Interior Trim Change 05 to 06 - Pros/Cons

[Freebore]

I haven't spent any time in an 05 or earlier RAM so want to hear comments regarding what the good vs bad is on the change made with the interior trim in 06. Is the new interior preferred over the 05 interior or is the trim with the 03 to 05 better. Reason is I'm looking at Gen 3 models back to 04 and not familiar with the trim used before 06. Thanks.

 

[Chemical103]

My Dad has an 05 and I would say the noticable differnces between his truck and mine are accent you get on the door panels and in the middle dash near the radio(these can also be modified if you dont like the woodgrain), Radio is different as well IMO they made a significant upgrade with the front aux jack and ease of use in the 06. The floor mounted cup holders IMO are much nicer on the 06 than the folding cup holders in the 05. However, I do like the color of his interior much better (dark grey) vs lighter grey. And the dash is more streamline in the 05 it is not broken up into driver mid dash passenger like in the 06. Hope this helps. Also, if you are looking to add the jake brake to an auto 06 is the first year it is offered.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

the 05 interior is much better IMO, for more than a few reasons, the main one is I absolutely hate the seat material in the 06's its like glorified canvas, it stains with rain drops hitting it, it looks very very cheap like something out of a base trim work truck model. its so bad that alone might have kept me from buying and 06 and maybe even a dodge for that matter. the plastic the interior is made out of sucks, I don't know what they used but you can scratch it very easy with just your fingernail, my door panels and lower dash look hammered from carrying normal things and having them rub while driving. the cup holders on the floor pretty much suck, that cubby bin on the floor is just what I thought it would be a debris collector. how any one could say its better than the mammoth dash folding cup holder is beyond me. I think it would be much better to just have carpet over the center hump. if my truck where totaled today I think I would look for an early 04 model. I like the wood accents and the way the radio looks in the 06 but that is about it

 

[AH64ID]

The 05 interior is my preferred interior. My dad has an 06 G56 that I am comparing too. The feel of the 05 is just better. The 06 cup holders are a JOKE, they are useless for anything. The dash in the 06 also feels too much like a mini-van to me. The only benefit to the 06 is the aux jack on the stereo, but that was easily fixed. When I bought my 05 I didn't know about the interior differences... boy am I glad I bought an 05. The instrument cluster also seems to be better laid out. And at least on the 05 the WIF and WTS lights test every time you turn the key, so you know the bulbs work. Even on a dash test on an 06 you can't get the WIF light to come on.

The 06 does have better headlights, but those are an easier swap than a dash.

 

[Jeepr]

I went out of my way to find an 05 when I bought in January of 06. I wanted the 05 interior. I have leather and liked the suede/leather mix in 05. And, I think the dash in the 06 looks like a huge chunk of plastic. Oh, and the 05 headlights is one of the main reasons. In the end, got a pleasant surprise to find out my 05 has 7/70 warranty instead of 3/36 from Dodge.