Ford and Ram took completely different approaches to their multifunction tailgates, and there is a clear winner
8 hours in the past
One of many defining options of the 2024 Ford F-150 is its newly obtainable Professional Entry Tailgate, which successfully turns the mattress right into a walk-in bathtub. As a part of this effort, there’s a swing gate within the middle of the tailgate that opens 100 levels and gives entry to the mattress with out having to decrease the tailgate.
We performed round with the Professional Entry Tailgate on the Detroit Auto Present and determined to pit it in opposition to the multifunction tailgate on the Ram 1500. The latter has been round for awhile and is a $1,095 possibility on higher-end variations of the pickup.
Extra: 2024 Ford F-150 Refresh Brings New Swinging Tailgate, Cheaper Hybrid And Extra
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Footage: Michael Gauthier / CarScoops
Ford’s Professional Entry Tailgate may be the brand new child on the block, but it surely’s packing some smarts because the swing door options built-in stops to stop it from banging into trailers. Extra importantly, the swing door is positioned within the middle of the mattress and is commonly paired with a rear step. Due to the door and step, you may simply climb up into the mattress.
Whereas that’s a pleasant characteristic, the person expertise leaves one thing to be desired. Decreasing the tailgate is par for the course, however the launch for the swing door is comparatively small and hidden beneath a lip. Regardless of a graphic indicating the place the discharge is, you’ll nonetheless must fumble round till you hit it.
Footage: Michael Gauthier / CarScoops
Ram makes the operation of its multifunction tailgate foolproof as you pull the higher launch to decrease the tailgate. To open the driving force’s facet swing door, you push down on the decrease launch. The smaller swing door can then be opened by an interior launch, easy-peasy. It’s a easy, intuitive structure and Ram deserves quite a lot of credit score for nailing the person expertise.
On prime of that, Ram’s multifunction tailgate is way extra helpful. Having the ability to swing the entire tailgate out of the way in which is a big bonus and is much better than solely with the ability to open a small door. Ram additionally affords a rear step like Ford, in order that’s not something to get enthusiastic about both.
That being stated, Ram’s multifunction tailgate felt heavier than Ford’s Professional Entry Tailgate. Nonetheless, we don’t have agency numbers and it’s actually not a deal breaker.