SEMA: First-hand look and feel.
#1
SEMA: 2010 HD Dodge First-hand look and feel.
I went to SEMA last week and got to see the new 2010's in person. I personally like the differentiated front end from the 1500's, and they look extremely sharp in person vs. photos.
Here's what I have noticed with both a Crew Cab and a Megacab 6.7L Ram:
The crew cab definitely has a little more room than the current Quad Cabs, but it isnt substantial. Dodge already made a valiant effort of stretching the QuadCabs to accomodate "four real doors" so the fact only a couple of inches have been gained isnt surprising. Aside from the obvious bigger rear door, what you will notice when looking inside the back door is the leg room. Its got more room for sure, but I think the biggest help is the rear seats have been reclined a few degrees for those who dont have such upright postures (such as myself- Im a sloucher). That is a big difference from the QC's- the seats are pretty upright in the current QC's, but Ive had no problems being in the back of my own truck for a hundred+ miles, and my friends have never complained about being back there (and theyre all over 6' tall like myself).
Both Models I got to sit in had some cool stuff: how about an integrated brake controller in the dash for one? Just like the Fords, Dodge is now doing it. Also, both models had a 12V/120V inverter directly in the dash. So you can now plug in your laptops and Xbox's or if youre brave- a small microwave. Good luck with that!
They also have a new instrument cluster that shows all your important info between the tach and speedo ( similiar to what GM has done over the years). They have done away with overhead consoles, all your compass/temps/trip's are in the central information display.
It seems you can also control gear selection with an up/down arrow on the gear selector, but I dont recall seeing an Engine or Exhaust Brake in either of them. Both models also feature two glove boxes, one on top of the other- decent room in each as well. No rear floor coolers like the 1500's have, or atleast on these two models.
Dodge has also done away with the grill attached to the hood- meaning the grill will stay put, and hood pops up. Saddened me, but not a big deal.
The MegaCab was nice, still ample room with the same setup the current ones have. I will need to get one of these for the growing family in the next couple years. Seats recline a buttload, still have uber amounts of storage behind and inderneath the seats.
One thing that some of you might like or dislike, however, is the use of plastic body panels. The rear panels behind the rear door that make the MegaCab so "mega" are now plastic. Weight savings? Maybe. But do you think the torque of the Cummins cant handle an extra 50lbs of steel?
Both Models had new 6 spoke wheels and I am NOT a fan.
Also....... it appears Dodge has gotten off their lazy ***** and has taken notice of their deficient sector shafts on the steering boxes. Take a gander under the front and youll see a huge sector shaft nut on top of a bigger shaft. Rumour has it that the recent 09 HD's had this same steering box. So its likely they can be swapped into the place of the older dinky box.
Thats all I can think of now, ill report back when I think of more. I didnt take too many pics, I was too busy playing with buttons and the like. So the 'net will have to support yer habit.
Cheers.
Here's what I have noticed with both a Crew Cab and a Megacab 6.7L Ram:
The crew cab definitely has a little more room than the current Quad Cabs, but it isnt substantial. Dodge already made a valiant effort of stretching the QuadCabs to accomodate "four real doors" so the fact only a couple of inches have been gained isnt surprising. Aside from the obvious bigger rear door, what you will notice when looking inside the back door is the leg room. Its got more room for sure, but I think the biggest help is the rear seats have been reclined a few degrees for those who dont have such upright postures (such as myself- Im a sloucher). That is a big difference from the QC's- the seats are pretty upright in the current QC's, but Ive had no problems being in the back of my own truck for a hundred+ miles, and my friends have never complained about being back there (and theyre all over 6' tall like myself).
Both Models I got to sit in had some cool stuff: how about an integrated brake controller in the dash for one? Just like the Fords, Dodge is now doing it. Also, both models had a 12V/120V inverter directly in the dash. So you can now plug in your laptops and Xbox's or if youre brave- a small microwave. Good luck with that!
They also have a new instrument cluster that shows all your important info between the tach and speedo ( similiar to what GM has done over the years). They have done away with overhead consoles, all your compass/temps/trip's are in the central information display.
It seems you can also control gear selection with an up/down arrow on the gear selector, but I dont recall seeing an Engine or Exhaust Brake in either of them. Both models also feature two glove boxes, one on top of the other- decent room in each as well. No rear floor coolers like the 1500's have, or atleast on these two models.
Dodge has also done away with the grill attached to the hood- meaning the grill will stay put, and hood pops up. Saddened me, but not a big deal.
The MegaCab was nice, still ample room with the same setup the current ones have. I will need to get one of these for the growing family in the next couple years. Seats recline a buttload, still have uber amounts of storage behind and inderneath the seats.
One thing that some of you might like or dislike, however, is the use of plastic body panels. The rear panels behind the rear door that make the MegaCab so "mega" are now plastic. Weight savings? Maybe. But do you think the torque of the Cummins cant handle an extra 50lbs of steel?
Both Models had new 6 spoke wheels and I am NOT a fan.
Also....... it appears Dodge has gotten off their lazy ***** and has taken notice of their deficient sector shafts on the steering boxes. Take a gander under the front and youll see a huge sector shaft nut on top of a bigger shaft. Rumour has it that the recent 09 HD's had this same steering box. So its likely they can be swapped into the place of the older dinky box.
Thats all I can think of now, ill report back when I think of more. I didnt take too many pics, I was too busy playing with buttons and the like. So the 'net will have to support yer habit.
Cheers.
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: St. Louis Metro Area, MO
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the informative post - sort of. Darn it - now you have me wanting to take a closer look at 'em when they show up at the dealer... I'd just gotten done swearing off looking at them and was being happy with keeping mine and just driving it until the wheels fall off. Thanks for the writeup - I think :-)
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wish I had more photos, but I had to wait forever to get these shots without people in them. After sitting in a '10 I'm not sure I like the reduced view with the front raised 3". 2010 Mega cabs have a damper in place of one of the body mounts... works well according to reviews. There was a blue crew cab there too... wife says we have to have the Mega!
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Placerville, California
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wish I had more photos, but I had to wait forever to get these shots without people in them. After sitting in a '10 I'm not sure I like the reduced view with the front raised 3". 2010 Mega cabs have a damper in place of one of the body mounts... works well according to reviews. There was a blue crew cab there too... wife says we have to have the Mega!
Scott
#6
Registered User
I was at the show as well. I took a bunch of pics of the white mega, the blue quad cab with the lift, and the regular cab gas 2500 they had out back. I'll try to get them posted up here.
My initial impressions:
I didn't mind the 6 spoke wheels, at least they are something different. I was hoping they would've gone to a factory 18" and some 275/70/18 tires, but the tiny 265/70/17 tires are still there
I sat in the regular cab gas truck, I thought the seats were much more comfortable than the ones in my 06.
The three little indentations on each side of the hood seem kind of lame.
My initial impressions:
I didn't mind the 6 spoke wheels, at least they are something different. I was hoping they would've gone to a factory 18" and some 275/70/18 tires, but the tiny 265/70/17 tires are still there
I sat in the regular cab gas truck, I thought the seats were much more comfortable than the ones in my 06.
The three little indentations on each side of the hood seem kind of lame.
#7
Registered User
I'm seriously thinking of getting one in the spring. My kids have outgrown the quad cab.
Six-spokes do look kind of awkward to me. I used to work with an industrial designer who claimed that design elements in odd-numbers are much more pleasing to the human eye. He even used wheels as an example.
Six-spokes do look kind of awkward to me. I used to work with an industrial designer who claimed that design elements in odd-numbers are much more pleasing to the human eye. He even used wheels as an example.
Trending Topics
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was at the show as well. I took a bunch of pics of the white mega, the blue quad cab with the lift, and the regular cab gas 2500 they had out back. I'll try to get them posted up here.
My initial impressions:
I didn't mind the 6 spoke wheels, at least they are something different. I was hoping they would've gone to a factory 18" and some 275/70/18 tires, but the tiny 265/70/17 tires are still there
I sat in the regular cab gas truck, I thought the seats were much more comfortable than the ones in my 06.
The three little indentations on each side of the hood seem kind of lame.
My initial impressions:
I didn't mind the 6 spoke wheels, at least they are something different. I was hoping they would've gone to a factory 18" and some 275/70/18 tires, but the tiny 265/70/17 tires are still there
I sat in the regular cab gas truck, I thought the seats were much more comfortable than the ones in my 06.
The three little indentations on each side of the hood seem kind of lame.
Hurry up already!!!
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: La Verne, Ca
Posts: 645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have seen many picks of the 2010's and they are nice looking. The changes to the body have been small from 03 on really. The inside looks nice and updated but it just seems there is more to go wrong. Like the in dash trailer brake controaler. If it fails now what, if mine fails I just replace it. If the cab is quieter then that is a plus. It's what is under the hood that is making me hold off for a while, all that smog stuff. If I didn't have my 03 this is the one I would be getting.
#10
I think I can... I think...
I have seen many picks of the 2010's and they are nice looking. The changes to the body have been small from 03 on really. The inside looks nice and updated but it just seems there is more to go wrong. Like the in dash trailer brake controaler. If it fails now what, if mine fails I just replace it. If the cab is quieter then that is a plus. It's what is under the hood that is making me hold off for a while, all that smog stuff. If I didn't have my 03 this is the one I would be getting.
Now the whole exhaust filter B/S does concern me.
Can that thing be removed and can these engines be chipped or tuned?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HorseHauler
3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)
18
03-27-2005 09:52 PM
WhiteSport600
3rd Generation Ram - Non Drivetrain - All Years
24
11-21-2004 11:11 PM