Well we went and looked at Mega cabs yesterday. We took a Black SLT auto for a ride. It was only about 12 degrees outside so it was cold. The Big Cab actually warmed up quite nicely in about 10 minutes.

First it sounds like a diesel but a lot quieter than my 99. No smoke anytime no matter how we drove it. Yes it will toast the tires no problem. Has a 4 inch exhaust..cool. Under the hood there is not as much room as the 99 but it is not crammed like the Ford or Chev.. It doesn't even make a lot of noise with the hood up. Clean and it looks like it is relatively easy to change oil and filters and other minor maintenance. The coolers radiator,AC, trans, oil cooler and intercooler are all stacked right up front. They seem less protected than the 99. A deer strike dead center would wipe all of them out.. ouch!! $$$.

Inside. My son (Chev guy) says "where's the bolster supports??, and these seats are like park benches" They definitely are harder than the 99 and the side support is lacking even for us big guys. They seemed well made but need better body support. The sales guy says that the leather is better but they look the same in the pictures. The back seat is....well there isn't anything like it except in maybe a big van. There is so much room to stretch out in that it would be easy to say" why don't you drive I'll ride in back". There is more room in back than in front. The seats recline and after a heavy day on the job or out in the field they would be welcome for sure. There is plenty of extra space behind for stuff and folded flat there is probably more room than in a whole mini van. The seats themselves are a lot better than any other truck back seat but still rock hard.

The rest of the interior is like previous Dodges...very functional well layed out. most of the controls you can operate with gloved hands. Not art show beatutiful...who cares. The big wood grained thing in the middle seems out of place on this truck. This is a truck not a BMW car. With the automatc, the center consols are huge. There are all kinds of big hiding places. We might miss the bigger pocket for the lap top however. The mega lacks this. The cup holders will fit about anything. I think the one holder will hold a 64 oz big gulp. The glove box is about the same...could be bigger. There are some of the radio controls on the steering. The gages are white faced and very readable. My son liked the real numbers rather than C & H , L & H etc. Tach reads good speedo is good. My son is the one buying and he has not had a diesel. He says " this thing sure doesn't rev very high but it sure does go!!!!!) as we plowed thru a 3 foot snow bank. The mega has adjustable pedal height. Nice I guess. we played with them but they seem kinda not necessary. This is a man's truck...nice lady can have the car or mini van. We'll drive with the pedals where they are. This Mega was nearly 2 feet of the ground at the door sils and didn't have a tube step. This is a must have option. Try climbing up here in your dress pants and you will split the rear end everytime. Now a mini skirt might be a different storry. This is a an awsome truck as far as the rest of the driving. It was a bit slippery on the side streets and the big torq cause a lot of wheel spin. I guess you just get used to it. The gas burner has to be pushed to slip and slide like the diesel. With all the weight on the front however it sure will pull thru the snow. The brakes are just fantastic. My son jambed on the brake at about 60 and it just about thru us thru the glass. 13" rotors are huge and effective. The Mega seemed to have a bit more body roll than the 99 dually but that may due to difference in track at the rear. The ride was pretty good very firm. My son was impressed with the turning radius. We drove around in a parking lot and didn't have any trouble getting around or parking.
This truck had the overhead consol. It had a plastic protective cover sheet over the view panel but even without it, it was very difficult to read on a bright sunny day. Plus you have to take your eyes off the road and refocus on the panel. Personally I don't need it and the gas computer is notoriously inaccurate anyway. Also available is a navagation system. It looked good on paper...didn't get to see one. There is also an intertainment center for the back seat. I guess it might be ok. The screen is a bit small but I did get caught in a snow storm and stalled for 8 hours so it would have been nice to watch a few videos.

Outside. The truck is just BIG Actually it is the same size as the long wb lb. It just gives the impression becaust it is up off the ground and the cab is really, really big.. The hood seems shorter and bulkier which adds to the visual effect. The fits all around were excellent, even the TG fit and operated smoothly. It had a nice bed liner and some boat style cleats to hook straps on. This one had the optional power rear glass...usefull ??? maybe to hear the "stacks" Too small for the dog to climb thru. The hitch was a little different but was packed with snow after we got done so we couldn't see much. The plug is in the bumper and well protected. The hitch may have been a standard one and not up to the towing capicity of the truck. This one had Mich. 17's on one of about 20 styles of wheels available. They were ok. I'd have something that filled the wheel well better. The grill will have to grow on you. This truck had the all chrome grill and bug deflector and I think it had the 1/2 black panel but there was too much snow on it to tell. This one had the beltline trim but I think it was too high to guard against wayward WalMart carts. Might need help from Scotty on these

Over all this truck is a truck not a car. There is no compromise here. If you need both then buy this truck and a Charger and you will have both. If you need a truck to pack 5 big guys in comfortably, haul the 12,000 lb 5er and you want to arrive rested and ready to have fun this Mega will do that. If you want to stand out in a crowd....no problem there...when you start this one up it's like awakining a big dragon. If yanking stuff around is what you do..this is the champion yanker. Nothing will out out pull this one. It even comes with big hooks on the front.

Now if this Mega had better seats....who would need a house???
we're going to wait for the dually to come out in Jan and try one of them out.

Any other opinions???

 

I sat in one of the megacabs the back seat it unbelieveable. I had I 95 before I got my 04 the diffrence is night and day. There are alot of things that you didn't realize were wrong until they fixed them on the newer truck. In general it runs, drives stops a whole lot better. If you're getting one for cold weather make sure you get a block heater cord. I have the solid rear glass with the defrost in it and the heated mirrors. I didn't want the rear slider, but the power is because you can't reach it from the front.... How would you open it? He wants to get the powered trailer tow mirrors if he tows. The are also heated if they are powered, it's nice to have them defrost. Spend the couple of extra bucks for the heated seats. You don't need them but they're pretty nice.

 

I saw one and started puking and had to look away. Long beds ruke!