Chassis Cab offerings?

[Ross]

My brother is looking to take advantage of the low interest rates and wants to trade his 97 3500 for a new one. This time, however, he wants to get a chassis cab.



Here's the Question: Does Dodge offer the chassis cab in Quad-cab configuration?



Thanks.

 

[ftb87]

My friend also wanted a chassie-cab. He talked to dodge and they will not sell it like that (quad-cab).



Frank

 

[1 ALC]

I saw some chassis cabs at a Lynchburg, VA dealership, as well as i can remember they were quads (but not sure).



They were very pricey compared to other cab-chassis.

 

[MOWPAR]

We got one in at work (utility authority) last year, a 4x4, that they had a utility body installed on. We've gotten several reg. cabs but that was the only QC.



Jim

 

[Uncle Joe]

wr have one at work,2000,2wd,qc,slt trim,all regular options apply.

 

[David Muench]

Dodge does not make a quad cab true chassis cab. If you've seen one it's a regular quad cab with a bed takeoff, and not a chassis cab with the beefy frame and all. I wanted a quad myself, but settled on the regular cab chassis cab with a 84" cab-axle (163" wheelbase). It gives me the nice ride with the long wheelbase towing, and a 11' flatbed/gooseneck body fits well on it. The room of the quad cab inside would be nice, but we're doing just fine without it.

 

[Ross]

Thanks, David. That's what I thought. Many service companies take of the beds, and store them until the truck is taken out of service. Then, when it's auction time, the bed goes back on. I've seen many beat up 2-year old trucks with 100,000+ miles with brand new beds. Usually white plain-Janers... .



I'll give my brother the bad news.

 

[Uncle Joe]

David,are you shure about that??

the one we have was ordered that way,it is a thru cab-chasis with the beam front suspension(not independent)it was delivered to the company that put the service bed&tommy lift on it,that where we picked it up.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

Whoa

I would double check on not being able to get a quad cab. My neighbor just bought a new 3500 (cab and chassis) and his is quad. He did not even let the check out guys take off the plastic. Looked funny going down the road with the shipping plastic on the outside!



He likes diesels. He bought a 93 Pstroke (new), then got a 94 or so Dodge 3500 cab/chassis (new), then in 95 got a Chevy 3500 ex-cab (traded off Ford). Then in 99 he sold the Chevy (with only 36k miles), and last month he got a new Dodge cab/chassis 3500 still keeping the original 94 cab/chassis. Gee, which brand do you think he found works the best???

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I tried this last year, no deal, at least in a 2500. Regular cab only. I ended up taking the bed off and selling it.



Shelby

 

[David Muench]

Yep, I am sure. All 3500 2wd's have a beam front axle, it's the 2500 2wd's that are IFS. The only two wheelbases offered in a 3500 chassis cab are 139 (normal longbed size) and 163" (2' longer). If they offered a true quad cab chassis cab it would be 155" or so.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

options

Hmmm... my 2001 Ram option book shows cab/chassis in the 139" and 163" lengths, but it goes on to say that you can get a cab chassis beds in lengths from 8' to 12'. What wheelbase would you end up with a 12' bed?

 

[David Muench]

You'd put the 12' on the 163", it would just hang over. I opted for an 11' since I use it to tow, not haul as much.

 

[ISBPilot]

another idea............

Not sure if this would fit your brothers need for space, but it works for me pretty good. I have the 163" wheelbase regular cab. However, I had a custom bed made with a storage box on the side for my wheelchair. The bed was built up high enough in the front to put a fiberglass sleeper (the kind that usually mounts at the front of a regular pick-up bed). This adds several cubic feet of extra storage space. I use it as a "catch all", jackets, CD's, blankets, briefcase, etc.

 

[ISBPilot]

try this..............

if this works, here are a couple of shots of what the bed/sleeper combo I was talkin' about looks like.

 

[ISBPilot]

the other one.........

here is a better side view



sorry so small, kept having to reduce it to fit the KB requirements

 

[MidwestMotorman]

another sleeper

This is a rig with an attached sleeper with entrance from the cab. This truck is a cab/chassis model.

 

[Ross]

Sleeper pics

Thanks for the pics, guys, but sleepers are out for my Bro. He needs the extended cab for his kids. He's been the sleeper route before, and it's a nice place to lay down, or to put stuff, but it's not much use if your not a suitcase or sleepy... .



Here's another question for you chassis cab experts: Are all 2-wheel drive chassis cabs solid front axle? Also, are the rear axles narrower? I know the Chevy's used to be. The narrower axles allowed for a higher GVW. I expect Dodge to be the same, but the salesmen sure-as-heck don't know... .

 

[MidwestMotorman]

As far as I know, the cab/chassis (3500HD) only come with a solid front axle, either 2wd or 4x4. As far as Dodge narrowing the rear, I do not believe so.



EDIT... My 2001 ram option book lists the rear track of a regular 3500 at 74. 7", and the rear track of a 3500HD at 73. 0", difference of 1. 7". The front track is also narrower on the HD by . 5" as well.



The cab/chassis are narrower at the rear for some reason. Anyone know???

 

[David Muench]

Re: Sleeper pics

Originally posted by Ross

Here's another question for you chassis cab experts: Are all 2-wheel drive chassis cabs solid front axle? Also, are the rear axles narrower? I know the Chevy's used to be. The narrower axles allowed for a higher GVW. I expect Dodge to be the same, but the salesmen sure-as-heck don't know... .

I've never seen a non-solid axle 3500 chassis cab. There isn't a significantly narrower rear axle like the old utility dually on the chevy's - the Dodge frame is too wide to move the axles in.