With the tailgate closed the Quad Cab's bed length has been shortened by 48 mm (1.9 in) to make parking in a normal size garage easier, a desired characteristic previous model Ram owner discussion groups brought to light. That said the Regular Cab's long box has been extended by 10 mm (0.4 in).
That's slightly more room to haul a heavier payload. But in this part of the hauling equation, simple specification comparisons don't fully explain. The top-line GM trucks can haul a maximum of 2,583 kg (5,696 lb) while a Ford F350 is capable of maintaining composure with 2,223 kg (4,900 lb) in the box. The Dodge straddles the two competitors total payload capacity with 2,436 kg (5,470 lb) gross weight. Still, side by side comparisons of all three vehicles filled with identical 1,588 kg (3,500 lb) weights placed dead center in their respective boxes, and driven over the same stretch of pavement experiencing identical weather conditions proved the Dodge was much more capable. Let me explain.
The extra torque from the Cummins power unit was obviously felt, making acceleration from standstill noticeably quicker. But that's half the problem solved. What I consider to be more important, at least when a midsize car's worth of weight is strapped to your backside, is overall stability. The GM began to lose front tire traction at 100 km/h (62 mph), wandering uncomfortably while attempting to keep straight and becoming disconcerting through corners. The Ford felt more predictable, controlling the weight much better than the GM but still under obvious duress. In comparison, the weight was hardly felt in the Dodge. Sure, accelerating with no payload was neck-snapping comparatively, but all in all the 3500 felt composed at highway speeds. Through mountain crests and undulating dips and dives I quickly forgot that the 1,588 kg (3,500 lb) payload was there, only to be rudely reminded when the need for brakes became immediately apparent. The standard ABS equipped 4-wheel disc brakes are the largest in the heavy-duty class, at 353 mm (13.9 in) front and rear. The change to larger diameter rotors was made possible due to larger standard 17-inch wheels, a change that also contributes to the trucks best in class handling. Still, with braking in mind, it's safest to keep speeds well below the trucks hardly taxed handling capability when hauling heavy cargo.