2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab Pickup First Drive

Americans like everything to be big. To satisfy our desire for largess, we shop at Mega-stores, eat Mega candies, and play the Mega Lotto. And now – for when we’ve had too many M&Ms and have won mega bucks – we have the Mega Cab on our roads, courtesy of Dodge. Nowhere in the world are full-sized pickup trucks held in such high regard as they are here in the U.S.. Appropriately, the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab offers the largest cabin available in a production pickup truck thanks to an additional 22 inches of cab length. This stretch creates 72.2 cubic feet of useable interior space behind the Mega Cab’s front seats – more room than some sedans offer – and 7.7 cubic feet of this space is open behind the rear seat for storage. IN addition, the 2006 Dodge Mega Cab offers admirable payload and towing limits. With a full lineup of Mega Cabs on the market, including a version with dual rear wheels, this rig is ready to rumble. Whether you’re ready for it is another story. The Dodge Ram Mega Cab is so big, in fact, that many buyers may not be ready – ready to deal with its thirst for fuel, its ungainly length, and its short truck bed. In the end, the biggest truck may well meet among the smallest needs: those who really do need this much room inside the cab of a truck.

Model Mix

Model Mix Choose a 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab in 1500, 2500, or 3500 series models wearing SLT or Laramie trim. The 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab is available as three different models based on payload capacity, starting with the RAM 1500 Mega Cab and moving up through the 2500 to the “Big Kahuna” 3500. Dodge provides a choice between two- and four-wheel drive on any Mega Cab, but the dually version is limited to 3500-series models. Mega Cabs are decked out in your choice of two trim levels; standard SLT or Laramie. Every SLT comes with air conditioning, a CD player, and an overhead console with a trip computer and compass. Other standard features include cruise control, power windows, and power door locks with keyless entry. Optional equipment includes front bucket seats with available six-way power driver’s adjustment, a power-sliding rear window, a power sunroof, a bedliner, trailer towing mirrors, power adjustable pedals, and a six-disc in-dash CD changer with Infinity speakers. SLT buyers can also add a UConnect hands-free wireless communication system with Bluetooth technology, Sirius satellite radio, a navigation system, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment setup. In premium Laramie trim, the Dodge Ram Mega Cab adds leather upholstery, heated front buckets with six-way driver’s adjustment, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch chrome aluminum wheels, and a Sentry Key engine immobilizer. Other standard goodies include a power-sliding rear window, a six-disc in-dash CD changer with Infinity speakers, Sirius satellite radio, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, a security alarm, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Optional equipment on the Dodge Ram Mega Cab Laramie includes a power sunroof, navigation system, UConnect hands-free wireless communication system with Bluetooth technology, supplemental side-curtain airbags, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and Bolts The standard engine in 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 1500 and 2500 models is a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Because every 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab is based on the RAM 2500 Quad Cab’s long bed frame, these trucks are serious work horses. A truck of this size will be a great fit with folks who need a vehicle that plays hard and works harder. The standard powertrain for the Dodge Ram 1500 and 2500 Mega Cab models is a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 making 345 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard. Maximum towing capacity with this powertrain varies from 7,200 pounds on a 1500 with 4WD to 10,800 pounds on a 2500 with 2WD. Dodge’s popular and powerful Cummins turbodiesel engine is available as an option on the 2500 and is standard on the 3500. We think most of the folks looking to purchase a Ram Mega Cab are probably going to pop for this 5.9-liter high-output motor, which generates 325 horsepower at 2,900 rpm and an impressive 610 lb.-ft. of metal-bending torque at 1,600 rpm. Making this package even more attractive is the standard six-speed manual transmission that offers excellent performance and transfer of power. Of course, this six-speed manual gearbox is only perfect for the hardcore trucker because it offers a real big-rig feel. Not interested in shifting gears for yourself? Look to the optional four-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity with this powertrain varies from 12,350 pounds on a 2500 with 4WD and manual transmission to 15,900 pounds on a 3500 with 2WD and the automatic. To manage heavy-duty towing and hauling duties, the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab comes with a heavy-duty suspension. The two-wheel-drive version is fitted with an independent front suspension while the four-wheel-drive model features a rigid-beam front axle with a five-link suspension system and coil springs. To haul heavy cargo, the 1500 and 2500 Mega Cabs are equipped with two-stage rear springs. The 3500 Mega Cab receives three-stage springs. Minimum payload capacity with the 1500 model is 1,880 pounds and maximum capacity with the 3500 version is 2,970 pounds. Clearly, payload and towing capacity are two advantages with the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab. To bring all that mass to a halt, the Mega Cab has large four-wheel disc antilock brakes utilizing 13.9-inch ventilated discs in front and equally large solid discs on the rear axle. Rack and pinion steering guides the two-wheel-drive Mega Cab down the road with precise feel and response. The four-wheel-drive model receives a quicker steering ratio and a tough recirculating ball steering system.

Design

Design With 44.2 inches of rear leg room, the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab has more stretch-out space than a Maybach luxury sedan. The new Dodge Ram Mega Cab carries many of the new design elements that all the 2006 Ram pickups receive. Sharper angles incorporated into the trademark cross-hair grille give the truck a fresh look. The Ram emblem is moved from the hood to the center of the grille, and the headlights are redesigned to give clearer and 20-percent brighter lighting at night. Moving to the side of the Ram Mega Cab, the full-sized rear doors open wide, making it easy to enter and exit the back seat. Unlike other four-door pickup trucks, the Mega Cab’s rear doors open to a mega-like 85-degree angle, revealing the largest door opening in the class of over 34 inches. Of course, spacious accommodations are what the Mega Cab brings to the plate. Rear legroom meets or beats some of the ultra-luxury sedans for sale today, and the Mega Cab also offers the segment’s first rear reclining seat backs. Inside, Dodge includes a feature that converts the rear of the Mega Cab’s cabin into a camper. With just the touch of a button the rear seat cushions glide forward and the backrests slide down to form a large bed. Now that’s cool, and a great way to watch the optional DVD entertainment system with plasma viewing screen. And with the available power sunroof opened up, the Mega Cab is transformed into a home away from home.

Driving Impressions

Driving Impressions Though a driver gets used to the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab’s size, it’s still a truck best used in the country rather than the city. Big trucks are a handful, even though they’re more refined then ever. But this 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab, the biggest of them all, is surprisingly easy to drive despite its gargantuan dimensions. We drove two versions of this hulking truck, one equipped with the standard V8 and another endowed with the stump-pulling Cummins turbodiesel. Because this is a workhorse truck with a workhorse suspension, it drives as we expected – stiffly when the cab and bed are empty but capable of handling extreme payloads with ease. And to prove this is no pansy in truck’s clothing, Dodge has given the Mega Cab a whopping 15,900-pound maximum tow rating and a Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 23,000 pounds. No matter the model, the Mega Cab performs heavy-duty work without complaint. But when it’s unloaded, the ride can be rough. Since towing is likely on the Mega Cab owner’s agenda, we tugged two different trailer configurations and found that each engine performed admirably. First was a popular-sized, tag-tow recreation trailer pulled by a Mega Cab equipped with the Hemi V8. While we were aware the trailer was behind us, the V8 managed the load quite nicely. Clearly, however, heavy-duty towing needs require a heavy-duty engine. Our second tow test was with the Cummins turbodiesel hooked to a large, fifth-wheel stock trailer, much like you would see a rancher using to transport livestock. While the trailer’s weight was more noticeable from behind the wheel, the Cummins handled the load without any problems. We traveled a variety of roads containing uphill stretches and long descents that could have presented a problem for lesser trucks. And, given the Mega Cab’s size and driving character, it just feels right to have the torquey diesel under the hood. The 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab not only can tow the load but also take all your ranch hands to the job to boot. But as big as this truck is it’s surprisingly easy to maneuver. Keeping track of all four of the Mega Cab’s corners is easy once you become familiar with its size, but you can forget about sneaking down a narrow alley. On city streets, it is reasonably comfortable to drive as long as you keep top of mind its gargantuan footprint, and on the highway you barely notice how large and long the Mega Cab is. Inside, the Mega Cab has large firm seats and, in loaded Laramie trim, the amenities of a luxury sedan. Dodge’s new four-spoke steering wheel has a larger rim for good grasp, and the new bucket seat configuration replaces the standard bench seat. The large fold-down center seat section, which doubles as a mobile “office,” allows easier access and room for both a cell phone and a laptop computer. But what’s best about the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab is that it performs more work while hauling more people and stuff in comfort and style. It may not seem practical for most of us to own a super-sized truck like this Dodge, but then this truck isn’t aimed at most of the truck buying public. Some people need a tough pickup like this and the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab is designed to serve their every need, and more.

FAQs and Specs

FAQs and Specs The 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab can haul up to 2,970 pounds of cargo or tow a trailer weighing as much as 15,900 pounds. What is the maximum amount of payload and towing capacity offered by the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab, and which configuration offers it? If you need maximum hauling and towing capacity, you want the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 3500 with two-wheel drive, the 5.9-liter turbodiesel engine, the four-speed automatic, and the 4.10 gears. So equipped, you can tug a 15,900-pound trailer and carry 2,970 pounds of payload right out of the box. Opting for the 3500 Dually drops the tow rating by 300 pounds, but lets you add a pro-football linebacker weighing 270 pounds in the bed. How easy is it going to be to park the Dodge Ram Mega Cab in a city or suburb? The Dodge Ram Mega Cab is no longer than a Quad Cab longbed model, but it’s still intimidating to park. Making matters more difficult is the perception that urban parking lot spaces seem to be getting smaller. But, with a little practice, you will be an old hand at wheeling the Mega Cab around. Urbanites, however, might want to think twice about purchasing this truck, leaving it to customers in the wide-open countryside for which it is intended. I heard that the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab has more rear legroom than a Maybach. Is that true? The 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab has 44.2 inches of rear seat legroom. A Maybach 57 has 40.3 inches of space for your sticks, but a Maybach 62 has a whopping 57.2 inches of stretch-out, bask-in-luxury space room. So the answer is…kinda. SPECIFICATIONS Test Vehicle: 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab Price Range: $32,760 (1500 SLT 2WD) to $48,595 (3500 Laramie 4WD) (including $900 destination charge) Engine Size and Type: 5.7-liter V8; 5.9-liter V8 turbodiesel Engine Horsepower: 345 at 5,400 rpm (5.7L); 325 at 2,900 rpm (5.9L) Engine Torque: 375 lb.-ft. at 4,200 rpm (5.7L); 610 lb.-ft. at 1,600 rpm (5.9L) Transmission: Five-speed automatic (5.7L); six-speed manual (5.9L); four-speed automatic (5.9L) Curb weight, lbs.: 6,082 to 7,390 EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): EPA does not rate heavy-duty pickups Length: 247.7 inches Width: 80 inches Wheelbase: 160.5 inches (2WD); 160.3 inches (4WD) Height: 74.7 inches (2WD); 78.7 inches (4WD) Leg room (front/rear): 41/44.2 inches Head room (front/rear): 40.8/40.5 inches Max. Seating Capacity: 6 Max. Cargo Volume (in cab): 72.2 cubic feet Max. Payload: 2,970 pounds Max. Towing Capacity: 15,900 pounds Min. Ground Clearance: 7.1 (2WD); 7.7 (4WD) Competitors: Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Super Duty, GMC Sierra

Photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler