Well I have been researching diesels for about two years. I bought a 1996 Dodge Ram 1/2 ton in '96 and it still running great. With the recent addition of a baby daughter and another on the way, I have been planning on getting a new 4 door pickup.<br><br>Long story short, I was going to go for the new Ford because I really want a full crew cab. Today was the first day I got to test drive both, a new Dodge 2500 4x4 HO / 48RE SB and a new Ford Supercab 6.0 / Torqueshift LB. <br><br>I really liked the room in the Ford (not a crewcab but the front was roomy anyway), and I liked the 5 speed auto. However in just about every other category I liked the Dodge. It drove like cadillac (although it needed stiffer springs it seemed as the body sway was too much for my liking). Steering was firm and precise. Both engines were good enough for me but I really prefer the inline Cummins over the new 6.0. I didn't notice much of power difference between the two.<br><br>The feeling of solidness and fit and finish seemed much better and more refined in the Dodge. If Dodge had just made the back seat 6 inches longer there would be zero hesitation in my purchase. Can't figure out why they didn't make the quad bigger, I think more people would want to &quot;upgrade&quot; to the larger size than would want to &quot;downgrade&quot; to something not quite big enough for adults on long hauls. Even so, I think I'll be ordering the new Dodge!

 

I ordered the Dodge Quad Cab because it is smaller. I was going to buy a Ford or Chevy four door short bed or an extended long bed. The extra three inches and four true doors made me take a look at the Dodge. I think I made the best choice for me and my family but I think any of them will be the right choice for someone. <br><br>I had a friend just buy the Ford and it is huge. We went with them last weekend and the back seat is bigger than any car I have been in. The biggest problem I saw was it stuck out of parking spaces about one to two feet. Thats about the length difference between the two trucks. He has one of the last 7.3 psd. at 75 mph is seems to be a lot quiter than the Dodge. I will know better in a week or so when my Dodge gets here.<br><br>I had a friend buy an Excursion with the 6.0 for his wife. It has been three weeks and I am not sure she has driven it. I think that combination will be great once they work the bugs out.

 

I thought the back seat in the Dodge Quad was fabulous. Can't imagine needed more room. Having a 16 year old, I have had the opportunity to sit in back and that is as good as it gets...I thought. We have the 6 way leather seats in front and the bench in the back.<br><br>Anyhow, good luck with your choice. I never had much luck with FORDS...nickle and dimed me and never went for over 170,000 miles. Still...I enjoyed my Ford 3/4 ton and had lots of fun with it...it just broke a lot. When I owned it, I swore by it but that was because I never had tasted a real treat ie. Dodge<br>

 

Thanks for the post, Berak. The first 48Re I drive will be the one I ordered . Good to hear your favourable comparison to the Ford, also a great truck.

 

(according to the first post) You HAving one baby daugther and another baby daughter on the way I wouldnt much worry about the rear seat shortness. (Children are smaller than adults)<br><br>Both girls will be petite in height for at least 10 years old or so. That gives you 10 years of use for the back seat.

 

[quote author=dealseeker link=board=17;threadid=10346;start=0#99088 date=1044068127]<br>Thanks for the post, Berak. The first 48Re I drive will be the one I ordered . Good to hear your favourable comparison to the Ford, also a great truck.<br>[/quote]<br><br>What did Dodge change in the tranny to make the 48RE better than the previous trannies?

 

Yeah, basically I figure the backseat is plenty good enough for my girls and with load floor extended and the seats down, it's actually good for children as they have a foot rest so they're legs don't dangle and fall asleep on long rides.<br><br>Combined with the side air bags I'd be getting, I am more pleased with the comfort and safety for children in the Dodge.<br><br>However, both of these things could have been designed into a fill size backseat that would be just as comfortable for large adults, and occasionlly I do transport those too!<br><br>I have a simple question I'd like to ask the marketers at Dodge: If the quad cab was extended to have a large backseat like Ford and Chevy, do you think that net number of sales would increase or decrease for Dodge? I am certain sales would increase more from people wanting it larger than would be decreased by people who don't want the overall length of the truck increased by 6&quot;. &gt;

 

I say 3 cheers for the shorter quad cab. If my truck was 1&quot; longer it would not fit in my garage.

 

Yup. I also drove the Ford 6.0. It's faster than a Dodge [I bought the HO Cummins with 48re tranny and 4.10 gears] but the Dodge makes more torque at a lower rpm and launches better. Also the Dodge is a &quot;true&quot; diesel. Re the quadcab, I like it being smaller in the back seat than the Ford. Reason is that my Quadcab is only 4&quot; longer overall than the Ford Supercab that I traded in. The Dodge back seat still is large enough for adult passengers. Fits in my garage with 2 inches to spare! [Ordered 12/16/20002 &amp; received 01/27/2003]. This truck is the new puller for my 31' 5th wheel trailer.

 

Regarding cab size - I have more room in the back seat than in any four-door car I've sat in lately. And like Nevada says, any longer and it wouldn't fit in the garage. I can't buy a new house just to get a bigger garage :<br><br>If I had to haul 4 full-size adults 8 hours a day, I'd reconsider. But they'd have to be dang big people. My parents and wife's parents fit fine. Plus they could always ride in the 3rd row seat ;D<br><br>This truck is already longer than the 2nd gen - which means I can just barely squeeze by the bumper when the door is down - a fact I did not realize when I ordered her!

 

So far it looks like everyone that is happy with quad size is content because it happens to fit in their garage. That's fine and I can understand that but I wouldn't base my purchase choice on that (which is easy for me to say because I don't have a garage! :P).<br><br>I am 6' 1&quot; and sitting in the back my knees touch the front seats. I'm sure if I had to sit back there for a 4 hour trip or more I would be hoping for more leg room.<br><br>I realize Dodge made a compromise here, I just question if they made the best choice. It sounds like they measured the average garage and made sure it would just fit. ;D

 

I'm real happy with dodge's decision on the quad cab size. The full crew's are just to big, the extended cabs a touch to small. Doesn't matter what the factory does - they aren't going to please everyone. Fortunately for me (and others apparently) they built the new Ram in the middle of the current cab sizes available- way to go D/C !

 

Among the reasons for me buying a Dodge was the fact that it is approx. 10 inches shorter than the GM crew cab. When youy are measuring the garage for room that additional length makes a big difference. The GM does have more rear seat leg room but I felt that I could be comfortable in the back seat on a trip but you can bet that I will be driving.

 

I love the quad and NO, it won't fit in my garage. Hey, hardly any decent size car or truck will not fit in the garages. I would not want it any longer. The turning radius of these trucks is fantastic. That really means a lot when backing up a fiver and trying to park it at the mall. I am 6'4&quot; and a normal size adult can sit behind me while I am driving. Good job, DC.<br><br>QuadBob