General Motors got a jumpstart in the multifunction tailgate race with the launch of the GMC MultiPro tailgate in conjunction with the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500, but now, the competition is starting to catch up. That includes GM’s crosstown rival Ford Motor Company, which is poised to offer the Ford Pro Access tailgate for the refreshed 2024 Ford F-150. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the upcoming tailgate tech in the following hands-on video.
Hosted by GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft, the video is just under two-and-a-half minutes long, and shows some of the features on offer during an exploration of the refreshed F-150 on the auto show floor.
As Luft points out, the Ford Pro Access tailgate opens like a traditional tailgate should, swinging down to a horizontal position that lays flat with the rest of the bed. However, pressing another button on the tailgate will swing it out from vertically oriented passenger-side hinges, allowing you to walk up directly to the bumper with wide-open access to the bed.
The feature also deletes the step ladder that folds out from the tailgate. In its stead, the truck now includes a step mounted lower in the bumper that extends away from the bumper for easier access to the bed.
Check out the full feature video below for an in-person look at the new Ford F-150 Pro Access tailgate:
For those readers who may be unaware, GM’s multifunction tailgate feature first launched for the GMC Sierra 1500 in conjunction with the 2019 model year before a similar feature was launched for the Chevy Silverado under the new Multi-Flex branding. Ram later adopted its own version of the technology, which is similar to the Ford system presented in the video above, although not identical.
Notably, we’ve followed the development of Ford’s Pro Access tailgate for years now, even catching the feature while it was still in the plywood stages back in 2020.
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Comments
100% marketer designed.
And how many surfaces need the oversized Ford logo on them? In case I forget what brand my truck is or something?
Literally half the tailgates in my workplace fleet are V-shaped from abuse, fortunately they’re the one-piece gates and still work. Don’t see anyone’s multipart gates lasting a week in that environment, regardless of what their brochures say.
Yup, looks good for a grocery getter garage queen but would never last on a truck that gets to do its job and work.
Yeah the tailgates on my trucks get bowed from real work to the point that I have block the gap at the bed with cardboard or something to keep the sand or mulch or gravel from leaking out. That cutie pie swing gate would never last. But it does make a good TV commercial.
So what happens when the tailgate is down and one of the guys kids decides to push the button that open the swing gate: swing door slams into the hitch; or if the hitch isn’t installed, the door slams into the ground?
The system only allows one part to be open at a time. So, if the gate is down and little Timmy pushes the button for the swing part. It will not drop down to the hitch.
Or hit the kid?
Hopefully Ford won’t have all of the electronic switch problems that GM has with their (and mine) MultiPro tailgates.
Ford has plenty of other electronic issues.
This is getting ridiculous…
Ford is trying to hard.
Still does not give you the full width of the bed access from the rear of the truck.
Also, doesn’t have a tailgatie stop for longer loads like the GM tailgates.
Yeah … but will it open by itself, AV Style, going down the Interstate at 80 mph like a Silverado or Sierra ?
Too bad that you don’t have an ad blocker!
I’ve found ad blockers problematic. They won’t let me go to some things I WANT to see without “turning it off” or it blocks emails from retail sites I signed up for.
Any recommendations ?
That’s a Shin Buster Helper for sure, If you forget to remove that hitch or lower the whole tailgate.
…..or retract the step under the bumper. 😙
I see that their engineers were at least smart enough to not put drain holes above the electrical switch.
Come on GM, unbelievable.
Does the whole tailgate open up or is just another door on a truck. I like mine full size tailgate. Don’t need the extra crap on it. To be honest tho I’ll never own a new truck again in my life. Not paying 75 thousand for a stock truck. I thought my 2016 was expensive at 46 thousand
Still can’t just mount a tailgate from a 70’s Plymouth station wagon? It would be way cheaper to make or replace!
all these tailgates are becoming stupid. what is wrong with a good solid drop down tailgate that can take 600lbs load on it… thats what i want from a tailgate. to jump on it and drop bags of gravel. shovel it in there and kick it shut. and do that for 10 years daily.
make tailgates be tailgates again
I agree on the simplicity and durability/dependability of the old tailgates however, being lockable is a nice feature if you have a tonneau cover and keep tools etc in the bed. But that can be done without it being electronic.
With over 40 years of experience purchasing and driving various pick up trucks, I can’t imagine driving anything but a Chevy or GMC, but I have to hand it to Ford — I think that is a better design (if you’re gonna screw around with the tailgate at all). The tailgate on my Sierra is a pain; lowering the top panel makes it slightly easier to load the bed, if both sections of the bed are opened,, it’s very awkward to raise them. The Ford design obviously allows the customer to get much closer to the loading surface by swinging the tailgate out. If my current truck hadn’t come with the pro tailgate, I wouldn’t pay two cents for it.
Awesome if i’m hauling something longer I can leave the cenbter gate open to protect it from being run into. They will hit the gate instead or all my $hit will fly out? I think GM still has them beat. The ridgeline had a double opening gate long before this idea!
Well, leaning over a tailgate to put something on the heavy side in has never been one of my favorite things. I think it’s good that the manufacturers are trying “new” ideas. I’ve wondered for years why someone didn’t try a pickup tailgate designed like the ‘70s Ford Country Squire station wagons where the whole tailgate opened both ways. Looks like things are headed in that direction. I wonder why the aftermarket hasn’t jumped on this opportunity. You know, kinda like “Lamborghini doors”.
How about automakers stop with the gadgets, and hit the market with a low price leader?
So far GM has been able to keep all there cab doors closed while in motion unlike Blue oval …..have also seen mechanical tailgates drop open at highway speed from defective latches. Still man-made..
It doesn’t matter anymore Ford, GM, Chrysler. Their all junk.
GM with their failed eco tech mostly 2.4
Ford with their failed Triton mostly 5.3
Chrysler hasn’t been right sense the 60s.
All of them are junk an no one wants to buy them new because they cost too much. I can buy a 2 70s Chevelle for the price of one of them junk trucks.
The thing that really makes them junk is all the tech. I get convince is nice but I don’t need my car to tell me it’s tire pressure or how many mpg I’m getting. A lot of this tech breaks an can cause more problems than the convince they provide. GM clusters for example an Pontiac stereos that have the relay built-in that help control the dash lights/dim.
All together I can an I am building a truck that will last longer an be more reliable with less tech an is a fraction of the price of what’s coming off the line now a days.
Lastly we as in America has destroyed our own industrial economy, we depend too much on other countries for material, the worst thing about this is we give up the right of quality on them material an so we do nothing but throw money twords junk an also help destroy our countries income by buying most of the stuff from overseas.
You mine as well put assemble in the USA on everything, because it seems like that’s all we do.
Isn’t that the truth. I just bought out a rusted out 2011 GMC 1500 ext cab for 3 k I couldn’t be happier. I prefer to drive it over my 2018 Nissan Pathfinder that’s loaded. Things are just stupid now
Yes and No. Old cars may not be allowed to be on the roads without a special permit in the 2050s.
Like it or not, this technology will be here to stay.
My 2022 Ram Rebal1500 GT has the multiple opening tailgate that is splint Close to 60/40 both sides open so that the whole bed can be accessed. My truck is also equipped with the step. It pulls out as well so this is not the first, Mr. Ford! My truck also has the ram boxes that are fantastic. They make a good cooler or good place to store valuable things. I wouldn’t trade my ram for two of the Fords.