Jump LinksAlthough many people treat them as daily drivers, pickups are still inherently utilitarian machines. Manufacturers design them to be as flexible as possible for everyday use, especially for people who regularly use the truck's bed. As a result, these trucks can be a lot more complicated when it comes to seemingly simple parts like the tailgate. These tailgates have become multifunctional, evolving into complex mechanical and electronic systems. The situation makes the panels more prone to costly repairs since they sit at the most damage-prone end of the vehicle. A Small Tailgate Dent Can Now Lead To A Big Conversation FordSome buyers may not be too concerned about any bells and whistles when they're looking for a new pickup truck, but others can often be wowed by a moment of showroom theater. The latter group may be particularly impressed if a salesperson presses a button that causes the gate to fold, split, swing step-down, or open around a hitch, with all the potential benefits those gymnastics could bring. While some people may think that those actions are just gimmicks, they can still be useful in many situations. After all, a tall, full-size pickup bed can be awkward to reach, especially if you have a trailer tagged onto the back or heavy cargo sitting near the rear of the bed. A smarter tailgate like this can save on stretching, climbing, and other wasted motion.However, these complications can come at a cost, and damage to the tailgate can result in costly bills. In one example involving a GMC Sierra Multi-Pro tailgate, the owner sustained damage to the upper section of the gate. The paint shop was unable to perform a paintless repair due to the integrated aluminum panel. The shop quoted $1,300 to repair and repaint the section, or about $2,600 if it had to replace the upper panel completely. And that example is just the beginning of potential cost complications.Every neat function requires some extra hardware, and every opening mode needs its own hinges, latches, seals, and structure. These tailgates can also include cameras, electronic release switches, and latch paths that must align exactly; otherwise, they don't work. And very soon, a feature that looks like convenience from the outside can suddenly turn into a repair nightmare. The Tailgate Has Now Become An Access System ChevroletModern multi-function tailgates are more than just clever party tricks. They’re sophisticated access systems with multiple moving panels, electronic release logic, stepped hardware, cameras, locks, seals, and strikers. Manufacturers have obsessed over their design to create something really useful and, crucially, better than their competitors. And the tailgate has become such an important engineering focus for OEMs because today’s pickups create modern-day ergonomic problems.The current full-size pickup is taller and wider, and far more likely to tow, haul, commute, or serve family duties than older pickups. Certainly, you can still get away with a conventional drop-down tailgate, but that can now be problematic if you've got a trailer hooked up to the back. An owner may also have to reach over a long panel simply to grab cargo that sits near the rear end of the bed. And that’s why companies like Ford, GMC, Chevrolet, and Ram are all trying to solve these issues in different ways.Nicole Wakelin/CarBuzz/ValnetThe Ford solution involves a smaller swing-out door that's incorporated into the full-width conventional gate. In the GMC MultiPro system, there's a nested six-function design. Chevrolet has a similar multi-flex approach on its Silverado, while the Ram multi-function tailgate has a more direct 60/40 split-door approach. Each of these systems is far more complicated than its predecessors.Ford's Pro Access system weighs about 55 pounds, plus another 7 pounds for the power open and close hardware. The GMC MultiPro-style design comes in at 51 pounds, and Ram's Split Door design is a hefty 75 pounds. These figures show that multi-function tailgates now have some real mass, in addition to their extra complexity. Ford's Pro Access Tailgate Shows The Engineering Compromise Ford From the outside, the Pro Access tailgate doesn't necessarily look complicated, but think about what it has to do. The center door measures 37 inches wide and opens to 37, 70, or 100 degrees, while also dropping down in the conventional way. The system must behave like both a normal pickup tailgate and a swing-out access door, and Ford has also incorporated software logic to protect the opening sequence. This helps to avoid damage to the unit if it were to swing the wrong way around a bumper or hitch inadvertently.The 2024 Ford F-150 is also a hefty beast, featuring a fully boxed high-strength steel frame and a high-strength aluminum alloy body. And that’s partly why the tailgate construction has to be so sturdy, so it can consistently maintain load alignment and durability as part of the overall truck design. This Ford tailgate incorporates both steel and aluminum, so it can withstand concentrated hinge and latch forces while remaining as lightweight as possible. But panel beaters are not able to treat the tailgate as a single flat skin for body repair, and all of that adds to repair complexity as well. GMC And Ram Reveal Two Opposite Multi-Function Philosophies Chevrolet GMC’s MultiPro tailgate has a very elaborate setup that the company markets as the world's first six-function tailgate. Those functions include primary gate, primary gate load stop, easy access, full-width step, inner gate load stop, and inner gate work surface. GM believes that this should make such a tall pickup easier to live with and turn the rear of the bed into a more usable working area. But that complexity has its downside, and the MultiPro system effectively includes a tailgate within a tailgate. This means it has multiple latch points, release switches, hinges, seals, reinforcements, and trim pieces.Some OEM bulletins show how complicated these systems can be. GM issued a bulletin regarding inadvertent or unwanted tailgate opening on Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 models with the MultiPro tailgate. Water could get into the tailgate switch. Also, GM issued a separate bulletin for 2023 Silverado and GMC Sierra models in which the main tailgate could open normally, but the minor auxiliary tailgate might not.Meanwhile, Ram issued its own service bulletin applying to certain 2020 1500 pickups with the multi-function tailgate. Here, the tailgate slam bumpers could pull off when the multi-function tailgate door opened. The overslam bumper would then stick to the door and pull out of the U-frame. These Features Might Struggle To Earn Their Complexity Ram For many serious pickup truck users, such as contractors, landscapers, or RV owners, a multi-function tailgate can be a meaningful upgrade. After all, those owners may look at those tailgates as ergonomic tools if they help reduce climbing, reaching, or awkward cargo handling. But for buyers who use the bed only occasionally, the case is not so clear.After all, a tailgate like this can add weight, parts count, alignment sensitivity, and repair exposure that may outweigh its usefulness. And while that doesn't make such a tailgate a bad option, it does suggest that these gates are major mechanical features rather than harmless and "nice to have" novelties.High-content trucks can already be quite expensive long-term propositions before any complex body and hardware enter the discussion. Some estimates suggest a ten-year maintenance and repair bill for the Ford F-150 of around $11,242, with a Ram 1500 going all the way up to $19,201. Certainly, those figures are not tailgate-specific, but they do begin to show the level of commitment associated with modern-day truck ownership.Those considering a used version of one of these trucks should include the tailgate as a key point of inspection. They should look carefully at every opening mode and check the rear camera, power release, tailgate swing sections, step functions, seals, strikers, and panel gaps. If there is any evidence of repainting, damaged seals, or uneven gaps, it should prompt further scrutiny. Most importantly, if there is any distortion around hinge points, structural members, or latch paths, it could certainly indicate issues ahead.There's no doubt that modern multi-function tailgates can be useful to certain people, as products from Ford, GMC, and Ram address real problems that these tall, versatile, and expensive trucks may pose. But these OEMs achieve that usefulness by turning the tailgate into a more complicated access system, which can lead to higher repair exposure when something goes wrong.Owners or potential owners should carefully consider the trade-off if they don't use those features constantly. And the best approach is to move beyond those impressive demonstrations and figure out if these features will earn their complexity over the years of real ownership.