Mega Cab

[DavidTD]

Dodge builds two wheel base trucks. To build a crew with 8ft bed will require three. I was told many years ago by a regional rep that the bean counters do not see the benefit of tooling and either building a new plant or expanding one to include a 3rd wheel base, since they sell every truck they build now.



I don't agree with this, but so far, time has proven him correct. Since the Pick-up market is the largest segment and the segment with the largest profit margin, I don't see why DC won't invest a few dollars to make a truck to compete with Ford and GM.

 

[RustyJC]

Dodge builds two wheel base trucks. To build a crew with 8ft bed will require three. I was told many years ago by a regional rep that the bean counters do not see the benefit of tooling and either building a new plant or expanding one to include a 3rd wheel base, since they sell every truck they build now.



I don't agree with this, but so far, time has proven him correct. Since the Pick-up market is the largest segment and the segment with the largest profit margin, I don't see why DC won't invest a few dollars to make a truck to compete with Ford and GM.

David,



BINGO. All of the talk of what I need for my application doesn't mean beans. I know what I want, and it's my money. If Dodge doesn't build it, others do.



Rusty

 

[KCJackson]

Dodge builds two wheel base trucks. To build a crew with 8ft bed will require three. I was told many years ago by a regional rep that the bean counters do not see the benefit of tooling and either building a new plant or expanding one to include a 3rd wheel base, since they sell every truck they build now.

You forgot a frame... they have three now:



Reg/short (1500 only) - 120. 5" wheelbase

Reg/long, Quad/short - 140. 5" wheelbase

Quad/long, Mega/short - 160. 5" wheelbase



A Mega/long would have to be 180. 5 - a whole lot of steel...

 

[diesel DOG]

Lets see ... a true crew cab - OK, ... no 8' box, no duel wheels, useless payload capacity ----> another Half***** job by DC ... . Yawwwwwwn.

You got that right still not a real crew cab.

 

[DavidTD]

You forgot a frame... they have three now:



Reg/short (1500 only) - 120. 5" wheelbase

Reg/long, Quad/short - 140. 5" wheelbase

Quad/long, Mega/short - 160. 5" wheelbase



A Mega/long would have to be 180. 5 - a whole lot of steel...

You are correct. I was excluding the 1/2 ton's.

 

[RustyJC]

I was told many years ago by a regional rep that the bean counters do not see the benefit of tooling and either building a new plant or expanding one to include a 3rd wheel base, since they sell every truck they build now.

David,



I love this guy's logic. If they built only 1 truck a year and sold it, according to this logic Dodge would be happy.



Rusty

 

[pwerwagn]

If they built only 1 truck a year and sold it, according to this logic Dodge would be happy.

I think they are headed down that path anyways... .

 

[Tim]

At least in my case, I rarely tow or haul anything that a 1500 can't easily handle. I just appreciate the "fun" factor of the Cummins! Oo.

It's your money. Do with it what you wish.



I'll never have another gas truck again. Gas sucks.

 

[klenger]

The 1/2 ton frames are all different thant the HD frames anyway, so if you are going to include them, then you need to add three 1/2 ton frames to the 2 HD frames.

 

[amsoilman]

I take my hat off too Steve for giving the TDR readers so much information on the new for 2006 MEGA CAB!! Steve, you done a GREAT Job!! The VIDEO

S are supurb!

Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Folks - and DC - it's MY $$$ - and one thing *I* expect and demand FOR that $$$, is to get what *I* want, not what some 3rd party has determined is "good enough" or "close enough" to what I *really* want or need!



As an RVer, sure, I *could* sacrifice, and "make do" with a short bed in what is SUPPOSED to be a serious *work truck* - at least the PRICE is serious enough!



BUT, for my $$$, if I really needed a crew cab that fit ALL my needs, here it is:



#ad

 

[TBrennan]

It's a free market, if you need to spend YOUR $$$ on second rate diesel, by all means, go for it. No one here is demanding you spend your money anywhere on anything or *YOU* sacrifice any of *YOUR* needs.

 

[RustyJC]

Fellows, all Gary and I have tried to point out is that there is a market out there for a long bed, crew cab, dually (in my case) truck. Specifically, Dodge has no entry in this segment of the RV tow vehicle market. Now, rather than tell us to just "live with what DC makes", why not at least recognize that, if DC wants to compete in this market, they need to at least OFFER what the competition does - a long bed, crew cab dually with competitive (or, better yet, class leading) GCWR and GVWR. The fact that they will have to tool up a new frame gives them an excellent opportunity to make it beefy enough to address the GCWR and GVWR issues.



Rusty

 

[Jaysyl]

Steve thank you for taking the time to go to the show, and post the information on the new truck. Can you answer a question for me? What is the black cover on the side of the back seat. It is about a 2inch square. It is on the seat part of the chair about 5inchs down and 2 inches back of the handle. I only can see it on your pictures, not on the offical Dodge pictures of the rear seats. Is it some kind of power out let?

 

[TBrennan]

Rusty,



Dodge has NEVER offered as many options or configurations in cab / bed lengths as either of the other two. This is mainly because of a lack of prodcution capacity. Now given they needed to expand their production capacity to produce one model Mega Cab, what do you suggest they do if they can produce only one more model?? Produce the one that sells 33% of Crew Cab sales or the one that sells 77%??



I'm sure that if it sells well they will offer a LWB model in the future, but they have to make smart choices based on their current capacity and market to make money, to grow the buisness, etc. , etc.



Is there a market for a LWB Crew Cab? Of course. Is it larger than the SWB market? No.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

NO need for any to get upset about conflicting viewpoints on this entry into the 4-door truck market - there are bound to be individual, personal preferences and objections - and discussions like this help identify what does, and does not ring the bells of the greater cross-section of potential buyers.



Just because DC puts it on the market does NOT mean we all must stand at attention and salute, NOR do we have to automatically start with the cat-calls and criticism if Ford or GM offers something that actually is a pretty good idea!



*I* buy for what gives me the most value for my money while meeting my needs - and yeah, issues like reliability rank right up there with the rest of the issues.



God help me if *I* ever get so brand loyal that I lose my sense of overall value and reason!

 

[JL penner]

AHHHEEEMMM!!!! I repeat!!!

Ok, ok, ok... ..... everybody needs to chill out... ... Do you remember back in 94 when dodge first brought out the new body style? You couldn't get an extended cab right? Do you remeber in '02 when they switched again? You couldn't get a 2500 or 3500. At least give them a chance to come up with something before you completely throw DC under the bus. They may have something for everyone... . or at least plan to come out with something for everyone. As it has been stated before, the main reason they are showing this with the shortbed is because they were able to produce it much quicker and cheaper (same chassis).



So lets all just take a deap breath, put the pitchforks and torches down and go back to enjoying the CTD sitting in your driveway. You can start complaining when all the details are fully released.



(BTW this is directed at everyone including myself) :-laf

This truck won't be released to the public until what..... September? You people have no idea of what options may be available. If you are so bitter about what DC is revealing right now, then go ahead and jump ship. Go buy a F*** or a G** or a C****!!! Or if none of them provide what you and your $$$ want then go start your own company!! Or shell out the cash to have a Megacab stretched! But whatever you do, CHILL OUT!

 

[diesel DOG]

For the wages they pay in Mexico they should be able to expand and make a real truck The truck has no capacity for a real work truck or tow vehicle.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Steve thank you for taking the time to go to the show, and post the information on the new truck. Can you answer a question for me? What is the black cover on the side of the back seat. It is about a 2inch square. It is on the seat part of the chair about 5inchs down and 2 inches back of the handle. I only can see it on your pictures, not on the offical Dodge pictures of the rear seats. Is it some kind of power out let?

Sorry but I'm not sure. I was trying to compile a lot of information very quickly. I think it is part of the seat release system but can't promise that is the case. If you look at the various back seat configuration pictures you'll see that the seat back can fold down without the bottom moving or you can move the bottom to have a flatter floor - I think that is the release to allow the seat bottom to move.

 

[Wiredawg]

Just for conversation sake

Dodge built true crew cabs in long and short bed configurations up until 1988 (or was '87). They used to put a 225 slant six in as base motor. We had one in the Air Force that was a 4x4, crew cab, long bed w/ the 225 motor. I guess there wasn't enough of the market back then to keep it up.



I almost got the fever and got an 05 Ram Cummins 3500 DRW QC, but I really don't need the back seat that bad. We have my wife's truck if we want to haul folks, but my 02 is so well suited for towing, I reckon I need to just keep it.



Just a word about adds for towing... that new Ford that claims 19,200lbs trailer towing isn't on that 4X4 dually crew cab pictured with it... it's on a reg cab, long bed auto with a 150 lb driver. It has 4. 33 rearend. I bet that sucker whines. I problably weighed 150lbs in the 6th grade.



Finally, when I retire, I'm probably gonna get me a used Freightliner for about what a new (and possibly underated) 3500 or 4500. That's where I see going where I can stop the rig if the trailer brakes failed.



Until then, I'll just drag my little old travel supreme around w/ my 3500.



Wiredawg