Crew cabs and 6.5' beds.........who's got em?

[noupf]

So I'm re-evaluating my needs. I need a 6.5' bed, but I am up in the air about a quad cab or a crew. I have a one year old, who is rarely in my truck ( but God knows thing change in life ). I may actually want the crew with extra space that I could use to transport some stuff on a weekly basis ( besides the occasion daughter ). The crew may be of use with the seats folded up and the flat cargo tray thingy ( even though I'd get almost the same use out of the quad vs the crew). I do however, absolutely need the full 6.5 bed for other stuff that I transport 3-4 days a week. My concern is how much of a bohemeth is a crew with a 6.5 bed? I also don't see many out in the wild ( on the dealer lots )......

Anybody got one who can offer some insight and real world experiences so far???

Thanks

 

[bigfoot2219]

I didn't end up with a 6'4 crew, I have the 5'7. However, I drove a full size crew extensively at the dealers lot; black bighorn with 8 speed. What detracted me from the particular truck was the 3.21, i felt noticeable thud at downshift and it felt to heavy in the pedal compared to the 3.92. I also drove all sorts of Quad cabs with the smaller rear bench. In the end I went with a short bed crew. The full size crew with the extended bed is a great truck, the one I drove still felt just as graceful as the rest of the 1500's. (My wife considers the truck a "creampuff" in ride quality and she drives a fully loaded up kia optima daily). I don't see many in the wild either, mostly on 2500's. With a 1 year old you could get 10 years of potential use out of the vehicle before they are over 5' and would have legroom issues on longer rides in the rear seats (If you got a quad cab) The crew of course would always offer larger interior storage and ride capability.

Which ever you go with you can't go wrong, try to find a 3.92 rear axle truck and make a comparison! Goodluck!

 

[noupf]

I didn't end up with a 6'4 crew, I have the 5'7. However, I drove a full size crew extensively at the dealers lot; black bighorn with 8 speed. What detracted me from the particular truck was the 3.21, i felt noticeable thud at downshift and it felt to heavy in the pedal compared to the 3.92. I also drove all sorts of Quad cabs with the smaller rear bench. In the end I went with a short bed crew. The full size crew with the extended bed is a great truck, the one I drove still felt just as graceful as the rest of the 1500's. (My wife considers the truck a "creampuff" in ride quality and she drives a fully loaded up kia optima daily). I don't see many in the wild either, mostly on 2500's. With a 1 year old you could get 10 years of potential use out of the vehicle before they are over 5' and would have legroom issues on longer rides in the rear seats (If you got a quad cab) The crew of course would always offer larger interior storage and ride capability.

Which ever you go with you can't go wrong, try to find a 3.92 rear axle truck and make a comparison! Goodluck!

Thanks, I appreciat the input. I seem to trade up every 5 years or so, so I hear ya on the size of the child vs the room of the quad/crew. I probably don't need the crew, but I do need the bigger bed. I also will not purchase a ram 1500 unless it has the 3.92. My current Silverado is a 2010 6 speed with 3.08's........I will never go with anything remotely that low again. It's like a slug off the line and i do a healthy mix of low speed/start and stop driving. Maybe 25% highway driving....... I never thought to look at the rear ratio when I bought the Silverado. Live and learn I guess.

 

[mtofell]

2500 CC 6'4" bed here and it's not much bigger than a smaller truck. I had a Nissan Titan with the 5'5" bed that I would imagine is close to the 5'7" Ram. Honestly, I can hardly tell the difference. By far and away the best improvement that makes driving these big trucks more easy is the backup camera and sensors. When backing out of parking spaces you can nail it within inches so you don't have to do the back and forth thing.

 

[noupf]

2500 CC 6'4" bed here and it's not much bigger than a smaller truck. I had a Nissan Titan with the 5'5" bed that I would imagine is close to the 5'7" Ram. Honestly, I can hardly tell the difference. By far and away the best improvement that makes driving these big trucks more easy is the backup camera and sensors. When backing out of parking spaces you can nail it within inches so you don't have to do the back and forth thing.

Thanks and I agree, the 1500 sport I'm looking at has both the cam and the sensors.....

It may come down to price too unfortunately.

 

[NYCruiser]

With all other features being equal, I would take the crew cab. Both for resale and usability. I've never heard anyone say they regret having the crew, but have heard guys regret only getting the quad when life events change unexpectedly.

 

[DiabeticKripple]

I have a crew cab 6' 4" bed.

I love it. Lots of room in the box and cab.

It rides like a dream. It's a little big for the parking lots here, but if you back up it will fit anywhere

 

[noupf]

I have a crew cab 6' 4" bed.

I love it. Lots of room in the box and cab.

It rides like a dream. It's a little big for the parking lots here, but if you back up it will fit anywhere

Ahhhhhhhh, this is exactly what I didn't want to hear. My Silverado has a terrible turning radius, my buddy has a cc sport with 5.5 bed and it turns tighter than my Silverado ext cab with the 6.5 bed. I bet the cc 6.5 ram is probably on par with my Silverado. If the added inerior space is worth it, maybe the 6.5 cc is the way to go......

What kind of area do u live ? Rural, urban, suburban area?

 

[14hemiexpress]

I would personally go crew cab that's the truck I want right now. I have a quad cab the bed space is nice but I don't like how cramped people feel in the back they don't ***** about it they are happy I drive. There is enough room in the quad cab to get the job done I had 5 people in my truck the other day frony seat guy was 5'11 behind him was 6'4 middle back was 5'8 ish and behind me I'm 5'9 was another guy 5'9-5'10 no one ******* but it looked cramped for our 40 min drive each way. I will say I have fit a rear facing seat a forward facing seat 1 50lb Aussie a 30lb cocker spaniel my wife and I in our truck you can make room but the crew cab would be a lot more spacious and if I didn't have a love affair with my 4wd I would be pushing pretty hard to with the wife to switch to a crew cab. 4wd cc isn't in the cards right now.

 

[NYCruiser]

I would personally go crew cab that's the truck I want right now. I have a quad cab the bed space is nice but I don't like how cramped people feel in the back they don't ***** about it they are happy I drive. There is enough room in the quad cab to get the job done I had 5 people in my truck the other day frony seat guy was 5'11 behind him was 6'4 middle back was 5'8 ish and behind me I'm 5'9 was another guy 5'9-5'10 no one ******* but it looked cramped for our 40 min drive each way. I will say I have fit a rear facing seat a forward facing seat 1 50lb Aussie a 30lb cocker spaniel my wife and I in our truck you can make room but the crew cab would be a lot more spacious and if I didn't have a love affair with my 4wd I would be pushing pretty hard to with the wife to switch to a crew cab. 4wd cc isn't in the cards right now.

Case in point. You never hear anyone complain that they got the crew.

 

[DiabeticKripple]

Ahhhhhhhh, this is exactly what I didn't want to hear. My Silverado has a terrible turning radius, my buddy has a cc sport with 5.5 bed and it turns tighter than my Silverado ext cab with the 6.5 bed. I bet the cc 6.5 ram is probably on par with my Silverado. If the added inerior space is worth it, maybe the 6.5 cc is the way to go......

What kind of area do u live ? Rural, urban, suburban area?

Where I work, the lots are designed for trucks and have nice wide lanes and wide parking spots and I have no issues there.

I have issues where my parents live in an urban city designed for bikes and smart cars lol. My trucks tires are on both lines when I park. Usually I'll take up 2 spots at the back of the parking lot.

The turning radius isn't that bad. It's actually better than my cobalt lol.

 

[Mr. Crowley]

It's not that bad.
Not a whole lot different than the quad cab, and the extra space is really nice.

Some tighter parking lots you will want to back into spots, but no big deal.

 

[NewBlackDak]

I drive a megacab. Ain't no thang


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jerryb]

I have the crew 6.5 and live in rural area and would buy this truck again no regrets but if I lived in the city It would be to big. Every time I go there I have a hard time parking and always worry about dings. Also have the 3.21 and I love it for what I do. Great mileage and it's not to slow off the start IMO.

 

[Jaxyaks]

I have a 2015 2500 crew with 6.4, I also had a 2013 quad with the 6.4 bed. Turning radius is reduced with the crew, you do have to think a little in tight parking lots, but the crew cab is so much more usable than the quad. I drive everyday in downtown Atlanta...

 

[roadshow]

I think you just need to evaluate your needs. You have young children as they grow you'll be transporting them and their friends or maybe them and your own parents. The question is - do you have a 2nd family vehicle for that stuff?

My children are adults and it's basically me and wife now so I opted for the quad and 6.4 bed because now my priorities are different - I need hauling space a lot more than passenger space.

 

[14hemiexpress]

It's not that bad.
Not a whole lot different than the quad cab, and the extra space is really nice.

Some tighter parking lots you will want to back into spots, but no big deal.

I use to drive a crew cab long bed f-350 I learned a lot about parking that big thing. Anytime it's tight I back in or park next to a curb I can always drive over it but backing in is the easiest way to do it.

 

[Sportznut]

I drive a 2014 Crew cab w/6'4" and 3.21 gears. My neighbor has an older quad cab. He wished they had a CC when he bought.

Love the room. Every once in awhile you park farther away but no big deal.

I can't believe people who criticize the 3.21, I love it, the MPG and the smooth manners, and it still tows 8000lbs! I don't tow anywhere near that much.

 

[arod412]

Because you have a child, I'm suggesting the crew cab. You rather have it, then not, plus your kid will only get bigger. I have a 10 year old and an 8 year old and my quad cab is just starting to become a factor. I have my truck almost 3 years now and I love it, but now my kiddies knees are starting to rub on the front seats. I'm a small guy at 5-6 and I have my seats up a little. I'm patiently waiting on the redesign in a couple of years to see if it's worth trading up, but I was fine when I got my truck but now it's starting to become an issue for the kids. It's that or paying my truck off and getting a charger...hehehe (hemi of course).

So to sum up, short term quad is fine...long term, crew cab. Also remember that the newer models have backup cameras on it (mine does not).

Truck name: Rampage
2012 Dodge ram 1500 Quad Cab Big Horn 4x4

*Bilstein 2.8" front
*Bilstein shocks on rear with 1" spacer
*Pioneer AVH 4300DVD head unit
*Polk Audio Dxi350 dash speakers
*Kicker 40CSS654 6 1/2" door speakers (x4)
*fox box 2-12" speakers holder for rear seats
*2-12" alpine subs (swe -1243l
*500 watt alpine mono sub
*LED 3rd tail light smoked
*Spyder LED smokes tail lights
havent even started on the engine..lol

 

[avolnek]

If a crew cab short box 2500 is even an option I'd recommend it! The ride of the 2500 has improved greatly on the newer trucks. especially with the coil spring rear end...

you would get the benefit of the crew cab and not lack in bed space.

If the 2500 isn't an option definitely suggest the crew cab at least...