The GMC Sierra MultiPro Tailgate vs. the Ford F-150 Pro Access Tailgate

As a dealership with GMC trucks for sale, we spend a lot of time talking to our customers and learning about how they use their pickups. So, we know that truck drivers rely on their tailgates to handle all sorts of tasks. The tailgate is where hard workers prepare their tools, finalize plans, fill out invoices, and take their lunch break. A truck tailgate might look like an afterthought, but enlightened truck makers know that a great tailgate makes a huge difference. That’s why you see major brands putting out trucks with elaborate tailgates, most notably GMC with its MultiPro Tailgate and Ford with its Pro Access Tailgate.

If you’re narrowing down your decision and are trying to decide between these two pickups, it could come down to the tailgate for you. These two trucks have comparable maximum towing and payload figures, and each has luxury, off-road, and work-oriented trims. So, it might be this small but essential feature at the back of the bed that ends up being the deciding factor. That’s why we’re going to give you a rundown of these two multipurpose tailgates.

The GMC Sierra MultiPro Tailgate

This tailgate looks like a conventional tailgate at first glance. But look closer, and you’ll see that inside its primary gate is a smaller inner gate built into the main one. These two gates can be opened, shut, lowered, and raised in several ways for a variety of applications. All in all, they can be set to six different different positions, which are as follows:

1. Primary gate/standard use: The Primary gate can be opened and closed like a regular tailgate. It has a torsional spring and a damper, meaning it goes up and down smoothly—there will be no abrupt slamming with this tailgate.
2. Built-in load stop: If you need to keep the tailgate down in order to make room for long items, there’s an inner load stop that you can prop up. So you can lower the tailgate 90 degrees, setting it level with the bed, essentially extending the length of the bed. Then, put up the load-stop to keep long items from sliding out. You can open the main tailgate with a push of a button or with your keyfob.
3. Flip down gate: You can also flip the tailgate down 180 degrees so that it swings entirely out of the way. This means you can get much closer to the box, which makes it much easier to reach and work with the items inside.
4. Full-width step: Want even better access to your bed? Fold the tailgate down into a full-width step capable of supporting 375 pounds. You and a coworker can hop on there while you sort through toolboxes and load up equipment.
5. Second-tier load stop: The inner gate can also be oriented into a second-tier load stop, helping you secure two levels of long items in the bed.
6. Work surface: Finally, you can orient the tailgate into the worksurface position, giving you a large, secure area to fill out paperwork, look over maps, and more.

Additional Perks of the GMC MultiPro Tailgate

There are some other perks of the MultiPro Tailgate beyond its six positions.

It has large corner steps, so someone in huge workboots can comfortably stand on the steps and be fully supported. It also has excellent lighting, illuminating your tools and equipment long after the sun has set. It has a 400-watt outlet so that you can plug in some serious power tools, portable lights, a mini-fridge, and more without a wall outlet.

Play the tunes you need to boost morale at a work site with the built-in Kicker audio system. It’s a 100-watt beauty integrated into the tailgate’s inner panel, equipped with a compact amplifier, controls, and a USB port for device charging. It also has Bluetooth streaming abilities for wireless music play. The critical components are weather-resistant, too, so it’s prepared to accompany you through the elements.

This tailgate adds about 51 pounds to the truck’s curb weight.

The Ford Pro Access Tailgate

The main appeal of the Ford Pro Access Tailgate is that it can swing open downward, like a regular tailgate, or horizontally, just like your refrigerator door. It has two fixed panels of equal width on the right and left sides, which flip down when you release the tailgate in the traditional manner. Or, those side panels can stay put, and just the center portion can swing out like a door. This opens up many possibilities, especially when you’re trailering because it’s hinged to be opened to 37, 70, or 100 degrees. So, when you do have a trailer behind your pickup, you can prop the gate open just enough so that it doesn’t hit your trailer hitch.

Having the tailgate swing open like a door also makes it easy for people sitting in the bed to get in and out without hopping over the tailgate when lowering it in the traditional manner isn’t an option. It also gives you closer access to the box, just like the GMC’s tailgate when it swings down 180 degrees.

Thanks to a footstep that stows beneath the bumper, you can easily jump in and out of the bed, just as you can in the GMC. In fact, it has two settings—the initial step and an extended bumper for when you need a little extra boost. You’ll find hand-holds to the right and left of the tailgate to grab onto as you hop up. There’s also a built-in ruler in the tailgate, because no matter how prepared you are, there never seems to be a ruler around when you need one.

And then there’s the Pro Power Onboard. This feature lets you turn your Ford into a portable generator with various levels of output to the bed. Well, it’s a great feature, but it is not actually a part of the tailgate. And today, we’re just looking at tailgates.

This special tailgate adds about 62 pounds to the truck’s curb weight.

The Overall Takeaway

It might be clear to you now that Ford really didn’t pull out all of the stops that it could have with its specialty tailgate. And that’s surprising, seeing as it certainly has had a chance to assess the competition (the GMC MultiPro tailgate has been out for several years now). Ford’s swing-out tailgate is nice to have. Being able to open your tailgate like you would a refrigerator door is kind of cool. But it doesn’t offer a whole lot beyond that one particular function.

Meanwhile, the GMC MultiPro Tailgate can do so many things. It can secure long items at different levels, be a standing desk, serve as a full-width step, and much more. It has a fantastic sound system. Our takeaway is this—if you work long hours away from the office, you need a pickup truck that can keep up with your demands. The GMC MultiPro Tailgate will be up for the challenge.

If you want to test out the MutliPro Tailgate for yourself, we hope you’ll visit us at Crossroads Chevrolet GMC. We have the all-new 2024 GMC Sierra 1500, and our team can walk you through all the settings of its impressive tailgate.

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