2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab

By Howard J. Elmer

This new Dodge is a quad cab on steroids and offers the most spacious interior of any pickup out there. The new Dodge Ram Mega Cab - not so much a model as it is an option - has stretched the Quad Cab to "barn-like" proportions.

Available now on the refreshed 2006 Ram, this large cabin space (as the name implies) is now the most spacious interior offered on any pickup truck. It's a feature I expect will immediately appeal to the work and recreational market.

So, how big is it? Well, it rides on the full-size Ram frame with a wheelbase of 407.7 cm. The cab itself is 282 cm long with an interior volume of 4,058 litres. There is also 218 litres of storage space behind the rear seat and, with this bench seat folded flat, that increases to a generous 2.3 square metres.

The three-passenger rear seat even reclines over a 15-degree range. Second-row legroom is 112 cm and the rear door opening is 87.6 cm (that's 25.4 cm larger than the Quad Cab offers).

This door also opens to 85 degrees, or just about big enough to swallow a hay bale.

That said, if you can't quite picture it, but you feel that your late-model Neon offers more space than you'll ever hope to fill, this truck is not for you - not even close.

The owner of a Mega Cab - available on 1500-, 2500- or 3500-series pickups - may pick up groceries, but this truck is not a grocery-getter. This truck will easily carry six adults, their personal gear, work (or fun) equipment and tow more than its own weight all at the same time. Am I getting across how big it is? Put in a non-metric way, Dodge took its standard crew cab and eight-foot box on the heavy-duty frame and redid the cab and bed split. This configuration leaves the bed a respectable 6 feet, 3 inches long (with tailgate up). The 20-inch balance goes into the Mega Cab; most of it in the back-seat area.

Still need a better visual? An adult sitting behind the driver, who has moved his seat back as far as it will go, still has enough room to comfortably cross the legs without touching that seat. It's a virtual cowboy limousine.

The cost of admission to Mega Cab country will be $35,740 for the 1500 series with a price escalation of about $4,000 for the 2500-series truck and that again for the 3500 series. Add all the options and Mega Cab tops out at $54,920 for the diesel-powered 3500-series 4WD Laramie model.

Driving the Mega Cab at its introduction in Alberta, I was struck not so much by its size but by the utility of that big back seat. Sure, you can put half a rugby team back there, but with the rear seat folded flat, you could probably fit in a double air mattress for a bit of camping.

In a pinch, a couple of nicely groomed calves headed to the fall fair could also ride back there, or you could stick in a riding lawn mower.

Having this much lockable storage space is a great feature for the buyer, but perhaps a worry for aftermarket truck-cap manufacturers who, incidentally, created a business out of the lack of weatherproofed storage space in previous pickups.

Truck cabs have been growing since the 1970s, as manufacturers slowly woke up to the fact that truck owners were doing more than just hauling cargo (alone) with their half-tons. Today, as most truck buyers can guess, the crew-cab model is the fastest growing segment in the market because we need more room for people.

With Mega Cab, Dodge built a truck with 20 cm more interior space than its nearest rival, Ford, and focused that space on the rear seat - an unusual move in pretty much any vehicle but particularly in a truck - by offering a 60/40 split, built-in fold-down centre armrest, individual head-restraints and that comfortable reclining feature.

A power sliding rear window and a roof-mounted DVD entertainment centre is also available.

As a 2006 model, Mega Cab also benefits from the changes to the freshened Dodge Ram. The Ram gets a new exterior fascia, grille, headlamps and fender treatment, but the key change most Dodge owners will notice is the repositioning of the Ram's head emblem to the middle of the cross-hair grille.

This will be one of those automotive tidbits that guys will try to one-up each other about in years to come.

"An '05? Nah, that's an '06 - you can tell by the where the Ram is on the grille." A key (and timely) addition to Ram powertrain options is the MDS (Multi-displacement System) on the Hemi V8 engine. First offered in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, this fuel-saving system is now the first of its kind to be used in a pickup.

Dodge claims the MDS option, which cuts the fuel feed to half the cylinders when not needed, will offer about a 20 per cent fuel savings. Interestingly, MDS was obviously developed before the current gas crisis, but with fuel prices bobbing madly, it may offer the thirsty Hemi a reprieve from worried buyers.

Otherwise, without it, the Hemi's glory days might be over.

A stiffer frame and better sound insulation in the new Ram make for a better ride; not a huge difference, but any improvement, particularly in the control of road noise, is worthwhile. Driving wise, the long frame makes parking a pain, but on the highway it's smooth - the 1500 is anyway. The 2500 or 3500, without a load on, is stiff. That's to be expected.

Mega Cab is as much a build option as it is a model. I highlight this because trucks need to be ordered with the various components that will best suit their intended use - and that includes passenger needs. This is probably the best way that Dodge could offer Mega Cab; in the right markets I expect a very high take-up rate.

All versions of Mega Cab get the Dodge Ram heavy-duty chassis, so they all share these same components: 353 mm brake rotors with anti-lock brakes, EVBP (Electronic Variable Brake Proportioning), independent front suspension, longitudinal leaf springs and solid axle for the rear suspension, rack and pinion steering (4WD models feature a rigid front axle with five-link coil spring suspension and a recirculating ball steering system).

Mega Cab can be ordered as either 4WD or 2WD on the 1500-, 2500- or 3500-series trucks. You can choose from between the SLT or Laramie trim levels - but it's not available with the base SL package.

The 5.7 L Hemi V8 (345 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque) is the base engine on the 1500 and 2500 models, along with a five-speed automatic transmission, while the optional 5.9 L Cummins turbodiesel (325 horsepower and 610 lb.-ft. of torque) can be substituted on the 2500 or 3500 trucks.

The diesel can be matched to either a four-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual overdrive.

For the towing crowd, the 1500 Ram Mega Cab has a maximum payload of 1,102 kg and a maximum trailer weight of 3,969 kg.

Move up to the 2500-series truck and that increases to 1,202 kg and 5,828 kg, respectively. The 3500 series (single rear wheel) will carry 1,329 kg and tow 7,212 kg.

Price: $35,740 for the cheapest 1500 series, and $54,920 for the diesel powered, 3500 series, 4WD, Laramie model.

Engine: 5.7 L Hemi on the 1500 series, optional 5.9 L Cummins turbodiesel on 2500 and 3500 series.

Fuel Consumption: Varies by size and engine.

Power/torque: 5.7 L Hemi makes 345 hp/375 lb.-ft.; 5.9 L Cummins turbodiesel, 325 hp/610 lb.-ft.

Competition: Ford F-Series CrewCab pickups and the Chevy/ GMC Crew Cabs.

Pros: For the right buyer, the rear-seat space is great.

Cons: The long wheelbase makes it fun to park at the mall.

What's interesting: Truck's reclining rear seats still have storage space behind them.