Community Forums

Jhawk44 · 05-07-2014, 04:03 PM

Currently I'm driving a 2010 Nissan Armada and pulling our Forest River Wildwood 26TBSS with it. I don't have any problems with the power, mileage, or stability of the vehicle, really. But, I'm a guy, and I want more power (insert Tim Taylor grunt). I feel like my only option for getting something with more power than the Armada is to go with a 3/4 ton truck most likely.

The problem is that our Armada has TONS of legroom in the back seat (not so much for the 3rd row, but who cares). My father has driven two Sierra 2500's and loves them, but my 6 year old says that his feet his the seat in front when he rides with Papa. Our other child is 3.5 and will be in a car sear for about another year, so his feet stick out, more than hang down.

Assuming I don't purchase until next year, and he is in a booster of some sort, and his legs hang down more, I'm inclined to buy a truck. I just don't want to lose all the leg room if I don't have to. Is my only option to get a RAM 2500 Mega Cab? I won't be buying new, and would like to spend less than $35,000.

I'm not even sure if I need Diesel, but 4WD is a requirement (we have to have at least 1 vehicle that can manage some deep Kansas snow). I'd like to maintain at least 9MPG when towing, which is what I get now, and I'm sure if I go with the 3/4ton, it will get a little better. However, I get about 17-20MPG when not towing (and driving 65) on the highway in the Armada.

I know, I don't think I'll be able to get the best of both worlds, but maybe I can.

I'm open to all sorts of discussions here.

Thanks

becken6 · 05-07-2014, 06:59 PM

The Mega Cab has alot of interior room. We have 4 kids and it works (at times with a long 10 count). You can get the Mega Cab in a 1/2 ton with a Hemi gas engine. That would bring your price down too. Your mileage should stay about the same. You wouldn't have to go with a diesel. I think it just might get you the best of both worlds.

NFlcamper · 05-07-2014, 07:23 PM

A used Crew Cab 1500 with max tow/payload may fit your needs. 8 speed auto and engine management for higher fuel economy. Should tow whatever an Armada tows. The 1500 Mega Cab of a few years ago was built on a 2500 chassis and axles, I'm not sure about the new ones.

jimcumminsw · 05-08-2014, 07:01 AM

I too agree that the RAM MEGA CAB has tremendous leg room for the rear seat passengers. Another nice feature is that the rear seats can be reclined for the rear seat passengers also. Plus there is storage bins behind the rear seats. This is where I carry my spare filters for the fuel system.

Jim W.

bluie5 · 05-08-2014, 02:35 PM

You can't go wrong with the MegaCab. I have two teenage boys and an eleven year old and they have room to spare. Not only leg room but seat room between them. The storage space behind the back seats is also a plus.

onechaddude · 05-08-2014, 04:54 PM

I love my mega cab. When 4 of us guys (some bigger than others) go to WV riding razor's all the guys love it. Nothing worse than sitting in a backseat with legs crammed into a seat and your seat back straight up. As long as the short bed doesn't hinder your truck needs it the best move you could make if hauling several.

Chad

Jhawk44 · 05-09-2014, 05:07 AM

I've got a bumper pull now, and I don't see myself with a 5er anytime soon. Of course I also said I'd drive the Armada until it died. I just think that I'd rather have the truck bed space. We also have a dog that I think will ride in the bed (with a topper on and a window into the cab) during long trips. Although it sounds like there should be room for her in the back seat between the boys.

Jhawk44 · 05-12-2014, 10:46 AM

2010 Armada SE 4x4 Specs (the ones I care about)

5.6 Liter V-8 Gasoline

Towing capacity: 9,000lbs
Rear legroom: 41.9"
Horsepower: 317@5200
Torque: 385@3400
Fuel Tank: 28 gal

2010 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4

Towing capacity: 9,500-10,200 (when properly equipped)
5.7 Liter V-8 Hemi Gasoline
Rear legroom: 44.2
Horsepower: 390@5,600
Torque: 407@4,000
Fuel Tank: 32 gal

Jhawk44 · 05-13-2014, 07:14 AM

2010 Ford F150 SuperCrew Lariat

5.4-liter V-8 (regular gas)

Horsepower 310@5,000 rpm
Torque 365@3,500 rpm
Rear legroom: 39-43?

gggplaya · 05-13-2014, 09:08 AM

The hemi 5.7L IMO will tow worse than the 5.6L nissan. The titan/armada engine was designed to be a truck engine, and delivers torque much lower in the power band. The only real downfall of the titan/armada is the 5 speed transmission while others are using 6-8 speeds. So it might be a wash, hard to say. But if the 5.7L is better, it would only be marginally so.

If you father drove 2 sierra's, he probably didnt' have the true crew cab model, most likely it was the double cab model, which is similar to the ram's quad cab. The back seats sit very upright and the legroom is tight. Both Ram and GM make a crew cab model, which has plenty of legroom even for me. My knees are nowhere near the front seats and i'm 5'10".

You do realize you can buy a brand new ram 2500 crew cab with a 6.4L engine for less than $35k right?? Ram, heavily discounts their vehicles below MSRP.

Also, if you want real towing power in a 1500, the 2015 expedition is getting the ecoboost engine later this year, this makes full torque at 2300rpm, and 90% below 2000rpm. Torque at low rpm really helps towing tremendously. Or you can get an F150 crew cab ecoboost, which has been out since 2011. Make sure it's the crew cab and not the double cab.

IMO you don't need a mega cab, the legroom in those is insane. The cab configurations go from regular cab to double(quad) cab to crew cab to mega cab. Crew cab has plenty of legroom, mega will give you room for the dog on the floor.

As for engines, i think only the ecoboost ford or the 6.2L GM will make you happy in the 1500 class. For the 2500 class, you can get the chrysler 6.4L hemi or GM 6.2L. Ford's 6.2L is a bit outdated and underpowered compared to chysler or GM. Then of course, for all out towing, you can't beat a diesel.

Watch this real world video, in a worst case scenario condition for towing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR-gMWRzvOg

gggplaya · 05-13-2014, 09:11 AM

Compare that to the the same titan engine you have here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxwLSNK3vNU

Compare that to a modern 6.2L gasser found on this 1500 and GM's 2500 trucks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Ngaj4eG5s

onechaddude · 05-13-2014, 09:45 AM

I do not believe the 6.2l is available in GM 2500 trucks only the outdated 6.0. At least what I read on motor trend.

Chad

gggplaya · 05-13-2014, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onechaddude

I do not believe the 6.2l is available in GM 2500 trucks only the outdated 6.0. At least what I read on motor trend.

Chad

No, you are correct. I made an assumption that they would replace the 6.0L for 2014. Guess not.

So that means the ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi is really the only way to go if you wanted a 3/4 ton gasser. You can buy these brand new for just over $30k.

If you're sticking with 1/2 ton, i would opt for the F150 Ecoboost, or wait for the 2015 expedition ecoboost if you wanted a third row for the dog. Get captains chairs in the second row for the kids, which recline and make for a very comfortable trip. You could also do the GM 6.2L if you really didn't want a turbo. But Gm's trucks are a little saltier in price, and you'd pretty much have to buy brand new.

SmokeyWren · 05-14-2014, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gggplaya

So that means the ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi is really the only way to go if you wanted a 3/4 ton gasser.

No, you're ignoring the Ford 6.2L in an F-250. That's a good, modern engine that has plenty of power and torque to tow up to the GCWR of the truck. Darling Daughter has one, and she and her hubby and her 16-year old barrel-racer daughter love it.

The topic is back seat legroom, and the F-250 CrewCab has limosine-like back seat legroom.

But whether GM, Toyota, Nissan, Ram or Ford, the big gas engines are going to drink lots of gasoline when towing.