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2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab
 Bragging
rights are everything in the world of pickup trucks. If you can’t
say that your truck is the biggest, fastest or strongest, then don’t
bother saying anything at all.
Dodge boasts an impressive collection of class-leading pick-ups,
including the fastest (Ram SRT10), strongest (Ram Heavy Duty with
Cummins Turbo Diesel), most powerful (Hemi-equipped Ram 1500), and
most capable off-road (Power Wagon). To this list Dodge now adds
the Dodge Mega Cab, which offers the largest cab in the industry.
Beginning with the long wheelbase frame of the Heavy Duty 2500/3500
series Ram, Dodge mounted a 6-foot 3-inch bed, which gave them 20
inches of space to extend the cab—and extend they did. The
already spacious rear seating area from the Quad Cab becomes positively
limousine-like in the Mega Cab. With rear seats that recline more
than 30 degrees and 44.2 inches of rear leg room, the Mega Cab offers
more space to stretch your legs than the Mercedes S-Class (40.3),
the Audi A8L (41.1), and the Maybach 62 (40.1 inches). There is
so much space between that back seat and the front seat that one
tester quipped that parents would find it difficult to provide “attitude
adjustments” to unruly children in the back seat.
The rear seating area isn’t just big; it’s also flexible.
The 60/40 rear seats fold down to reveal 7.7 cubic feet of storage,
including two covered bins. When the rear seats are completely folded,
the Mega Cab provides 16.6 square feet of flat storage area for
transporting large items that need protection from the elements.
The rear door, which swings out 85 degrees, is actually larger than
the front door. This looks a little strange, but it makes loading
and unloading large items very convenient.
While the back seat is the biggest news for the Mega Cab, it isn’t
the only news. All Rams benefit from a completely new interior,
frame, brakes and front-end styling.
The most notable styling change is that the signature crosshair
grill gets an angular makeover reminiscent of the latest Dakota.
The Ram’s head logo is now in the center of the grill, rather
than at the top. Other than the front end, most of the bodywork
carries over from the 2005 Ram.
With only two exceptions, the interior makeover is a dramatic improvement
from the previous generation’s interior, which was quite good
already. Front seat passengers enjoy an all new dash and a floor
mounted mini-console. This console provides storage and three conventional
cup holders. These cup holders sadly replace the previous generation
Ram’s innovative adjustable cup holders. I loved the old cup
holders because they adjusted to hold anything from a regular sized,
half-caff-mocha-choco-carmel cappuccino from Starbucks to my 44
oz belly buster cola from Circle K. The mini-console provides convenient
storage, but it eliminates floor space for the center front passenger,
which in turn, limits the use of this seat to short-legged children,
or adults on very short trips.
Other than these two minor quibbles, the rest of the interior is
very well-executed. Buttons and switches are logically located and
easy to reach. The materials, fit, and finish are of a quality befitting
a vehicle that can exceed $50,000. The front seat seats are large,
supportive, and Lazy-Boy comfortable.
If you don’t need room for a sixth passenger, the 2006 Ram
offers, for the first time, a full console and front bucket seats.
The full console provides not one—but two layers of storage.
As on previous Rams, the top layer is still large enough to hold
most laptop computers. The full console provides a generous bin,
which was designed with fast food bags in mind. Yes, that’s
right – someone actually designed and installed a happy meal
container. I prefer the standard bench seat and flip down console,
which provide nearly as much storage and room for a sixth passenger.
Astronauts have gone into space with less technology than is now
available on the Mega Cab. In addition to a DVD based navigation
system, a 384-watt Infinity sound system, and a rear seat DVD entertainment
system (complete with wireless headphones) the Ram also offers Bluetooth
mobile phone integration and Sirius satellite radio. The Ram Mega
Cab is also the only pickup truck to offer the option of having
a sunroof AND a rear seat entertainment system at the same time.
Stretching out in the back seat of a pickup with the DVD system
on and the seats reclined made us feel a little like redneck rock
stars.
Only two engines are available in the Mega Cab. 1500’s come
standard with the 5.7L Hemi delivering 345 HP and 375 lb.-ft of
torque. 2500 and 3500 series Mega Cabs are equipped with the 5.9L
Cummins Turbo Diesel that twists the driveshaft with 325 HP and
a whopping 610 lb-ft of torque.
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to drive a big
rig, you should drive a Mega Cab 3500 4X4 equipped with the Cummins
Turbo Diesel and the six-speed manual transmission. This is probably
as close as you are going to get—without signing up for truck
driving school. The seat is so high that my ears popped a little
as I climbed aboard. The engine offers a great deal of diesel character
without feeling like a refugee from a farm equipment auction. Second
gear starts are the rule, unless you are hauling something unusually
heavy. With 610 lb-ft of torque, shifting is purely optional once
you reach cruising speed. The Cummins-equipped Ram pulls brutally
hard in any gear.
 We
also had an opportunity to sample the 5.7-liter Hemi-equipped Mega
Cab. The character of this engine is unchanged from previous Hemi
equipped Rams, but the big news with the Hemi is that is now equipped
with Dodge’s Multi Displacement System (MDS), which deactivates
four cylinders when extra power is not needed. This system greatly
increases fuel mileage and is totally transparent to the driver.
The only way to tell that the system is working is to actively monitor
the fuel economy. The Hemi is quiet and smooth. I think it is a
little too quiet, as the bad boy exhaust burble from the pervious
Ram is now gone. When you mash the gas, however, the Hemi snaps
to attention and launches the big Ram forward with authority. Of
course, with gas at $2.80 a gallon, we recommend that you save this
guilty pleasure for special occasions.
On the road, the muscular and athletic character of the previous
Ram is carried over. The nicely weighted and accurate steering,
combined with a very stiff chassis and composed ride, make the Ram
feel more nimble than its 6500-lb curb weight would suggest. The
four wheel disc brakes do an admirable job of bringing the mammoth
truck to a stop.
Innovation doesn’t come cheap, however. Having the most spacious
pickup truck ever produced is going to cost you. A 1500 SLT 4X4
Mega Cab with a Hemi and cloth interior will set you back about
$35,980. A fully loaded 3500 Laramie with a sunroof, DVD entertainment
system, navigation system, heated leather seats and a Cummins Turbo
Diesel will cost over $50,000.
I genuinely like the Mega Cab. It is refined, powerful and loaded
with character. It boasts the biggest interior, two of the most
powerful engines in the industry, and it does all this without compromising
comfort or style. In a world where bragging rights are what it is
all about, the Mega Cab is tough to beat.
I genuinely enjoyed driving the Dodge MegCab and was reluctant
to hand over the keys. It’s rugged enough for the cowboy on
the plains, yet refined enough for an evening on the town, plus
it’s loaded with character. On the whole, while the MegaCab
is a very attractive package to people who need a massive truck
with tons of space and power in excess like this, most buyers would
probably be better off with something smaller, more fuel efficient
and easier to park.
On the other hand, if you really need a pickup truck that can tow
nearly 8 tons, pack in six adults and load up the bed, the MegaCab
is at the head of its class.
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Click thumbnails for larger images
The Mega Cab uses the long wheelbase frame
and a 6'3" bed to make room for an additional 20" of cab
All 2006 Dodge Rams sport a svelte new front
end
For the first time the Ram is available with
a true center console and seperate bucket seats
Rear passengers in the Ram Mega Cab ride
like rock stars with reclining seats and serious legroom
Rear seats fold down to provide a flat loading
surface
Behind the rear seats you'll find handy cubbies
The 5.7L Hemi is the only engine available
in 1500 series Mega Cabs. It puts out 345 HP and 375 lb-ft of torque
The 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel is the hot
ticket if you need to tow something big - with 610 lb-ft of torque
you can lug a 15,900 lb. trailer |