Four Terrific Trucks With Multi-Position Tailgates

We believe a great truck gives its driver the power to do a variety of tasks and meets the evolving needs of professionals, families, and thrill-seekers alike. As your premier truck dealership near Charleston, we know there are so many fun ways to utilize a pickup truck in and around Chucktown, and we like to help our customers find something that is ready for their work and play.

Today, many major truck manufacturers have joined in on what seems like a competition to make the best multi-functional tailgate. Gone are the days when a tailgate was just a simple panel you pulled down at the back of your truck. Your tailgate can be and do so much more, and a few great manufacturers have proven it. Below, we'll review some excellent pickups we carry at our various locations that offer tailgates with the versatility you're looking for at the job site, home, and more!

The GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado

The reason we group these two pickups together is that, while their multi-position tailgates might go by different names, they are essentially the same. That's appropriate, given that GMC and Chevy are both owned by General Motors and why would GM want to give one of their full-size pickups a terrific tailgate and not the other? Once the technology and design are there, they may as well give this great feature to all of their customers, no matter which brand they prefer. They did with a tailgate known as the MultiPro Tailgate in the GMC Sierra 1500 and heavy-duty Sierra models, and the Multi-Flex Tailgate in the Chevy Silverado 1500 and heavy-duty Silverados.

This unique and highly versatile tailgate is terrific for contractors and adventurers alike. It has six positions, which we'll detail below. The first thing to understand is that the primary tailgate contains a smaller one, hinged within it. Opening and lowering these two, in a variety of combinations, is how you'll unlock the potential of this tailgate.

First, you can lower the entire tailgate in the traditional manner. So if you don't want to use the other functions, you don't have to (but… you'll want to). Should you need to create a load stop for longer items, put the full tailgate down, then prop up the smaller one to create a barrier. Alternatively, if you need to gain closer access to the box, you can flip the inner gate down 180 degrees, so it swings out of the way.

Want to easily walk into your truck bed without having to jump up or bring a step ladder? The tailgate can fold down and convert into a step. On both the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado, this step can support 375 lbs. Have a couple of stacks of long cargo in your bed? With the main gate up, you can drop just the inner gate, which will create a load stop for a second tier of cargo.

Need to go over blueprints or fill out invoices at job sites? Like to look over maps before hitting the trails? You can fold the inner gate into a perfect work surface great for reviewing documents, or enjoying a standing lunch. Finally, both the GMC Sierra's and the Chevy Silverado's tailgates have built-in speakers, so you can bring the music with you whether you're barbecuing in a park or keeping the crew motivated on a job site.

The Ram 1500

If you're interested in a Ram 1500, we've got good news: it has a multifunction tailgate, too. That's its official name, actually: the Ram MultiFunction tailgate. It features a unique tailgate design consisting of a 60/40 split. So it has two swing-out doors, giving you the option to open either one or both at the same time when you need full access to your box.

We like this unique tailgate design because it's also terrific for times when you have four-legged friends hanging out in the box. If you don't want them jumping out but need to access items in the box, open the 40 percent side, leaving the 60 percent side up to contain your furry friends. Alternatively, if you simply have items rolling around on one side of the box, you have the option to just open the door on the other side to reach in, and keep your items contained.

You can raise and lower the entire tailgate in a traditional manner, too, leaving those swing-out doors shut. Now, here's the really impressive part: this tailgate, when lowered in the traditional style, can support 2,000 lbs. So go ahead, and put it to the test. Sit on there with a few friends, enjoying some beverages after your day on the trails. This tailgate can handle it all.

The Honda Ridgeline

Looking for a mid-size truck rather than a full-size one? You can still get a useful multifunction tailgate. Just get the Honda Ridgeline and its Dual-Action Tailgate. There are quite a few convenient surprises hiding in this unassuming tailgate. First off, when you fold it down, you'll immediately notice that it has two molded seats, giving you and a buddy the perfect place to sit while enjoying lunch or going over plans for a DIY project. These seats can hold 300 lbs between them. You can also swing the entire tailgate door out, for closer access to your cargo box when you need it.

Here's one of the coolest parts of this tailgate/cargo box area: the lockable in-bed trunk. It contains 7.3 cu.ft. of cargo space, making it the perfect place to conceal valuables and lock them up. Plus, it's waterproof, so it's an ideal spot for wet, messy gear after a day of outdoor recreation. You can also fill it up with ice and use it as a cooler, making it the perfect feature for tailgate parties. Just pull the plug inside to drain it when you're done!

Let Our Team Help You Find the Perfect Pickup

Find your next terrific pickup with Hendrick Automotive Group. With dealerships throughout the surrounding Charleston area, we have a network of locations ready to find you the truck you love. When you work with us, you don't just have access to one dealership's inventory; you have access to all of our inventory. So, if you don't find the exact pickup you want at our Charleston location, we'll call our sister stores and find it for you.

We know how much a multifunction tailgate can make work days easier and fun days, well, more fun. That's why we think the pickups we covered today are perfect for the adventurous, work-hard-play-harder folks of Charleston. If you want to work with a dealership that understands what it's like to navigate this unique part of South Carolina, visit one of our numerous Charleston locations. We'd love to take you for some test drives and put you behind the wheel of one of the various excellent pickups we carry! With Chevy, GMC, Ram, Toyota, and Honda trucks, we have all the names you love in the truck market, so come in today and let us help you find the ideal model. Our teams look forward to working with you!