Ford’s New Tailgate Design Patent is a Step Up on Chevy!
Ford’s new tailgate design patents are a step up on the competition.
Year after year, Ford’s F Series dominates the truck market. Part of this dominance is due to their durability. We know “Built Ford Tough” is more than just a slogan. But innovation plays an equal part. Ford first offered features like an onboard generator and are launching an all electric truck which keeps them in front of the pack. But one area they lag behind the competition is with tailgate features. Both Chevrolet and Ram offer multi-function tailgates which improve access to the truck bed and ease of use. Initially seen as a gimmick, these features are popular with truck buyers. Meanwhile, other than offering a tailgate work surface, Ford’s tailgates are pretty much unchanged from those of the first generation F-Series.
But that could be about to change. We’ve heard rumors that Ford is working on a new multi-function tailgate as far back as August 2020. And recently CarBuzz discovered U.S. Patent Office filings for Ford’s new tailgate design. If true, it appears Ford benchmarked the Chevy and Ram tailgates and improved on their design.
The patent designs show Ford’s new tailgate is divided into three sections. The middle section opens from the side to provide easier access to the bed. The central panel swings open providing better access to the bed. Not only does it allow you to reach further into the bed, but provides easier access to the bed when towing a trailer.
If you hoped Ford would provide steps in the tailgate, they’ve got you covered. However, instead of copying the complicated and tricky MultiFlex Tailgate from Chevy, they found a better solution. Instead of the tailgate housing the step, the load sill behind the tailgate folds outwards. This provides three benefits over the Chevy design. First, the step is lower than Chevy’s making it easier to step up into the bed. And since the step is separate from the tailgate, it can be used when the tailgate is closed or the central door is open. Finally, Ford retained the “Man Step” which is a popular feature for owners.
The patent designs also show that the new tailgate functionality can be remotely operated. By using either a key fob or buttons on the dashboard the entire tailgate, or the central section, unlocks and opens automatically. More than likely the remote operation will function in the same manner as Ford’s existing remote tailgate release.
Ford has not officially released information about the new tailgate design. So we don’t know when they will offer it on their trucks, or how much it will cost. But if these patent designs accurately reflect Ford’s new tailgate features, it shows they have every intention of keeping a step ahead of the competition.
Photos: Carbuzz & USPTO
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