By the time that the Dodge Ram’s third generation came about in 2002, the company and its flagship truck brand had already taken the world by storm. The Ram had been steadily taking a chunk out of the competition from 1998 into 2001 and, with the introductory 2002 models, more power and durability were implemented into an already tough model.
The first update belonged to the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 model and it immediately set itself apart from both its predecessors and its competition by using a large grille that even today’s Rams still implement. The 2002-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab was also a stellar addition as it was one of the first trucks to use fully functioning rear doors that opened in the same way as the front doors. Buyers could revel in the 1500 3.7L V6 as well as the mightier 4.7L V8 but the 2002 and 2003 Dodge Ram 1500s also came with the option of an imposing and bold 5.9L Magnum V8. In 2003 both the Dodge Ram 2500 and the Dodge Ram 3500 received similar facelifts but they had a particular touch that the 1500 Ram wouldn’t receive until 2004: The Hemi V8. Both the 2500 and 3500 Rams allowed you to get a none too paltry 5.7L Hemi V8 model. This allowed Dodge to claim bragging rights for the most powerful trucks on the market and to this day the company still is known for putting more might into its trucks than any other manufacturer.
This kind of power was necessary, though, due to the fact that Dodge was also creating larger and heavier vehicles. By 2007 the Dodge Ram 3500 had been given the famed Chassis Cab and, during 2008, Dodge broke the mold by offering the Chassis Cab in the brand new Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 models. These large vehicles weren’t meant to be driven by the regular consumer, though, and so for the 1500, 2500, and 3500 Dodge also introduced the Mega Cab. This option, first available in 2006, expanded the interior an extra 18 inches in cab space and rear reclining seats as well as the ability to seat six. It is because of such expansion that larger and larger engines were made necessary but one must also remember that the Dodge Ram is lauded not only for its roomy interior but for its towing capacity. This too made it important for the Rams to have massive power. Whether you bought a 4 door Quad Cab or a 4 door Mega Cab in 2002-2008, the odds are that you have either a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 or a 5.9 liter Magnum V8. The third generation of the Ram allowed Dodge to claim more market share than it ever had and though the generation is now eclipsed we can still enjoy the fun and excitement of these formative years in the Dodge lexicon.