GM has filed to trademark StowFlex for a potential new pickup truck tailgate design.
This GM trademark filing has been assigned application number 97575251 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on September 1st 2022. It was filed under a Good and Services category reserved for “Tailgates for pickup trucks.”
This trademark filing is likely the name of the new multi-function storage tailgate design that debuted on the next-generation 2023 Chevy Colorado mid-size pickup. The segment first tailgate storage system, which is standard on the Colorado ZR2 and optional on all other trim levels, serves as a secure, water-tight, and convenient place to stow smaller items that may be wet, dirty, or otherwise not appropriate to bring into the cab. With the tailgate lowered, the system incorporates a lockable lid that opens to a 45-inch wide and 4-inch deep cubby with a drain plug. The tailgate also incorporates two cupholders, as well as a measuring tool that’s molded into the plastic surface.
GM also filed to trademark StowPro earlier this year, which was filed under a Goods and Services category for truck tailgates, as well. It’s likely the storage tailgate will be called StowPro when applied to the 2023 GMC Canyon and other GMC trucks and StowFlex when applied to Chevy trucks. This is evocative of the naming strategy for the GMC MultiPro and Chevy MultiFlex multi-position tailgate design that GM has had for the past several years. Like MultiFlex and MultiPro, it’s likely the StowPro/StowFlex tailgate will eventually be offered on other Chevy and GMC truck models.
GM will likely divulge more information on its unique storage tailgate design, and announce the official name(s) of the system, closer to the official start of regular production for the 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon in January. Production of the next-gen Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon will take place at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.
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Comments
If they could incorporate a built in load stop with the top of the tailgate I think this is a better solution than the multi-flex on the Silverado. Personally I would never order the multi-flex.
Next gen trucks might get a turbo i6 and IRS. That would probably put me back in a Chevy truck. That and a bigger than 24 gallon tank. 28 or bigger unless something radical happens with fuel mileage.
I believe that the multi flex concept had a couple of good thoughts associated with it. If you have any mobility problems (knees,back,etc) that tailgate is very usefu,with the drop down & stepl. It has the load stop which works very well. That little storage bin built into the tailgate would probably be useful to someone for something but is no breakthrough. Living in the northeast salt belt I was very concerned with the operation of the multi flex tailgate, but I have it on my 2020 AT4 & it has worked perfectly for 2 salty winters so far. I have found the multi flex convenient & useful being 72 with knee issues.
Agree. I use the step on my gate a lot for loading many things. Not good for hauling dirt/gravel etc. Hard to clean all the cracks, crevices. I too am older and use it to ease getting in/ out of bed.
The multipro/flex tailgate is hands down the best truck step out there.
I wish manufacturers would use the space between the fenders and the actual bed. Look under your truck and there is soooooooo much space for storage solutions.
They had that on the Nissan Titan. The bedside compartment storage area was so small it wasn’t worth it, it needed gaskets, hinges, a lock, and another painted piece. There’s a lot of volume, but you got stuff blocking it like suspension, bumper beams, fuel filler, rear taillights, etc.
The logical conclusion to the idea is a service truck body.
I believe GM did thos first with the avalanche and the saddlebag storage bins.
But the space of the Avalanche saddlebag and RAMBOX don’t come from just from fender space, it mostly comes from bed space. Your bed is narrowed to the point you can’t see the wheel wells. That’s just like a service body.
The Titan solution just used fender space between the rear wheel well and back.
It also meant on the Avalanche that the tonneau cover couldn’t drip water over the side, it needed a complex drain system that got clogged and leaked and became a major source of complaints.
The current GM half tons use a lot more of this space than others.
Ram did that with the ram box.
Good luck ordering one. Can’t even get the multi flex on many of the trucks. Under constraints
I actually miss the midgate on avalanches. just wish they would patent on that brought down a glass roof panel and brought up the seat bottom to seal the front of the cab from the elements.