Engines
345-hp, 5.7-liter V-8;
610-pounds-feet (torque rating), 5.9-liter turbo-diesel six-cylinder
Transmissions
4-speed automatic;
5-speed automatic;
6-speed manual
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Right when we were thinking this year's auto shows were all about cars and smaller people-movers, Dodge has rolled out a pickup truck that's designed to move people — big people — as well as cargo. Scheduled to go on sale this fall, the 2006 Ram Mega Cab isn't necessarily for big people, but it gives six adults more room than they'll find in the average crew cab. Well-designed folding seats allow owners to convert backseat roominess into in-cabin storage space.
One can't say this truck is truly larger overall than any other. Dodge built it by taking a long-wheelbase Ram with a long (8-foot) cargo box and giving it a short (6-foot-3-inch) box. Of the difference, 20 inches went toward extending the cab.
The Mega Cab is built on Dodge's heavy-duty Ram chassis, but it will be available in 1500 series form as well as 2500 and 3500. Two trim levels — SLT and Laramie — and both rear- and four-wheel drive are offered.
The standard engine on the 1500 and 2500 is the ubiquitous 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, which generates 345 horsepower and 375 pounds-feet of torque in this application. It does not include the Multi Displacement System cylinder deactivation that improves fuel economy on Hemi-equipped Chrysler and Dodge cars. The engine is teamed with a five-speed-automatic transmission.
Optional on the 2500 and standard on the 3500 series is Cummins' 5.9-liter turbo-diesel six-cylinder. It produces 325 hp but a whopping 610 pounds-feet of torque. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual; a four-speed automatic is optional.
Compared with the regular Rams, the Mega Cab boasts larger headlights, a bolder grille inspired by the Dodge Magnum and a lower front fascia. The Laramie trim level has a one-piece body-colored fascia with fog lamps and a chrome applique. The rest of the sheet metal is the same.
As on the Quad Cab, the Mega's rear doors are the real thing: front hinged with both interior and exterior handles. They don't require the front doors to be opened first. The windows also roll down, all the way.
The doors open almost 90 degrees and provide a 34.5-inch-wide opening. This is great for ingress/egress and loading cargo, but passengers will need to exercise caution when opening the giant door in parking lots, and they probably ought to pull the door along with them as they climb inside. Most primates don't have arms long enough to reach it once inside.
In addition to a pickup-record 44.2 inches of legroom, passengers will find a backrest angle that is both comfortable and adjustable, from 22 to 37 degrees, equipped with three adjustable head restraints. The seat is split, 60/40, and each segment can fold forward and kneel, providing a maximum 24.9 square feet of flat cargo floor and 71 cubic feet of volume in the cab. Even when the seats are raised, Dodge says, there's 7.6 cubic feet of storage behind them.
The seats are very simple to operate. Because it's so far behind the front seats, the backseat gets its own ventilation registers and reading lights, and the sliding rear window is powered for remote driver control.
Don't let the Mega Cab's capacity for real work mislead you. The all-new seats, both bench and bucket, offer leather trim. The bucket seats are heated and add a center console that extends from the dashboard. A new instrument panel has six white-faced gauges.
Safety features include front knee bolsters and optional power-adjustable pedals and side curtain-type airbags. Amenities include a new stereo with optional full-screen navigation as well as a backseat DVD video system.
The drivetrain and rear-axle ratio (3.7 or 4.1) determine the Mega Cab's towing and hauling capacities. The 1500 series' maxima are 2,410 pounds of payload, a trailer weight of 7,750 pounds and a gross combined weight rating of 14,000 pounds.
The 2500 series tops out at a 2,630-pound payload, 12,900 pounds of trailer weight and a GCWR of 20,000 pounds.
The 3500 series handles up to 2,840 pounds of payload, a 15,800-pound trailer and has a GCWR of 23,000 pounds. |
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