General Motors introduced the GMC MultiPro tailgate with the 2019 GMC Sierra, offering customers a variety of configurations capable of providing added functionality and usability over a traditional tailgate. Unfortunately, the MultiPro tailgate can be damaged if dropped onto a ball hitch. That said, there’s a way to avoid this damage by disabling the inner tailgate function.
Before we launch into this, let’s first revisit why it matters. The MultiPro tailgate on the GMC Sierra includes an inner gate that will fold down independently of the primary gate, enabling configurations like an inner gate work surface, full-width step up into the bed, and inner gate load stop. However, if both the inner gate and primary gate are dropped on top of a ball hitch, the inner gate could be damaged.
As such, GM TechLink has outlined a way to disable the inner tailgate from dropping, thus preventing inadvertently damaging it.
The GMC Sierra’s MultiPro tailgate features two buttons on the tailgate itself, including a top button that drops the inner gate, and a lower button that drops the primary gate. Both buttons can be pressed at the same time to drop the two gates simultaneously.
To disable the inner gate, press and hold the upper button for three seconds. After three seconds, the taillights will flash to indicate that the inner gate has been disabled. Note that the key fob must be within three feet of the tailgate for this trick to work.
To reactivate the inner tailgate on the GMC Sierra, once again press and hold the upper tailgate button for three seconds. The taillights will once again flash, indicating that the inner gate functionality has been restored.
It should also be noted that this trick also works with the Multi-Flex tailgate on the Chevy Silverado.
Additionally, tailgatefix.com has developed a product that also prevents the inner gate from dropping when a ball hitch is attached. As GM Authority covered previously, customers are offered a manual override switch and an auto-engage override switch.
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Comments
You guys read this from the GM TechLink article but you missed one fact: this disable feature only works on 2022 models.
If you read the article multiple times you kind of see where they say it, but don’t.
My 2019 just opens the inner tailgate 🙁
B&W makes a stow and go hitch for these tailgates and in the stow mode doesn’t hit the tailgate. Have one on my 2500. Great hitch but not cheap.
B&W for GMC mutigate tow & stow great product, I believe I paid About $370.00 , Heavy around 36lbs. 3 ball sizes. The inner gate is heavy and you hit a hitch ball you’re looking at hundreds of dollars in repair’s. My 2020 Denali has no disable switch. When not in use I just pull it off the truck.
The B&W hitch for the multigate losses about 4″ or 5″ of up and down hitch adjustment compared to the regular B&W stow and go. I returned mine.
How about this fan idea? Don’t disable it and take off your ball when you’re not using it. Novel idea isn’t it?
genius and common sense
How about if im camping and my kid hits the button by accident and I wasnt aware????
So. this was worth getting Lol
This has been the standing joke owners learned the hard way since GM first started touting their tailgate over and over again ! You’re just now getting around to writing about ? Must not want to step on any Corporate toes ? !
NO question…you got to be on the “ball”…maintain
I tow multiple trailers often, not interested in removing my insert every time.
Cant this be updated via software for model years prior to 2022?
If they wouldn’t make these trucks so dam tall you wouldn’t need a fancy tail gate.
I leave the ball hitch in the receiver on my 2021 3500 so if some bozo rolls into the back of my truck the hitch hopefully will protect the bumper. Slow speed only of course.
On my ‘93 GMC just lowering the tailgate protected the rear of the truck. A S10 hit the edge of my lowered tailgate in a stop and go leaving the parking lot at work, no damage to my truck, his hood buckled.
I’d just like to have my new 2022 delivered to the dealer . It was built 1st week of Dec and sits in Flint Mi waiting to be delivered to West Branch Mi an hour and a half away .
Probably waiting on a Chinese chip.
After owning a F350 I’d watch the multi pro commercials and pass trucks on the road and wonder what I was missing. Then I traded and got a GMC with one. After playing with it for 15 minutes, you then think every time u meet someone else with one on the road “that idiot wasted 2k on a useless tailgate also.” Went back home to ford after a year. Passed a load of new LTZ diesel Chevys a month ago and all of them had the regular tailgate. (Customers are beginning to turn on this waste) If you haven’t tried this 2k scam yet. DONT, you will be disappointed.
James-My 2022 silverado HD crew cab was built 11-29-2021,i ordered it july 29th..The truck is sitting in one of 17 mass storage lots in Flint. GM has a “Hold ‘ code on it which means it can,t be shipped.My truck is sitting in a lot 5 miles from my house and 10 miles away from the dealer.Dealer sales manager says its out of his control and he is not happy with GM,they don,t keep him in the loop. The security guard where my trucks is stored says nothing is being shipped out he said GM has “Holds ” on them. H e said RUMORS that it may take 6 months or more to be shipped to dealers.They have trucks that were built in September still sitting.. I had a 2021 ordered last Feb of 2021 and GM cancelled the order on me 1 st week of June 2021 . I a not happy about any of this .
Wheely? (it’s a car site). What were they thinking when they invented it??
It’s called a drop down receiver , I have a 22 GMC HD 3500 . I take out my receiver when not in use. This also prevents crack heads from stealing it. I can leave my 8” drop down in and the tailgate is clear. The multi pro tailgate is awesome plus I have the kicker system in it. Why would I wanna disable it.
With all the camera angles, why can’t GM set it up so if the camera sees an obstacle in the way, it will automatically block the lowering command. For GM this should be an easy programming fix, and take away any doubt of accidental damage, not to mention showing owners that GM truly has their back.
Thanks Mike. I could not agree more. With all the technology in these trucks today, it should NOT be a difficult thing to program. I have Not tried to disable the extra piece in the tailgate by holding the button until the lights flash. Does it work on the 2021. I know there is an aftermarket kit you can install that automatically disables the inner tailgate if there is a “Hitch” in the receiver. I don’t use the small part of the tailgate and would not have ordered it but it came standard with the LTZ. I wish I could have gotten “PAINTED” bumpers instead.
Hi @jonathanlopez. We appreciate the TailgateFix shoutout!
To provide further insight for your readers: yes, only the 2022 models have this new technology that locks out the midgate by pressing the button for 3 seconds. Unfortunately, this isn’t a complete resolution to the problem. As you mentioned, the keyfob has to be in very close proximity to the tailgate – which isn’t always feasible and puts the burden on the driver being the only person that can control the situation. Feedback from our many customers reveals 8 out of 10 times tailgate damage occurred was due to SOMEONE ELSE pushing the button. – not the driver! The other 2 out of 10 times was simply due to human error either being in a hurry or forgetting a hitch was in the receiver, or not being aware of the potential for damage at all since many dealerships do not divulge this issue to their customers. The B&W hitch does work – on lifted trucks only. If you have a 1500 model, you still need our switch as the midgate will still hit the hitch! To those commenting just remove the hitch when not in use, many people use one in their daily routine so that’s not feasible. Our TailgateFix Splitgate Override Switch alleviates any potential for human error and protects your investment automatically! Check out our YouTube channel to see how our PATENTED PLUG-N-PLAY model works: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCdFvp5liW5jhMvzRue1doug
When I bought my 1st Silverado, a 4×4, the dealer had me sign a waiver regarding the risks of plowing snow in an airbag equipped vehicle. Maybe something similar is needed for those that have ball hitches and Multi Flex tailgates, OR something like a back-up alarm indicating a ball hitch/ tailgate impact is imminent when operated!
If I leave the ball in the receiver, it triggers the park assist. What I was attempting to say is that the situation requires thinking.
There’s a park assist mode in the menus exactly for that situation.
I have a 22 refreshed Trail Boss LT. The inner tailgate will not disable using this method. My dealership couldn’t get it to work either and they don’t have a clue why or how to fix it.
I have a refreshed at4 and this does not work?? tried many times in diff combinations.. holding for any amount of time does not dissable the inner tailgate. anyone know how on the refreshed models??
thx
Any update on why this isn’t working in refreshed models?
TailgateFix now has a new wiring harness that solves this problem.
This fixes the issue with the 2022 and 2023 models.
Just picked up a 2022 Sierra SLT – I have had the fob touching the panel next to the buttons. Tried a dozen times – it does NOT disable it
Why does my 2022 AT4X not have the inner tailgate option to disable?
My 2022 gmc Denali refreshed doesn’t work to disable the upper tailgate..I hear their will be a over the air update for that don’t know if that is true or not.
“Over the air update?” Is this something new? Like via the cell connection or On-Star?
GM / GMC apparently sent a notice to dealers, indicating engineering was working on a fix – they have been working on this since February – my dealer said “don’t hold your breath”. (The GM / GMC dealer Service Manager did show me the GM Notice – so I do know this is all true information) – the inner tailgate function does NOT work – even though, a sticker on the left side of the bed (with tailgate down) tells you how to disable the inner gate
The inner tailgate on my 2022 elevation won’t open and the enable/disable method does nothing. The lights never flash.
What I hate is the dam dash button on my 2024 Denali 1500 its right where I put my sun glasses and it will open the whole tailgate if you bump reaching in the storage area below storage.
everything is now designed and controlled by Ai or people who never actual use or drive a truck