King Of The Road

The new 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie Mega Cab proves the old adage that bigger really is better.

April 1, 2006

When it comes to tow vehicles, bigger is better. Period. Bigger, we must be clear, refers to far more than simply the engine displacement or the vehicle's towing capacity, although those are two critical factors. Bigger also refers to the cargo capacity, as well as the roominess of the passenger compartment. And when it comes to roomy, spacious passenger compartments, the new heavyweight champion is the 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab.

The Mega Cab interior really is spectacularly spacious. Just check the measurements: 40.8 inches of headroom and 41 inches of legroom for the driver and front-seat passenger; 40.5 inches of headroom and 44.2 inches of legroom for the folks in the back. For the record, that means the rear-seat Mega Cab passengers have six or seven more inches of legroom than the people sitting in the First Class cabin of a domestic Delta Airlines flight. That's big.

The big dog 3500 comes standard with a 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel, an inline six-cylinder that delivers a very respectable 325 hp, and a most impressive 610 pounds per feet of torque, matched with a silky smooth, six-speed manual transmission.

The torque is amazing. Without a trailer or load in the bed, the 3500 Mega Cab is perfectly happy to launch from third gear. Put, oh, a ton or so of dirt in the bed, and second becomes the takeoff gear. Max out the 15,850-pound towing capacity, and the super-low first gear will finally be of use, at least on inclines like launch ramps. Unlike some of the less-fondly-remembered manual transmissions of yore, the 3500 Mega Cab shifts so smoothly and easily, you almost feel like you're not working hard enough. That's one of the benefits of a really big tow vehicle - it makes hard work seem almost easy.



What's not easy is getting in and out of the 3500 Mega Cab. The interior load floor height is 37.9 inches, which translates into about an 18-inch step height from street to cab. If you're a little shorter than average, or if you're not so limber, it can be a real struggle to get in or out of the 3500 Mega Cab. Add optional running boards and ingress/egress are a bit easier, but it's still somewhat daunting.

The 3500 Mega Cab's price tag is a little daunting, too - $48,130 as tested, and the only significant option on the test truck is the $1,595 navigation system. So you're spending nearly $50,000 for a nearly base truck. Add some popular options like the running boards, Sirius satellite radio, maybe a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, and you're well over that $50,000 threshold.

Still, if you're going to do a lot of towing, or if you're going to be doing a bit of towing with a very large boat behind the vehicle, and you're going to be bringing family and friends along for the ride, you'll very likely consider it $50,000 well spent. The 3500 Mega Cab's magnificent towing prowess and truly unbelievable interior space make it the biggest, baddest shooter on the road right now.

Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie Mega Cab

Engine: 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel inline 6-cylinder
Horsepower: 325
Torque: 610 lb-ft
Passengers: 6
Ground Clearance (min.): 7.1 inches
Payload Capacity (max.): 3,090 lbs.
Towing Capacity: 15,850 lbs.
PRICE as tested: $48,130 (single rear wheels)

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