Quick Facts about Truck Tailgates
- Tailgates on today’s full-size trucks are a major selling point when shopping for a truck.
- The most common type of tailgate remains the traditional bottom-hinged, drop-down tailgate.
- Power-operated tailgates are growing in popularity.
Pickup trucks continue to outsell other vehicles in the United States handily, with the tailgate playing a major part in their allure and practicality. This is especially true for full-size trucks, where truck makers have invested massive amounts of research and development in clever tailgate schemes.
Trucks offer loads of great features. They’re powerful, provide a ton of utility, and you can work or play in them. Tailgates perform an essential role in a truck’s functionality, capability, and versatility.
We’ll drill down how tailgates function and compare the different types, allowing you to skillfully choose which tailgate best suits your needs as you evaluate the ideal truck for you.
What Is a Tailgate on a Truck?
At one time, a truck’s tailgate was just the entryway to the truck bed. However, tailgates today can serve assorted purposes. For example, they can function as a table, bench seat, or bar for a weekend pregame party during football season, and then on Monday, transform into an outdoor workstation on a construction site. The tailgate also serves as a step stool, an aid to help load and unload cargo, and a measuring tool. It can also hold coffee cups or speakers for music, and much more. You have almost unlimited options depending on what features your truck comes with or are available to add.
Manufacturers continue to one-up each other by offering different functionality in the tailgate department.
Truck Tailgate Types at a Glance
The simplest definition of a tailgate is, it’s the door to the truck bed or cargo box. It opens, closes, and sometimes can even be removed to maximize loading, unloading, and securing the cargo. Some versions lock, some offer power operation, and some have dampers, providing controlled, smooth lowering. Historically, owners have employed tailgates as work surfaces, makeshift tables, and convenient seats. Every tailgate we highlight below is one or a combination of these basic types of tailgates:
- Traditional, drop-down: Hinged at the bottom, this one-piece tailgate drops down flat with the cargo box floor. Advantage: When open, this tailgate provides an extended cargo floor for longer loads. Moreover, it can also function as a seat, table, or work surface.
- Side-hinged: Rather than dropping down when opened, this tailgate is hinged on the right or left side, swinging out to create access to the cargo box. Advantage: Because it doesn’t add depth to the cargo floor, when open, a side-hinged tailgate allows for reaching deeper into the cargo box without climbing into the bed.
- Split/barn door: A variation of the side-hinged tailgate, the split or barn door configuration is hinged on both sides and joined somewhere in between. Each side swings open on its own set of hinges. Advantage: As with a side-hinged tailgate, the split tailgate allows reaching deeper into the cargo box while standing on the ground. Moreover, it can often still provide access to the cargo box even when a trailer is hitched to the truck.
Ram 1500: Multifunction Tailgate
Availability
- Optional: Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Limited, Limited Longhorn, Tungsten
Features
- 60/40 split with doors that open to an 88-degree angle
- Drop-down function that allows the tailgate to open as a single, hinged-at-the-bottom unit
- Weight capacity of 2,000 pounds when open in the down position
- Easy open-close dampened assist for drop-down and split-door configurations
- Optional center-mounted bed step capable of supporting 350 pounds
See Ram 1500 listings near you
GMC Sierra 1500: MultiPro Tailgate
Availability
- Optional: Pro, SLE, Elevation
- Standard: SLT, Denali, AT4, AT4X, Denali Ultimate
Features
- When the tailgate is in the down (open) position, the primary gate load stop flips up to create a barrier, preventing longer items from sliding out of the bed.
- Easier bed access is achieved when the smaller inner tailgate is lowered while the full tailgate is in its down position. In essence, it creates a cutout, bringing you closer to the cargo box.
- With the inner and full tailgates lowered, a 48-inch step can be lowered from inside the inner tailgate. Capable of supporting 375 pounds, this convenient step up provides easy access to the cargo box. To create additional stability when stepping up, an assist handle folds out from the cargo box.
- Primary open is the full tailgate lowered in the traditional manner. This can be achieved via a button on the fob, the tailgate, or inside the truck.
- Flipping the inner gate to its open position creates a flat work surface.
- With the full tailgate down, flipping the inner gate to its open position allows the inner gate load stop to be extended to corral longer items.
See GMC Sierra 1500 listings near you
Ford F-150: Pro Access Tailgate
Availability
- Optional: XLT, Lariat, Tremor
- Standard: King Ranch, Platinum, Raptor
Features
- Taking the split tailgate a step further, the integrated swing gate on the Pro Access Tailgate is a side-hinged door located in the center of the tailgate. Think of it as sort of a 20/60/20 layout. Measuring 37 inches wide, it swings open to the right and features three preset positions at 37 degrees, 70 degrees, and 100 degrees.
- An integrated step molded into the rear bumper offers a quick step up. However, Ford has also provided a pull-out step from under the bumper.
- Drop-down functionality allows the tailgate to open like a traditional tailgate. When open, it provides a flat work surface, a ruler, a cup holder, a pencil holder, and more. There are even built-in bottle openers on either side. Upper trims come with power-operated folding.
See Ford F-150 listings near you
Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Multi-Flex Tailgate
Availability
- Optional: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country, ZR2
Features
- When the tailgate is in the down (open) position, the primary gate load stop flips up to create a barrier, preventing longer items from sliding out of the bed.
- Easier bed access is achieved when the smaller inner tailgate is lowered while the full tailgate is in its down position. In essence, it creates a cutout bringing you closer to the cargo box.
- With the inner and full tailgates lowered, a 48-inch step can be lowered from inside the inner tailgate. Capable of supporting 375 pounds, this convenient step up provides easy access to the cargo box. To create additional stability when stepping up, an assist handle folds out from the cargo box. Plus, you can get a built-in Kicks audio system in that step to spice up the next tailgating event.
- Primary open is the full tailgate lowered in the traditional manner. This can be achieved via a button on the fob, the tailgate, or inside the truck.
- Flipping the inner gate to its open position creates a flat work surface.
- With the full tailgate open, flipping up the inner gate allows the inner load stop to corral longer items.
See Chevrolet Silverado 1500 listings near you
Midsize Trucks
All smaller trucks from Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and Chevy have traditional drop-down tailgates that are functional but basic. The outlier is the Honda Ridgeline with its side-hinged tailgate.
Electric Trucks: Rivian R1T
EV trucks are coming fast and furious, and the Rivian R1T gets a fully dampened tailgate that you can open remotely. You also get the gear tunnel, which is super cool. There is no additional functionality currently, but Rivian has filed several patents for things like a step and other features that might show up in the future.
Full disclosure: Cox Automotive, Kelley Blue Book’s parent company, is a minority investor in Rivian.
Our Take: Which Tailgate Is Right for You?
In a vehicle segment where buyers can spend $50,000 or more for a truck, ponying up an additional $1,000 or so on a multipurpose tailgate isn’t so silly. This is particularly true for those who are active and use a truck to its fullest potential. Therefore, we say to every truck buyer out there, make your truck all that it can be.
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Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for accuracy since it was originally published.
