickness of the upper and lower seat protrudes into the cargo area leaving 26
inches between the seats. In the Chevy the lower part of the seat flips up
against the front seat and the upper folds down giving far more room at 37
inches. The disadvantage with the Chevy is that you are using the back of the
seat to lay your cargo on. This is not as durable as the steel cargo floor that
folds out in the Ford.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">All of the Chevy's and Fords on display were 2005 models
so I have no information on changes for the '06 model year. </P>
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</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">2005 Ford 250 Crew Cab King
Ranch</TD>
</TR>
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<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">2005 GMC 2500 Crew Cab</TD>
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</TABLE>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">2005 Chevy 2500 Crew Cab</TD>
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</TABLE> </CENTER>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The Current Quad Cab</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">I also looked at the current 2005 Dodge Quad Cab to
compare the size to the new model. In climbing in and out it was significantly
smaller than the Ford and Chevy crew cabs with only 26 inches between the
seats. You sit much more upright with your head against the glass in the back.
With the seat folded up for cargo it measured 26 inches. </P>
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<TR>
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/quadback2.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/quadback2.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" COLSPAN="2">Dodge 3500 Quad Cab Long Bed</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE> </CENTER>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The 2006 Dodge Ram Mega
Cab</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Now, on to the 2006 Mega Cab introduction. Chrysler
Group, George Murphy, representatives uncovered the new truck and drove it onto
the stage. It struck me immediately as having a much larger cab than I had been
expecting. Some of the rumors prior to this intro were that the bed would be
shorter than a normal short bed. The good news is that it is the same short bed
as on the current trucks at 75.9 inches long. The bad news for many TDR readers
is that there will be no long bed offered with the Mega Cab. It is built on the
same chassis as the current long bed Quad Cab and it shares the same wheelbase.
</P>
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<TABLE>
<TR>
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<TR>
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</TABLE> </CENTER>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Chassis</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">The 2500 has a GVWR of 8,800 pounds with the 5.7 V8 Hemi
and 9,000 pounds with the Cummins Turbo Diesel. GCVWR for the 2500 is between
15,000 pounds with the 5.7L V8 with the six speed up to 20,0000 pounds on all
of the diesel equipped trucks. Base curb weight of the 2wd 2500 with the
Cummins, a six speed transmission, and the SLT interior is 6,939 pounds leaving
a payload of 2,061 pounds. The automatic weighs either 25 pounds or 30 pounds
more depending on where you look in the press kit. On the high end a 4wd 2500
with the Cummins, an automatic, and the Laramie interior is 7,565 pounds
leaving a payload of only 1,435 pounds.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">The Mega Cab is also being offered as an SRW model only
(more bad news - no dually because of the six foot bed) in the 3500 with a GVWR
of 9,900 pounds and the only available engine option is the Cummins Turbo
Diesel. Base curb weight of the 2wd 3500 with an SLT interior and the six speed
transmission is listed as 7,060 pounds (which looks like an error because the
automatic is listed as the same) leaving a payload of 2,840 pounds. On the high
end a 4wd 3500 with the Laramie interior and an automatic is listed as 7,617
pounds leaving a payload of 2,283 pounds. </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><b><a href="/05chicago/Ram_Mega_Cab_Specifications.pdf">More detailed specifications
by model can be found in the Dodge press release here</a></b></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The Mega Cab and
interior</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">The big news is obviously the cab which is 102 inches
long measured from the front edge of the front door to the rearmost point on the cab (compared with the Dodge Quad cab at 82 inches, the Ford at 91
inches and the Chevy at 89 inches). They added 20 inches to the existing Quad
Cab giving 71 cubic feet of interior volume. The rear door opens a full 88
degrees and measures 34.5" x 35.5" - it is noticably larger than either the
Chevy or Ford rear doors. Stepping into and out of the truck is very easy.
Dodge also has a well placed grab handle to assist in entry and exit much like
the Ford design. The rear seat is much more comfortable offering 32 3/4 inches
between the seats with the front seat set was set for my measurements. The rear
seat also reclines from between 22 and 37 degrees which is a class exclusive.
In addition there is store space behind the rear seat which neither Ford nor
Chevy offers. The rear seat is a 40/60 split bench the same as the Chevy and
Ford and the seat folds down like the Chevy except that the rear does not fold
up. With the seat folded for cargo use it measures a huge 51 inches between the
back of the cab and the back of the front seats - 13 3/4 inches more than the
Chevy and 22 1/2 inches more than the Ford. The new cab adds approximately 200
pounds to the curb weight of the truck compared to the current Quad Cab long
bed.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">There is an available DVD audio visual system for the
rear seat and there is a full moving map GPS system available for the dash.
A sunroof and a power sliding rear window are also options.</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><a href="/05chicago/cabcomp.htm"><b>For a side by side cab comparison of all the trucks
click here</b></a></P>
<CENTER>
<TABLE>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megafront.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megafront.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaside.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaside.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaquart2.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaquart2.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaquart.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaquart.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaback1.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaback1.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaback2.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaback2.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaback3.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaback3.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaback4.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaback4.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megabackseat.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megabackseat.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megabackseat3.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megabackseat3.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megacargo2.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megacargo2.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megacargo1.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megacargo1.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megacargo3.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megacargo3.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megacargo4.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megacargo4.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megacargo5.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megacargo5.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megacargo6.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megacargo6.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaconsole.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaconsole.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megaconsole2.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megaconsole2.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megadash.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megadash.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><A href="/05chicago/pics/megadvd.jpg">/05chicago/pics/thumbs/megadvd.jpg#ad
</A></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE> </CENTER>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Powertrain</B></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Powertrain options are the 5.7L V8 Hemi gas engine in the
2500 and the 5.9L 24v TDHO Cummins Turbo Diesel for the 2500 and 3500. The
diesel engine will be a carry over from '05 and will not have any changes to
the power ratings. Transmissions likewise will be a carry over from the '05
model with either the 48RE automatic or the new G56 six speed manual. The press
kit lists the NV5600 so you may read that in places but I was assured that was
a mistake and it will have the new six speed which they are in the process of
changing over to right now. </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Video</B></P>
</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">-Steve St.Laurent</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Complete Official Daimler Chrysler<br>
2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab Press Release</B><BR>(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Overview<BR>
Interior<BR>
Engineering<BR>
Design<BR>
Specifications<BR></B></P>[/RAW]
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