---
title: "Ford Is Going to War Against GMC and Ram With New Tailgate Designs: Report"
description: "Sounds like upcoming versions of the F-150 will get even more interesting."
date: "2020-08-19"
modified: "2020-08-19"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/35844/ford-is-going-to-war-against-gmc-and-ram-with-new-tailgate-designs-report"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Trucks"
tags:
  - "Ford"
---

# Ford Is Going to War Against GMC and Ram With New Tailgate Designs: Report

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/08/All-new_F-150_016.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

When it comes to bed space functionality, Ford didn't exactly neglect the redesigned 2021 F-150— as [it's practically a ready-made food truck](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/34387/you-can-power-an-entire-mobile-restaurant-with-the-2021-ford-f-150s-onboard-generator>). But one area where Ford still lags is in the tailgate department, which, while laden with extra features, remains more conventional than GMC's novel MultiPro and even Ram's barn door-style offerings. This could soon change, however, as Ford is reportedly preparing a trick tailgate of its own, one said to be coming to a future year of the F-150.

Citing "sources familiar with the project," [*Ford Authority*](<https://fordauthority.com/2020/08/ford-working-on-multifunction-tailgate-for-the-f-150-exclusive/>) claims the Detroit giant "has benchmarked" the multi-use tailgates of its competitors, and is developing multiple concepts for its own tailgate. One such concept is said to be [a barn door-style setup similar to Ram's](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/29461/2020-ram-1500-ecodiesel-first-drive-review-diesel-done-right>), but made from three sections rather than two, with the ability to fold out left, right, and as is tradition, downward.

![message-editor%2F1597843363583-2019-gmc-sierra-denali-multiprotailgate-primarygate-easyaccess-084.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1597843363583-2019-gmc-sierra-denali-multiprotailgate-primarygate-easyaccess-084.jpg>)
*2019 GMC Sierra with MultiPro tailgate, *GMC**

![message-editor%2F1597843382391-rm019\_384fn1mlldnmcv2t31oihkptg6jiau2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1597843382391-rm019_384fn1mlldnmcv2t31oihkptg6jiau2.jpg>)
*2019 Ram Multifunction Tailgate, *Fiat Chrysler Automobiles**

Ford's tailgate project is allegedly in an early prototype phase, with multiple concepts reportedly mocked up in mediums including foam and plywood. Should one design emerge as a winner, it will need to undergo re-engineering for mass production and extensive testing before becoming an available option on future Ford F-series trucks. And when it does, it will reportedly first launch on [the F-150](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34328/heres-why-the-2021-ford-f-150-is-such-a-huge-deal>) and gradually become available on other models.

One possible feature for Ford's own multipurpose tailgate could be [a built-in movie projector](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29603/ford-patents-idea-for-building-a-movie-projector-into-suv-tailgates>), for which the Blue Oval filed a patent a few years back. The automaker indicated to *The Drive* about a year ago that the patent was just standard procedure, and didn't foretell the gadget's introduction on future Fords. Novelty tailgates as a whole remain of little interest to Ford, which sees little value in gadgety tailgates according to Ford trucks spokesperson Dawn McKenzie.

"When we developed the all-new F-150, we conducted extensive customer research with truck customers to solve pain points and further enhance how they use their trucks," McKenzie explained to *The Drive*. "We found more value in creating the Tailgate Work Surface and Pro Power Onboard as ways to enhance the functionality of the bed and tailgate rather than pursuing the development of a multimodal tailgate."

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## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)