Crew Cab

[JMichelson]

We’ve seen the new 2500, 3500 some love it, some hate it. It would seem one of the major complaints is no real Ford style Crew Cab. It seems that Dodge doesn't think they need to build one. Here’s your chance to prove them right or wrong. Here’s the question. Do you care if Dodge makes a real 6 big guys Crew Cab. Yes or No. Jeff

 

[Beast2B]

My personal favorite arrangement is a REAL crew cab with a shortbed. I prefer to protect my personal gear inside the cab and/or have room for real people to ride, and use the bed for carrying other stuff/junk/things. If I need to carry more than a 6. 5' bed will hold, I'll use a trailer. A "Ford" style crew cab works for me, being the perfect combo of SUV people mover and dirty parts hauler.

Now, above and beyond all that, I WANT MY CUMMINS!!!!

 

[KCJackson]

Would I <B>like</B> a Ram HD Crew Cab? Sure. Am I still going to buy the new 3500 Quad in 2004 if there's no "true crew"? Yes.



The improvements over the current Club/Quad are enough to get me in the new QC. It is a rare occasion that I have that many "full-sized" adults along with me, and they wouldn't be there for so many hours that the rear seat would become uncomfortable. I'm single, and I use the extra cab space as lockable storage - it means less I have to have in a bed toolbox out in the elements, and that much more bed space.



For Dodge to make a competitive crew cab, the 2003 QC would have to grow 10 more inches. Instead of using the "cut-down" front doors of the new QC, they would have to use the much larger regular cab front doors and a much larger rear door, which means even more tight-space issues (such as my office parking lot, which when it was repaved, got restriped a few inches narrower than before).



But that is one man's opinion.

 

[redneckdr]

cc

nah, a "true crue" cab wouldn't be an appeal to me. in fact, i like my current quadcab configuration the best. 'course, what works best for me won't for everyone... ...

 

[klenger]

Not only does Dodge not make a true crew cab, they won't make a quad cab in the present style either. I usually travel alone, or with the wife, and would rather not trade bed space for rear seat space. With Ford, you can have it either way. I really like the way Dodge did the Dakota quad cab with 4 doors. They should have blown it up 40% for the full size trucks.

 

[amsoilman]

I really have no need for a full size 4-door pickup. I do think Dodge should make one however, just to be able to compete with the rest of the industry! The other thing that I just do not understand, is why they wait a year to introduce the HD pickups. It would seem to me the HD trucks with the Cummins power is what would sell the most, compared to the 1500 trucks. With that said, I think they are missing the boat!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Beast2B]

Wayne, I don't know the ratio of 1500 to 2500/3500 trucks sold, but around here there are A LOT of 1500's running around. I'm pretty sure that 1500's outsell the larger rigs, but I KNOW that the profit margin is WAAAAYYYYY bigger on our trucks with the number of options we choose (Cummins, HD parts, etc).

BTW, is anybody out there a family member to a DC employee? My boss's bro-in-law works for DC, and every year the DC employee is allowed to provide several coupons/vouchers to immediate family for the purchase of any DC vehicle at employees price! No salesperson, no haggle, no hassle. Walk in to the fleet office, present the voucher and prove relationship and order the vehicle. He paid $3000 less for his LOADED Cummins SLT+ 4x4 than I paid for my fairly loaded Cummins SLT 4x4... :{ :{

 

[KCJackson]

Originally posted by klenger

I usually travel alone, or with the wife, and would rather not trade bed space for rear seat space.

No bed space is lost. On the short bed, the floor length is 6'4", and the long bed is 8'1". The new cabs are that much bigger. My 3500 Club has a wheelbase of 154. 7, the new QC is 160. 5.

 

[KCJackson]

Originally posted by Beast2B

Wayne, I don't know the ratio of 1500 to 2500/3500 trucks sold, but around here there are A LOT of 1500's running around. I'm pretty sure that 1500's outsell the larger rigs, but I KNOW that the profit margin is WAAAAYYYYY bigger on our trucks with the number of options we choose (Cummins, HD parts, etc).

1500s represent 65-70% of all Rams sold,. according to DC's press kit on the new HD.



I'd also dispute the profit margin comment... You can option a 1500 QC all the way to a $36,000 sticker, well above its base of low-mid 20s, and that's without a supplied engine like the Cummins! And what do you get for that extra $10 grand? Leather seats, and extra speakers. The truck itself is no more capable than without all the "comforts". When I pay the extra big bucks for the Cummins, I get a truck that is <B>clearly</B> stronger than the base model, even if no other option is selected.



The more "consumer-oriented" the truck, the higher the $$ in DC's pockets. Why else would my dad's 01 Grand Caravan have a sticker of over $30K?

 

[Ross]

Next Truck

The new "crew cab" isn't. My next truck will have to be a Ford, I guess. My family has grown to the point that the new Dodge offering won't cut it. I may seriously consider sending a relatively new unit to Bayer Automotive for the stretch/limousine treatment to get the room I need. Either way, DC won't get my money. I will really miss the awesome, unbeatable Cummins power, but my family comes first.

 

[Rockcrawler]

How does it spec out?

Ok- so there are probably some who are die hards on the bigger is best and yes the new dodge appears to be smaller than the Ford's and chevys.



Has anyone sat in a 1500 back seat? How do they spec out compared to say a quad cab Dakota or a Durango or for that matter full size cars? I'm medium frame myself so the driver's seat is not that far back. Dodge may have hit the mark save for a family of six footers. Does anybody have specs to compare?

 

[Mojo293]

I recently was able to sit in a new 1500 at the NMFS at Louisville, there was plenty of room in the back seat. My friend has a Ford Crew Cab we ride in often, The room in the back was equal to or better than the Ford.

 

[Beast2B]

Mojo293- Nothing personal, but YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING! Are you sure the front seats were pushed back in the 1500 like some of us need them to be for driving? My comparison is my work truck F350 Crewcab compared to my own Dodge QuadCab. I can't even get in my truck with the front seat in the position I use for driving it! The Ferd has WAY more room. PERIOD.

 

[Rockcrawler]

Apples and apples

B2B- mojo is comparing the new quad cab back seat vs the Ford, soundfs like you are comparing the "old" Dodge quad cab which of course is significantly smaller. I'm a little surprised too that he says the new quad bs is as roomy as the Ford cc but not shocked- it's all in how you lay it out. Just my . 02 and trying to determine just how big the new QC is.

 

[Beast2B]

apples oranges bananas

I haven't sat in a NEW 1500 Dodge, so I'm just going by what the forum has presented, and the majority seems to say that the new quadcab is about the same as the old quadcab... I'll quit ranting for awhile until I sit in one. I just REALLY wanted a true crew cab cummins combination... may just have to build one! (course the kids will be gone by then, and the dog fits just fine in the quad... !)

 

[Pit Bull]

IMHO the Ford F350 Crew cab with the single rear wheel is Butt ugly. Now the Dually is pretty good looking . Why would you want a big truck with a little bed? Trucks are for guys that want to carry stuff not people, SUV's are for hauling around people. Now if you want both, the Ford F350 Crew Cab dually with the long bed would be the way to go and it is the best looking truck Ford makes and you also get a engine that will cackle for no extra charge

 

[Beast2B]

I guess I want the best of both worlds. I don't haul too much stuff in my own truck, I use my work truck. I can't haul enough people in my Quadcab, but I won't give up the bed's practicality for a SUV. My wife won't drive a station wagon or minivan, it means she'd be admitting to being a middle age soccer mom!! I don't blame her, I wouldn't drive either one either... Until I win the lottery, I will have to make do with these meager limitations!

 

[hammersley]

Isn't it amazing

That Dodge and IH OWNED the Crew Cab Business back in the 60's and 70's - now DC doesn't want the business apparently. Likewise the old Power Wagon of the 60's, I mean the HD Station Wagon, not the WM300... . now that would be a real nice makeover...

 

[JRG]

QC space

A freind and I were at the dealer today and totaly checked out the 1500's. There is 3" more cab, and it seemed that there was more than that. It was said that "it's the way it's layed out" and it was apparent that that heald true for us today. I no way could drive with the seat all the way back, so this did leave "good" room in the back, (I love how the rear doors open ALL the way) I personaly don't think as much as a C. C. , but enough for me to be cumfy. If I were 6'4" 250# that would be a different story. One thing to think of is-how often will you have that size person in the back?

Just my . 02



JRG

 

[Scrappy]

2003 QC

I have sat in the back seat of a 1500 QC and I had plenty of room for my 6'1" body. that was with the driver's seat all the way back, so I think that I would be happy with one.