Pickup autos have been best-sellers inside the USA for a few years, proving that their popularity has solely continued to develop, no matter stiff rivals from crossover SUVs. They are much extra versatile of their attainable configurations and powertrains than ever sooner than, and this incorporates numerous truck tailgate decisions, which have solely grown over time. Every producer of these in-demand autos has added enhancements and new truck tailgate components to aim to face out inside the aggressive part. Proper right here, we break down the model new experience and mechanical choices each mannequin brings to the desk and take a look at the professionals and cons of each.
Initially printed in January 2022, this textual content has been updated and is suitable as of December 2024.
The Fully completely different Kinds Of Pickup Truck Tailgates
There are nearly innumerable strategies to design a tailgate, and each provides a particular type of efficiency previous simple entry to the truck mattress. Some help to boost cargo functionality or ease of loading, whereas others add fancy lock applications or embrace built-in devices and gear. This is an inventory of the latest enhancements inside the space.
1
The Constructed-in Step
Ford autos had been outfitted with an built-in truck tailgate step method again to 2008. This attribute now takes the kind of a ladder that slides out of the tailgate. The fold-out step is spring-loaded, so it flattens when stepped on to allow fast entry into the cargo mattress. Your full mechanism is saved contained within the Ford pickup truck’s tailgate when not in use and activating or retracting it is a simple course of. A tailgate step is shortly turning into among the widespread additions to any multi-function tailgate, nevertheless lest we overlook, Ford did it first.
2
Ford Work Ground Tailgate
One different Ford innovation for its F-150 pickup, this truck tailgate modification makes it less complicated to do administrative work when out on job web sites. It incorporates such services as a cupholder and cellphone holder, however moreover helpful slots for pencils, as successfully clamp pockets, and a built-in ruler. Any tradesman will respect having these devices positioned conveniently, as a result of it replicates a lot of the objects one would have in a home or enterprise workshop. Ford has one factor new out now, which you’ll study inside the “Ford Skilled Entry Tailgate” half beneath.
3
Ram Multifunction Tailgate
On the market on Ram autos, the multifunction Ram tailgate is designed to make accessing the cargo mattress less complicated. It acts like an on a regular basis, bottom-hinged tailgate, but it surely certainly doubles up as a dual-hinged, 60/40 minimize up tailgate. Due to this the rear could be open like a set of double swing doorways, bringing you a large number nearer to the loading mattress. Since it’s a side-hinged tailgate, this doesn’t set off any points with any trailer attachments.
4
GMC MultiPro Tailgate
The MultiPro Tailgate is a trademark of GMC autos identical to the Sierra 1500, and it has fairly just a few capabilities. The drop-down GMC tailgate could be lowered with the contact of a button, each straight or by the necessary factor fob. This is not the one truck with an automatic tailgate, though. From the lowered place, the tailgate can fold downwards to let you switch in nearer when loading objects and the lowered flap can launch a step to make accessing the cargo mattress less complicated. It’s significantly distinctive as a truck with a folding tailgate in that it could fold upwards too.
This creates a load stop for greater objects you possibly can need to transfer. Equally, with the tailgate inside the upright place, you’ll fold down a smaller increased half to create a mini-tailgate that moreover gives a load stop. This, too, could be folded all the best way right down to create a tailgate work ground. You probably may even have it with audio system must you so choose, which be part of by Bluetooth in case you want some tunes whereas working and even tenting. The Multi Skilled Tailgate is probably going one of the versatile tailgates you will discover.
5
Chevrolet Multi-Flex Tailgate
Numerous Chevy autos might be discovered with a Multi-Flex Tailgate, along with every light- and heavy-duty variations of the Silverado. This capabilities nearly identically to the MultiPro Tailgate, which is unsurprising as a result of the 2 producers are firm cousins. This suggests it is a minimize up truck tailgate which will fold up or down in six positions to create strategies of accessing the cargo mattress or present fully completely different loading decisions with the load stops.
6
Honda Twin-Movement Tailgate
A relatively simple innovation for the Honda Ridgeline, this does exactly what it implies. The Twin-Movement Tailgate can fold down in an on a regular basis method, but it surely certainly moreover capabilities as a side-opening tailgate. These choices are accessible by separate handles, one inside the typical location and one different on the underside of the tailgate. The side-hinged efficiency means you’re going to get nearer to the cargo mattress when loading heavier objects pretty than sliding them over. Nonetheless, opening the gate sideways does moreover grant you entry to an extra storage compartment beneath the cargo mattress floor.
7
Ford Skilled Entry Tailgate
Ford has lagged behind its rivals by the use of offering a multifunction tailgate, nevertheless that’s modified. On the market now on the 2025 Ford F-150, a truck mattress door positioned inside the coronary heart of the tailgate offers prospects less complicated entry to lots of the cargo mattress. Nonetheless, don’t worry that this means the dearth of the useful built-in step. Ford has retained its typical step whereas together with a supplementary step inside the load sill, so regardless of whereby technique you open the tailgate, there’s always a step so to use. Furthermore, it comes with various configurations to suit your explicit desires.
8
Tesla Cybertruck Tailgate Ramp
Tesla reveals as a lot because the tailgate video video games with its mannequin of a ramp explicit to the Cybertruck. Whereas the truck’s tailgate is fairly regular in the best way during which of fancy lodging and suggestions like these talked about above, Tesla does provide a ramp for purchase individually you in all probability have an extra $400 lying spherical after the truck’s private ridiculous ticket. One good attribute of the Cybertruck, however, is the built-in mattress cowl that locks with the tailgate for a protected load or additional coated house for storing. One different useful accent to the Cybertruck’s tailgate is a “tailgate shield” with attachable chairs for a useful place to take a seat down whereas on the trail or tailgating inside the car parking zone of a soccer recreation.
The Rivian R1T will also be in line to get a singular sort out the tailgate step in response to present patent filings, with the middle a part of the opened tailgate reducing to create a step into the load subject. Whereas just a few of those concepts mustn’t groundbreaking, we depend on to see an growing variety of new utilized sciences inside the years to return. Tailgates will develop to be the following frontier for pickup truck innovation.
Sources: Ford, Ram, Honda, Chevrolet, GMC, Tesla