Quad Cab vs full crew cab...

[Sakanuts]

Why in the heck can't we get a full crew cab in a Dodge Ram??? In my humble opinion, D. C. would rake in the market share if you could get a full size truck cab. I know this would make it pretty long, but can you say F-350, long bed? I think it would look a lot better too, as those funky little half doors in the back have to go. I know they say 4 full doors in all the brochures etc. , but they're lying! They should go back and offer the old style half suicide doors for the 4 wheelers interested in keeping short. It seems to me that the "quad" is just a poor compromise, designed to save D. C. bucks in manufacturing costs. Any ideas??? One more for you. Why can't you get the duallies in all the colors, such as dark silver, and almond??? No, you can't... Oo.

 

[smithinc]

I would have 3 dodges if they had a full back seat. as it is now i have one dodge and 2 fords. I send the crews out in the fords due to them traveling such long distances to work and wouldnt feel right making them ride in the back of the dodge. I use my dodge as my daily driver and my work truck since i rarely take more than one person with me and if i have three it is a family trip with my wife and 10 year old daughter.



when they finally get a full size back seat i will be selling the two fords.



i feel your pain, gary

 

[XJSuperman]

I think it's a matter of opinion. A few folks have brought this up before (recently).

I personally like my "short" truck. I have sat in the backseat for good lengths of time and have no complaints. I'm 6'3" and go about 245 lbs... and was plenty comfy even with the seat in front of me a good ways back.

 

[NSperduto]

Well, I'll agree and disagree. If they added full doors and made it as long as a f-350 crew with the same turning radius, I wouldn't buy one, because driving those beats sucks. I've done it and I get tired of looking for a football field to turn around in.



I'll also bet for 50 people that want the crewcab, 50 people don't want them.





I still think it's s full 4 door truck. Are you going to tell me every car where the back door is smaller than the front door is not a full 4 door car?



Yeah, I know the f-350 back seat is more comfortable and bigger, but I've had adults in mine for 350 mile drives and they didn't complain. and they had choices to ride in other cars for the 350 miles back.



Personally I think they are hitting the market that they want, people who want a good quad cab, not a crew cab. JUst like they hit that in the middle market with their Dakota, it's not a mini pickup and it's not a fullsize.



Nick

 

[CJEliassen]

There are rumors of a 2006 mega cab with 4 full size doors and a club cab on the back to boot. I haven't seen anything official published or any pictures, so I suspect it is just a made up story, but I hope it isn't.

 

[JRMora]

Originally posted by Sakanuts

It seems to me that the "quad" is just a poor compromise, designed to save D. C. bucks in manufacturing costs. Any ideas???

This has been discussed before, but yes, that EXACTLY why DC chose to go the route they did.



As previously mentioned, DC can build ALL their trucks (reg cab / quad cab / SWB / LWB) on just three chassis. For Ford, they need 7(!) to build all their 250's and 350's.



I DC were to offer a full size crew cab now, they would have to retool a new chassis, or they would have to offer it with a short (a la Ford Supercrew) 5'3" bed.



Automakers are losing money hand over fist, and major retools cost millions of $$, so the justification isn't really there. Maybe the next major model change ('07?) they will do it. In the meantime, make your choice.



BTW, I am 6'3", my wife is 5'10", and we have three boys (2 still in car seats), and we do fine in our Quad Cab. Is it as big as the Ford? Nope. Is that going to make me buy a Ford? Nope.



My 2¢ worth. Keep the change.



Juan

 

[Bertram65]

The 3rd gen quad cab is a great design, it combines the usefullness of 4 doors that open normally with the shorter wheelbase of an extended cab truck. The topic has been beat to death on these forums. Plain and simple, if you don't like it don't buy it.

 

[klenger]

How many vehicles of any kind offer more rear seat room than a Dodge quad cab:



1) Ford Crew Cab.

2) Chevy Crew Cab.

3)

 

[JRG]

3) Mercedes Maybach 62. $300,000+ lol



JRG

 

[FullSack]

Originally posted by JRG

3) Mercedes Maybach 62. $300,000+ lol



JRG

I saw one of those in San Diego a couple weeks ago. I had no idea what is was, very nice though. The rear curtains are what caught my eye. No idea it was a 300k car however.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I, for one, much prefer the four doors over the suicide doors. Much easier to deal with. Plus it is a stronger design. Even if they had a full crew cab I would buy a quad because I have no need for the extra room. The dogs have never complained once about the small seat. In fact, they count themselves lucky to be inside on occasion instead of on the flatbed.



Random observation: Tthe company Ferd SD 4x4 quad cabs sure take a lot more room to turn than my beast of burden. Oh, give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig around. Plus, how ferd uses the rear window for the head rest/impact device is rather novel.

 

[Mingoglia]

You have to compare apples to apples when you compare the turning radius of a Dodge to a Ford (not sure about 2 wheel drive, I'm talking 4 wheel drive here). Ford 4X4's have terrible turning radius'. It doesn't matter if it's a crew cab or not. They have a bad turning radius.



I'm not sure about the 3rd gen trucks, I own a '01 quad cab dually. My friend has a '04 F350 crew cab short bed. The length of our trucks are almost identicle. We parked side by side and if one's longer than the other by inches we couldn't tell. My bed is 1. 5' longer than his but his crew cab appears to make up the difference.



His truck turns like a firetruck compared to mine. He can't believe the difference (and neither can I). Another guy this past weekend camping with a Duramax comented as well on my turning radius after I said, "you pick your camping spots with your rigs and once you're parked I'll put my trailer in between to close up the back of camp". I'm not sure about the Duramax turning radius but I will say a contributing factor of the Ford's lousy turning radius is those front leaf springs. There's just not that much room to allow the tire to turn much more without hitting them. I'm sure the turning radius will be vastly improved this next year when they release tyhe coil spring equiped Super Duties.



With all this being said, if Dodge were to release a crew cab, I'd be willing to bet a crew cab long bed Dodge would still give a extended cab short bed Ford a run for it's money when making a U-turn.



Mike

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Simple business math - DC builds what it can sell the most of and profit most from - might as well whine as to why they don't build a 450 or 550 or 650 class truck - *I* would far rather see them build what they can profit on and stay financially healthy, than take chances on unknowns that place them at chapter 11 risk - I might want them to still be around when I needs parts or another truck somewhere down the road.



Meanwhile, my Quad-cab is perfect for *my* use - an excellent compromise in length and passenger/junk carrying capability - it would STILL be my first choice regardless of what other variations they offered!



I suspect me and those like me are in the vast majority - and *that* is the reason DC makes what they do...

 

[Mingoglia]

Talking about profit for crew cabs. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but I very very rarely see any Ford truck driving around here in the Phx metro area that ISN'T a crew cab. Crew cab's far exceed any other configuration at least here in Phoenix.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I expect DC *will* eventually get into that market too - as soon as they can count on making money in it.



I think DC is pretty sensitive to the RVing/towing market, and sure would like to see them come up with a towing truck capable of PROPERLY handling these 12,000 lb. + trailers so common on the road - the current 2500 and 3500 series sure can't properly do the job in a legal or safe fashion - and Ford really has that market sewed up with the 450 and up class trucks they offer...

 

[Bertram65]

Most trucks I see on the road up in MA and NH are extended cab short beds, most are 1500s.

 

[Wiredawg]

I like Dodge's 4-Doors!

All:



I like my wife's QC. My test for buying her truck was to set the driver's seat where it's comfortable for me and then sit in the back seat right behind it. I have room to spare. It works for us. I like the turning radius of both our trucks. I have driven a 4X4 F-350 CC LB a lot and don't care for it. When I was stationed in DC, I could parallel park my 02 3500 QC most of the time; no way with an F-350 CC LB.



If you want to carry 3 full size adults in the back seat a lot, then you may prefer to get a Ford or Chevy.



And, as with everything else, to each their own.



Happy Trails, Wiredawg

 

[Sakanuts]

Wiredawg, this post is unrelated, hope the moderator lets it fly though... THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!!! We think guys like you are the greatest...

 

[Wiredawg]

Thanks, but I think it's related

SAKANUTS:



I think it is related: you posted you don't care for the 3d Gen QC and would like to see full 4-doors. I'm posting that I like the 4-doors of the 3d Gen and stated my reasons why. You mentioned the F-350 and so did I. I spoke about interior room and exterior room of both and manuevering of both.



Is there something I'm missing?



Wiredawg

 

[CJEliassen]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

I expect DC *will* eventually get into that market too - as soon as they can count on making money in it.



I think DC is pretty sensitive to the RVing/towing market, and sure would like to see them come up with a towing truck capable of PROPERLY handling these 12,000 lb. + trailers so common on the road - the current 2500 and 3500 series sure can't properly do the job in a legal or safe fashion - and Ford really has that market sewed up with the 450 and up class trucks they offer...

I have pulled 14,000+ with my 97 2500 without any issues whatsoever. Perfectly safe.