Dubspeed Driven Road Test: The 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 4×4 Mega Cab Diesel
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Text by Dubspeed Media Staff, Zerin Dube
Photos by author, additional photos by manufacturer
Those of us in Texas love all things big. As evidence, I present you with the following trivia. The King Ranch in Kingsville is bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport is home to the nation’s largest parking lot. Fort Sam Houston is home to more historical buildings than Colonial Williamsburg. Texas is home to three of the top ten biggest cities in the nation. The Port of Houston handles more foreign cargo than any other port in the nation. If Texas was its own independent nation, it would rank as the world’s fifth largest petroleum-producing country. You can buy a 4.5 pound steak at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo…they’ll even give it to you free if you can finish it. And to sum up the sheer size of this state: El Paso, TX is closer to Needles, CA than it is to Dallas, TX. It’s pretty clear that the old saying “Everything is bigger in Texas” is fairly true.
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So then, Dodge must have used the state of Texas as their inspiration when designing the 2006 Ram 2500 Mega Cab Pickup Truck. The Ram Mega Cab is to the world of full-size trucks what Texas is to the United States. With the Mega Cab, Dodge wanted to give their customers “a little more” than what the standard Quad-Cab truck configuration offers There is simply nothing bigger or stronger in its class.
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Mega Cab has over 145 cubic feet of interior space. Fold the 60/40 split rear seats down and you have 24.9 inches of flat floor loading area. With the rear seats folded flat, interior cargo space is also the biggest in its class at 71 cubic feet. That’s 7 cubic feet more than the available space behind the 2nd row of a Chevy Tahoe. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a BIG cabin. So big, in fact, that the rear seat passengers can even recline their seats…a feature normally reserved for big luxury sedans. And speaking of luxury sedans, Audi’s massive flagship A8L (Long-wheelbase) has 44.3 inches of rear seat legroom…Mega Cab offers 44.2 inches. That’s over 2.5 inches more than a Ford F-250 Crew Cab offers.
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One detail that Dodge engineers gave careful attention to is the size of the rear door opening and the angle at which the rear door opens. The rear door opening is 34.5” wide, and 35.5” high. This, combined with rear doors that swing open 85 degrees, allowed me to fit several pieces of furniture securely in the cabin of the truck without having to worry about throwing them in the bed and tying them down. There is no way the furniture would have fit in a standard quad-cab truck. Dodge also provides plenty of tie-down hooks on the rear cab wall, along with a storage bin on the floor.
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The cabin isn’t all that bad of a place to be either – Dodge has refined the Ram’s interior for 2006, giving it a more upscale look over previous models. The six-way adjustable and heated leather power seats are comfortable and supportive without being too firm. The gauge cluster is no-frills, but provides the driver with clear, easy to read information. The large center stack in the 2006 Ram houses all the HVAC, radio, and on-the-fly 4wd transfer case controls. Cup holders, following the theme of “big,” securely hold even the largest of Mega-Gulps without having to worry about spillage. All controls and knobs in the cabin were designed to be used easily, even with bulky work gloves on.
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Our test model was equipped with the $1,595 optional 6CD Changer/GPS Navigation system, which is easy to use and has some of the most clear and detailed maps I’ve seen. The seven-speaker Infinity sound system is also fairly decent compared to some other truck systems I’ve heard. Other available interior amenities include a sunroof for front passengers, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
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Lets not forget this is a truck though, and not a luxury car. Interior materials are hard textured plastics that look rugged, combined with some pretty awful looking faux wood. I complained about this “wood” in the Jeep Commander and I’m complaining about it here. This isn’t the seventies, and this isn’t a luxury car, it’s a truck. Trucks are to carry wood, not be festooned with it. Give us some nice aluminum or even some tough-looking black plastics, but please, get rid of that faux wood!
To squeeze all the extra space out of the existing Ram, Dodge engineers started with the 160.5-inch wheelbase Ram 2500 long box model. Engineers then replaced the eight-foot bed on the long box model with a six-foot, three-inch box, providing an additional 20 inches for the cab. This results in a cab that has an overall length of 111.1 inches, or more than a foot longer than a Ford F-250 Crew Cab. Dodge engineers wanted to give their customers the space of a full-size luxury car for hauling large families, or work crews, while retaining the ability of hauling heavy loads.
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Speaking of hauling capability, our test truck was equipped with the $5,550 optional Cummins Turbo Diesel engine. This engine dominates the full-size heavy-duty truck class by producing a mountain-moving 610 lb/ft of torque at 1,600 rpm and 325 horsepower at 2,900 rpm. This gives the Ram 2500 Mega Cab a towing capacity of 16,400 lbs and a payload of 5,020 lbs. Despite all this power and bulk, I observed a very respectable 17 mpg on the highway and about 13 mpg in heavy stop-and-go traffic.
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Driving the Ram Mega Cab is an experience that can provide hours of entertainment even for people like me who are accustomed to sports cars and cushy luxury cars. When pulling up alongside other pickups on the road, you realize the sheer gigantitude of the Mega Cab. Your engine sounds way cooler than theirs too – almost like a Freightliner. The ever so slight twist of the frame when you blip the throttle makes you feel even more like a big-rig driver. The Cummins diesel engine propels this 3.25 ton behemoth to highway speeds at a rate that will certainly leave your passengers with lumps in their throat. Thankfully, the Mega Cab also has a set of brakes that hauled the truck down from highway speeds to a stop with no problem at all.
Along with the entertainment though, comes a challenge. The Ram Mega Cab’s rigid-beam front axle makes the ride feel every bit like a truck. It’s a little bumpy on rough roads, and requires constant steering input corrections as the truck hops along. There are no electronic aids to keep this truck pointed straight, just the driver’s awareness and skill.
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Ram Mega Cab’s sheer size adds to the challenge. With an overall length of 20.6 feet, you need to check where you can park this thing. Although the Ram Mega Cab is fairly maneuverable in parking lots, you probably won’t fit in any of the standard spaces. I found myself parking fairly far away from my destination just to be able to fit it anywhere. At my office complex, I simply could not fit the Ram Mega Cab in our tightly packed parking garage. The turns were just too narrow to be able to clear the entire bed of the truck. Outside of parking garages though, the Ram Mega Cab is so damned big that you can pretty much park wherever you please and no one is going to argue with you.
The 2006 Dodge Ram 4×4 Mega Cab might not win you any environmentalist friends, but there is a purpose behind all this size. This is a truck you can haul six people in comfortably, and even provide limo-like room for the rear seat passengers. Or, you can flip the rear seats down and haul a ton of furniture in the cab without having to worry about the weather or people taking things they aren’t supposed to while parked. You can throw your ATV in the bed and still have enough power and towing capacity to pull a boat or your weekend race trailer. If you have to have the biggest and baddest truck on the road, this is it.
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The possibilities of what you can do with Ram Mega Cab seem limitless…but it still doesn’t make it a truck for everyone. It’s not always practical for daily driving due to its size, it’s fairly thirsty in the city, and the price of admission is fairly steep. The 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 4×4 Mega Cab in Laramie trim starts at $42,375. Add all the options our tester had and the price tops out at a whopping $51,475. That’s A LOT of money for a truck, but it’s also a truck that does A LOT This is Texas after all, and we like all things big. Doctors keep telling us that eating too much fast food will kill us, but that hasn’t stopped us from supersizing our meals. Why would economics keep buyers from supersizing pickup trucks? Its all about the satisfaction of having it a little bigger and a little better than anyone else, and that’s just what Dodge has created with the Mega Cab. With this supersized mentality in mind, I think Dodge quite literally has a huge hit on their hands.
By all the reviews that I have read about the Dodge Ram Mega Cab i found very dificult yo see why the best truck inthe market only got a 3dr place in the edmunds comparison. To all the internewt readers just get a test drive in your local Dodge dealer and get convinced about this great truck.
What a freakin joke. Another failure from Dodge. They cannot even sell em… They offered 0% , employee pricing, big incentives… And everyone still went and bout fords and chevys… Wait till the 07 Silverado comes out. Dodge is finished.
I am 54 years and have always been a Ford fan. My first pickup was a new 1973 F150 XLT 4X4. I drove this truck until the body rusted off. I have owned several pickup trucks thru the years always buying Ford heavy duty diesels. When I went to trade this time at several Ford dealerships they would not give hardly an inch on their overpriced pickups, or on my Ford trade-in. Very dejected about the way they were treating a very loyal Ford customer I walked into a Dodge dealer in Mt. Airy, NC. What me!!! Drive a Dodge 6 cylinder diesel??? No way. I sucked up my pride and test drove a Dodge 2500 Cummins diesel. WOW, where have I been all my life?? This truck is more that I could ever have dreamed of. It will out pull any Ford I have owned and it feels like a heavy duty truck should feel, rough and ready. I am very pleased and if it holds up under some hard farm work then I will return to the Dodge dealer for a re-peat. Thank you Ford for all the years and for pushing me to try something new.
Having been a Toyota Loyalist, I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for Toyota to get down to business and make a full sized diesel. During the 4th of July Rodeo in my area, I looked at the 06 mega cab diesel staged there. Wow! Impressive truck. A test drive, and great deal and great dealer later, and I defected to the first American vehicle I have ever purchased. I hope it holds up. I see Cummins, I see Bosch, I see NipponDenso parts under the hood, so it looks like Chrysler is getting it, finally. We’ll see. For now, I love this big, Mega, 4×4 Diesel. Testosterone for Towing along the RV and family!
I bought a Quad cab a year ago. I still have the sh*t eatin grin on my face every time I drive my Dodge Cummins.
You go Jeff, couldn’t have said it better myself! We checked the Tundra and Sierra out but couldnt get it up with a crane. Ford? lol convert a gas motor to diesel? Haaaaaa
I’m thinking I’ll have some letters cut for the upper windshield
” BALLS DELUXE”
weather it’s towing or not , my only real complaint is that this truck doesn’t come from the factory with the hanging rear bumper nutz! It should : )
My 2003 Ford Excursion with the 6.0 Powerstroke busted two exhaust valves at the same time at only 37,000 miles. To add insult to injury, it took Ford 54 days to fix the problem. Now I refer to the 6.0 as the “sick-o”. Traded the Excursion in on a 2500 Mega Cab with the Cummins and got a GREAT price. $12,000 less than a loaded F-150! I can tell I’m gonna love this truck and its PROVEN Cummins power plant. Ford is in serious trouble with that sick-o Powerstroke.
I have had mine for 2 weeks now after trading in my 01 cummins regular cab. I’ve owned both Ford and Chevy diesels – this is bar none the best period! No truck is even close for trouble free use either. Take lessons Ford and Chevy!
I just purchased a Ram 2500, quad cab, Cummins diesel 4×4. I towed a 10,000 lb., loaded travel trailer from Dallas to the Grand Canyon and back. This thing is a real beast when it comes to towing. I think I could hook chains up to the foundation of my two story house and pull it off the foundation with my Ram.
I had no problem on steep 8% climbs in the rockies, going a consistent 70-75mph and even under windy conditions. I got an average 11.5 mpg over the trip and considering the heavy load, that’s not bad.
I also had the option DVD system installed and with my three kids in the back, they stayed occupied the entire trip.
I’m completely satisfied with my Ram 2500. I’ve owned a Ford, a Ram 1500, and a Toyota and I’ll never go back. Thanks Dodge!
Well, I’m 45 yrs old and just purchased my first ever pick up last week. Yep, ended up with an 06 mega cab diesel. We’re thinking about getting a camper and thought, what the heck, might as well buy a tow vehcile that wont limit the TT size. Does anyone know what its like to go from small compacts and minivans to a ship that you have to dock every now and then? Gut wrenching, but somewhat fun. Thankfully a few of these posts indicate that I’ve made a good choice. I didnt know its the top in its class for HP etc. Not that it matters, but the tow spec says 12.4k not 16.4 K lbs tow capacity for the mega.
Also, before I run over my toddlers, anyone know of some after market rear sensors to put on this behemoth?
I have always been a dodge man since i first started driving 6 years ago.. im now 22 and just got rid of my highly modified and lifted 1500.. and got myself the 06 mega cab cummins with the amazing 6 speed manual.. this truck was the best purchase of my life.. i went to the deal.. told them exactly what i wanted in every detail.. and a mounth later.. they called and said.. your dream truck is here.. its amazing and makes driving so much fun! This truck not only feels like a luxurious caddy.. when im driving and catching gears i feel like a big-rigger…. undescribable- if your looking into buying one.. go talk to your dealer.. tell him what you want exactly.. and you will NOT be dissapointed.. ” id rather be cummin’ then strokin’ “….. ” dodge makes it.. cummins’ shakes it ” ” real trucks done have spark plugs “
Hey Mike if you have not all ready heard, Ford and GM have cut about 70,000 jobs in north america. They are closing plants all over the USA. I would rather drive a truck with coil springs than torsion bars anyday. Since ford has redesigned the F250/F350 they put coils in their suspension. Dodge on the other hand has had coils for sometime. Gm is closing because they have too many twin trucks, cars, and Suvs. example: Silverado, Sierra. Tahoe, Yukon. just to name a few. Hate to say it but the last several months Toyota and Honda have kicking the shit out of USA domestic car sales. So if GM and Ford keep closing plants you might be driving a dodge or toyota or even a honda down the line in the future. Just because GM is coming out with a redesigned 2007 silverado does not mean that the silverado will save GM. If I ever go with a full size truck it will definitely be a Dodge Ram.
I’m currious…a lot of people don’t like the woodgrain look. But I honislty prefer it over the cheap looking gray plastic on the 07’s. I agree they could have done a better job with the wood grain. . But that silver really bothers me. Just curious as to everyone elses opinion.
i have owned a cummins for 4 monmths now no problems love it. i was a die hard ford man but niow i love the cummins best in its class. Wish i would of got the 6 speed?
I absolutely love this truck!! My buddy’s brother gave us a ride home from school and it was so comfortable! It had a lot of torque, I realized that when he was showing off his Ram 3500 Dually in town, stomping on the pedal near cops and kids with loud trucks. It threw me back in my seat. His wife loved it so much, she bought one, but a Ram 2500 Mega Cab. This is the greatest truck ever. I can’t wait to buy one.
No one in my family owns a dodge but I’ve always loved ‘em. I think their style, comfort, towing (for trucks), speed, horse power, everything about ‘em is great. My aunt recently bought an 06 chevy silverado 2500 before chevy botched their trucks. I told her to try a dodge, or at least go to the dealership but no, she wouldn’t do it. It was my only oppertunity in my family to get a dodge truck. Now I’m tryin to gett my mom tto get a charger R/T or SRT8 (we probably can’t afford it) or even a viper if we win the lottery or scratch-off. I’m getting my licence VERY soon, so my first car/truck will of course be the dodge ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, or 5500. It’s whatever i can afford. But Mister, you have a nice truck, best in and out of its class.
I just bought my first ram truck, WOW! I have owned fords, chevys, and in high school even a Toyota 4×4 and this truck has given me back the memory of what it feels like to demand the respect of every truck and car owner that passes by. Just today for the first time ever a BMW stopped in the round about and waved me out. I have been through that circle a thousand times and never before have any of the big trucks or high end cars stopped and or taken the time to wave me out. Now its an everyday occurance thanks only to the MEGA CAB thanks dodge for a Pride restored.
I bought a 2007 Mega Cab 1500 at the end of September and towed my race car with only 50mi on the ODO. It’s not a diesel, it’s a Hemi. It did an EXCELLENT job. My 1996 Ram 2500 with the 5.9L was much slower and sluggish with the same car trailer. I don’t do much towing at all which is why i opted for the Hemi. Aside from heavier duty springs in the rear, it needs nothing.
Anyone who doesn’t like Dodge Rams has obviously never owned one, & apparently just likes to hear himself talk. so if you don’t like dodge’s get your foot & of your mouth & shut-up. & go buy one you’ll never want anything else. I guarantee it.
The Mega Cab Rocks. Of course it’s huge, Dodge needed to make a statement after all the Ram is the Best seller of the Diesel Powered Truck Craze. The beautiful thing about the Cummins is the aftermaket accessories are abundant. Meaning you can do more to this truck than any other.
realmente e uma bela pick up com todas essas qualidade sem duvidas ela e a melhor del mercado hoje e talves sempre juntando o util ao agradavel