Mega Cab

[MFetzer]

I wonder if this will be the only way to get a four door truck. I hope they still offer the same quad cab as they do now and not replace it with this Mega Cab. I am happy with the amount of space I have now. The only reason I even need a back seat is for my dog and he has plenty of room now.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Watch the front page later today. I'm in Chicago and will be at the official intro in about 4 hours. I'll get as much info as I can and should have video as well as high res stills.

 

[RustyJC]

Well, if no long bed dually is offered with the Mega Cab, Dodge just lost a chance to corner the 5th wheel RV towing market.



Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

Side view:

 

[JLovas]

That back seat really looks large... I'm sure it will attract a lot of attention from people shopping for a new pickup. I didn't like the way the rear seats fold flat on the mega cab. Our current pickups with that flat steel floor is something that I really enjoy and I use it almost like the box... I'm not afaird to put something heavy and/or slightly dirty back there. With the new mega cab, cargo could slide around and fall down behind the front seats and get the back of your seats dirty/dusty.



I agree with everyone else though, they need to offer this with a full 8' bed. That's fine that the short bed is 5-6' long, but keep an 8' option!

 

[KBertetto]

I also agree with everyone... the length of the short bed is not a big concern, but to not offer an 8' bed is nothing short of blasphemy. Who is doing research for Chrysler anyway??!! We should hold judgement until all the official specs are shown... from Dodge themselves. But I will go out on a limb and say if there really is no 8' option, then they just shot themselves in the foot and GAVE the market to Ford and Chev. My 2 rusty pennies worth

 

[gitchesum]

They'll pull from the crew cab short bed Ford owners have have been begging for a crew cab Cummins powered truck.



You gotta remember that nowadays, most truck owners don't buy a 4 door truck to pull 5th wheel trailer. They like to have the trailer towing ability and also have enough room in the cab for the family. Guys that can get buy with a 1/2 ton are buying the HD diesel trucks because they have the ability to tow more if needed, and still get the great diesel fuel mileage.



Look how many guys have the short bed option already. Dodge sells tons of them. I love my shorty. Truck that is.

 

[RustyJC]

You gotta remember that nowadays, most truck owners don't buy a 4 door truck to pull 5th wheel trailer.

And that's fine, Gitch. They have the short bed truck to offer those individuals.



That doesn't change the fact, however, that there is still a growing market for 5th wheel pullers, especially as the Baby Boomers get closer to retirement. The crew cab 5th wheel RV pullers are popular for (1. ) hauling families and/or pets while traveling and (2. ) since they are the only vehicle a 5th wheel owner has after unhitching the rig, people want plenty of room to haul family and friends to go out to eat, go shopping, etc.



If you look at the RV industry sales figures over the last couple of years, sales growth has been astronomical. If Dodge chooses to ignore this market by not offering a long-bed dually OPTION, that's their choice. Ford and Chevy both have long bed dually crew cabs available, and if you go through an RV park, you'll see plenty of them.



Rusty

 

[gitchesum]

Dont' get me wrong, I do want to see the MegaCab with an 8 foot bed too, as well as a dually.



But I don't think the MegaCab will fail if they don't offer it though. They would definately benefit from making the longer beds. Maybe they'll take a look at the sales of the current model and decide that the investment of a longer bed will be worth it.

 

[JTryles]

I'm not so sure I like that front end. Looking more and more like a "big" Dakota! :-(

 

[RustyJC]

But I don't think the MegaCab will fail if they don't offer it though.

Oh, I agree. They'll probably sell lots of Hemi-powered mall cruisers. They just aren't building the truck I need, it would appear, and my point is that I'm not the only person in the U. S. that pulls a heavy 5th wheel. I guess I should just hold my breath and wait for that 4500/5500 MegaCab 5th wheel towing special with the 6. 7L Cummins.



Rusty

 

[Tim]

You gotta remember that nowadays, most truck owners don't buy a 4 door truck to pull 5th wheel trailer.

I bought my truck to pull a 5th wheel, and I still bought a shortbed.



I don't really see what difference it makes. Lots of people tow 5ers with shortbed trucks nowadays.



I've always hated longbed trucks, but for those that use their trucks to HAUL, and not just to PULL loads as I do, they're an absolute necessity.

 

[JStraw]

I can't figure you guys out. My '04. 5 swb pulls my 36ft 15K fifth wheel just as good as my '93 W250 lwb. Only 1% of the time does the sliding hitch have to be used. I can't see the mega cab being any less tow friendly.



Yes, an 8ft bed is great when it comes to hauling lumber, having 6 wheels, etc, but to say a swb can't tow a fiver is a lie. According to my good sams rv club magazine 'Highways', I read an article that stated more fifth wheel owners are now opting for the swb trucks over the lwb. Just my out-take.

 

[RustyJC]

I don't really see what difference it makes. Lots of people tow 5ers with shortbed trucks nowadays.

The problem is that, depending on the geometry of the 5th wheel and the hitch location, cab-to-trailer interference can be a problem with a short bed truck. This is not a problem with a long bed truck, so no sliding hitches or other monkey-motion band-aids are required.



Rusty

 

[RustyJC]

... . but to say a swb can't tow a fiver is a lie.

#1. Who said it? Read my post #34 above.



#2. LIE is a pretty strong word, isn't it?



#3. How far over your 9900 lb GVWR are you with your 15K 5th wheel in tow?



Rusty

 

[Tim]

The problem is that, depending on the geometry of the 5th wheel and the hitch location, cab-to-trailer interference can be a problem with a short bed truck. This is not a problem with a long bed truck, so no sliding hitches or other monkey-motion band-aids are required.



Rusty

I'm well aware of this. My old truck was a long bed, regular cab. I do not wish to drive something with 160" of WB, so I got a shortbox. I don't want to park one of those monstrosities.

#1. Who said it? Read my post #34 above.



#2. LIE is a pretty strong word, isn't it?



#3. How far over your 9900 lb GVWR are you with your 15K 5th wheel in tow?

#1 read it

#2, no, those that believe they need a longbox truck just to pull a 5er are lying to themselves unless the SRW GVWR is insufficient.

#3 mine is only 32' long and the truck that I used to pull it with had a 9,200 lb GVWR (and no issues, I was well within my GVWR).

 

[opjohnny]

I think the answer is a 4500/5500 series truck. I have seen some 5th wheel rv that look like they would put a drw truck near gvwr. The rv industry just keeps making them heavier adding all the slides.

 

[RustyJC]

I'm well aware of this. My old truck was a long bed, regular cab. I do not wish to drive something with 160" of WB, so I got a shortbox. I don't want to park one of those monstrosities.

That's your choice. For some of us, a long bed (to eliminate interference problems) dually (to get the GVWR we need) is the right tool for the job. All I'm saying is that Dodge, like their competition, should offer the long bed dually as an OPTION. You don't have to buy it, but some of us would. Just because you aren't interested, does that mean that you think I shouldn't have that CHOICE?

#1 read it

#2, no, those that believe they need a longbox truck just to pull a 5er are lying to themselves unless the SRW GVWR is insufficient.

#3 mine is only 32' long and the truck that I used to pull it with had a 9,200 lb GVWR (and no issues, I was well within my GVWR).

The above is in reference to JStraw's post, so it was never intended to address your specific situation.



Rusty

 

[Tim]

I have seen some 5th wheel rv that look like they would put a drw truck near gvwr.

I've seen MANY trailers (*cough, Hitchhiker, Travel Supreme cough*) that put DRW trucks WAY over their GVWR!

 

[JL penner]

2 Things... ... ...



1. I've seen Short bed crew cab Duallys... . (A ford of course)



2. It's about time for Dodge to start producing 5500, 6500, and 7500