Quad Cab "Suicide Doors"

[MFalkinham]

Hi everyone,



I'm a 1st Gen owner, and I'm considering selling my '92 Club Cab plus my '98 Lincoln Continental 4dr, and replacing both with one 3rd Gen truck. The '92 does everything I need, EXCEPT for hauling my wife and two kids (ages 7 + 1). There is no back seat, and the ride is just too rough, hence the need for the Lincoln.



I really like the 3rd gens with the 4 "normal" doors. I made a phone call on a used 2004 Quad Cab, which has everything I'd need and want, but has the older style "suicide" style rear doors. I'd like to hear from those of you who own either type, specifically about the pros, cons, and difficulties getting people out of the back seat with either style of door.



I'd rather buy a used 2003/2004 than new. It's gotta have 4wd, auto, quad/crew cab, and I prefer the shorter box. This particular truck has all of that and more, just not the "normal" rear doors.



Thanks in advance for any advice!!!



- Mike

 

[DFrank]

I dont think suicide doors exist in anything 03 or newer.



While the suicide doors are a big improvement over no doors, the the real doors are MUCH nicer.



Dave

 

[klenger]

I had an 01 with the suicide doors. I rarely had anyone in the back seat, but still found the door a PITA becasue you had to open the front door every time you wanted to put something in the back. When the truck is in the garage or a tight parking space, you have to wedge yourself between the front and rear doors to access the back. The four doors on the 3rd gens (2003 and later) are much nicer, plus the rear seat is about 3" bigger than the 2nd gens (up to 2002). The 3rd gen also has more stock power and is quieter if that's important to you.

 

[MO'Donnell]

No suicide doors on anything past 02. If someone is telling you an '04 has suicide doors, they are either dumb or lying.



Prices on the used 3rd gens are REAL close to what new ones cost once you factor incentives in.

Good luck, hope you find the truck you're looking for

 

[MFalkinham]

Here is the text and picture from the ad. He is ordering a new 2004 with a long bed, as this one doesn't have enough cargo space for him. The picture is grainy, and hard to tell. Any chance this is actually a 2nd Gen and the ad is wrong?



"2004 DODGE RAM 2500 SLT, diesel, 23K mi. , auto, as set up, many extras, bed slide, black, heavy duty"

 

[Byershome]

Just went to the movies with 6 passengers last night,all 3 in the back seat were at or above 6 ft. tall. I heard no complaining and we drove for over an hour. Could it be a little bigger... yep but who would want to park it or give up the bed space? It's just right. This commercial is brought to you by, The Byers family of giants:-laf . If you ain't 6 ft+ you can't be kin.

 

[DFrank]

The pictured truck is '02 or earlier. (2nd GEN).



I agree with the above post as well. I am over 6' and fit comfortablly back there, even on long rides. Not that i ever ride back there.



The back doors are really convenient for errands as well. It doesn't seem like much, but in a tight parking lot a real door is much easier.



Also it really sucks riding in the back of the old ones. You are at the mercy of the guy in front of youto get in or out and you have no window to roll down. My dog digs having her own window, now i just need a bigger switch so she can operate it.

 

[SRadke]

The add is wrong. That picture is of a 02 or earlier truck. If you're on the edge get the third gen (03-04), they've made many improovements.



-Scott

 

[MFalkinham]

That explains it, although he's asking $30k, which seems like a lot for a 2nd Gen, and why I assumed the ad was correct listing it as a 2004 and never verified it.



Thanks for all of your replies. I'll just keep an eye open, and the right truck will eventually come my way.



- Mike

 

[rashwor]

Call Tomeygun...

or pm him here. For 30K, you can have the new 04. 5 Quad Cab brand spankin new with the Latest and Greatest CTD. Oo.

 

[SOLER]

'01.5/;02

It's either an '01. 5 or an'02. You can tell because of the side mouldings. In '01, when they came out with the '01. 5's, they did away with the small moulding on the cab corner behind the suicide door. As I look at that picture, in spite of how grainy it is, I can see that it has no cab-corner moulding (or maybe it fell off, in which cast it would be an earlier 2nd gen. truck).







And, unless he has changed tires, those look like 265/75R16's, and they started with that size in Y2K. So, it's not older than a 2000.



SOLER

 

[Jengle]

No kidding. For 30k, you can have a new one, set up the way you want it.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I got my new 2004 SLT, 4x4 quad cab for about $30K (plus tax)after rebate and farm discount. Really, why buy used at the price of new, especially when the new one has so many improvements--brakes, rigid cab (suicide doors have no center pillar for stiffening), bigger cab, etc. , etc. And, you don't have that squirrely VP44 and lift pump that die whenever they feel like it. The third gen has better handling, on and on.

I'd rather have new, and especially a 3rd gen, even if it meant getting fewer options or goodies.

 

[WadePatton]

You can have TWO pretty snazzy G2's for 30K.



and I prefer those.



Dern it, wrong forum again.

 

[JWillms]

Kind of off the topic of a wrong listed truck but the title said quad cab and suicide doors in the 3rd Gen board and it got me thinking. What would a 3Gen look like if the back doors where suicide and still opened the full 90* like they do now? I think that would look pretty slick, it would take a lot of work to get it done but who knows maybe someone that has a show truck can do it to get an edge on the comp. Even haveing the door handles no more then a foot apart from each other would look cool, kind of give the cab a more semetrical(SP?) look. Well thats just a thought in my sick little head.

Justin<><

 

[DPelletier]

Wade,

I've never heard you say that before!



Dave