* Click HERE to see a video on the Dodge Ram Mega Cab *
The Mayor of Truckville flaunts his beer gut
When the redesigned Ram came out in 2002, TV ads showed the truck rumbling into town and proclaiming it the new Mayor of Truckville. It offered a host of different trim versions and body styles, and came with four doors--four front-opening doors, which the competition already offered as crew cab models.
Now, Dodge is trying to better their adversaries by launching the Mega Cab. According to DaimlerChrysler, it's the world's biggest pickup cab, whatever that means. The Mayor always was a little chubby, but now he's become a porker.
Exactly why the Mega Cab exists, besides marketing bragging rights, is a mystery to me. Do you really need the extra space back there? Do all your buddies play on a professional basketball team? Do you carpool the Green Giant?
Mechanical
Somehow, I was tempted to try this behemoth out when I discovered that one was available for the press with a Cummins turbo diesel engine. Think about it: 325 horsepower, and 610 pound-feet of torque! Wheelspin city! Unfortunately, this Ram is saddled with a 4-speed automatic, and not the 6-speed manual.
If you're not used to a big diesel engine like this one, which is pretty much my case, you'll quickly notice that this isn't your ordinary motor. The redline is a molasses-like 3,200 rpm, which you hit in no time. Cruising down the highway at 100 km/h rings up about 2,000 rpm. At 140 km/h, however, the engine is turning at about 2,800 rpm, and the fuel consumption average indicator is actually rising. Stop at a red light, and the smell of diesel fuel starts changing the odour of the cabin.
Of course, that stench has already messed up your life. Diesel fuel makes a lot of bubbles when you're filling up the tank, just like root beet in a soda fountain. The result is people try to fill their tanks, and some of the fuel inevitably ends up on the ground. Of course, you don't see this as you're pulling up, and end up stepping in the puddle. You're dead meat now, as you're gonna stink for the rest of your day.
Also, I noticed that the price of diesel varies a lot. I fuelled up at one station where diesel was going for $1.13 a litre. Later that day, after driving around a lot while shooting video for this road test, I fuelled up again at another station about 5 kilometres away from the first one, and diesel cost $0.99 a litre. Ouch! We're not talking about the couple of cents here. Oh, by the way, I held an average of about 20.5 L/100 km.
Ok, back to the truck. This Ram takes off with a certain authority, but runs out of steam pretty fast. If you want some serious speed, you'll be better off with the 345-hp HEMI engine. Still, the Cummins-equipped Ram can tow up to 14,600 pounds (6,622 kg), which is impressive. The Ram drives pretty well, the steering isn't heavy at all, and the handling is fine as long as you drive it like it's meant to be driven. On the road, you can feel the rear end bouncing over bumps; I never get quite used to it, but pickup veterans probably won't mind. The major challenge is turning in streets in urban areas. Oh, and getting out of your parking lot. Oh, and finding a place to park at the bank during your lunch hour is also quite tricky. Oh, and... we'll, you can imagine other similar situations.
The Mayor of Truckville flaunts his beer gut
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| 2006 Dodge Ram 2500HD Mega Cab Laramie 4x4 (Video still shot: Jean Matthieu Des Lierres, Auto123.com) |
Now, Dodge is trying to better their adversaries by launching the Mega Cab. According to DaimlerChrysler, it's the world's biggest pickup cab, whatever that means. The Mayor always was a little chubby, but now he's become a porker.
Exactly why the Mega Cab exists, besides marketing bragging rights, is a mystery to me. Do you really need the extra space back there? Do all your buddies play on a professional basketball team? Do you carpool the Green Giant?
Mechanical
Somehow, I was tempted to try this behemoth out when I discovered that one was available for the press with a Cummins turbo diesel engine. Think about it: 325 horsepower, and 610 pound-feet of torque! Wheelspin city! Unfortunately, this Ram is saddled with a 4-speed automatic, and not the 6-speed manual.
 |
| 2006 Dodge Ram 2500HD Mega Cab Laramie 4x4 (Photo: Michel Deslauriers) |
Of course, that stench has already messed up your life. Diesel fuel makes a lot of bubbles when you're filling up the tank, just like root beet in a soda fountain. The result is people try to fill their tanks, and some of the fuel inevitably ends up on the ground. Of course, you don't see this as you're pulling up, and end up stepping in the puddle. You're dead meat now, as you're gonna stink for the rest of your day.
Also, I noticed that the price of diesel varies a lot. I fuelled up at one station where diesel was going for $1.13 a litre. Later that day, after driving around a lot while shooting video for this road test, I fuelled up again at another station about 5 kilometres away from the first one, and diesel cost $0.99 a litre. Ouch! We're not talking about the couple of cents here. Oh, by the way, I held an average of about 20.5 L/100 km.
 |
| 2006 Dodge Ram 2500HD Mega Cab Laramie 4x4 (Photo: Michel Deslauriers) |