Ford kicked off the ongoing pickup truck tailgate wars in 2008 with the introduction of the first tailgate step. The feature included a pop-out step and handle for climbing into the bed.
Since then we’ve seen variations on the idea, including Chevrolet’s Multi-Flex Tailgate, which has sections incorporated into it that can be opened to create a step, a work platform and several load stops.
Ford this year launched the new Pro Access Tailgate, which has a small door in the middle of the tailgate that can swing to the side so that you can get into the bed with a trailer attached or just reach in without having to stretch over the open tailgate. Now Ford has figured out a way to provide a step, a door and make the bed bigger.
A new patent application published on Aug. 1 describes a Truck Bed Utility System that folds flat into the floor of the bed just in front of the tailgate. It can be flipped up and over on top of the tailgate from where a center section can be pulled out that acts as a step.
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The sides adjacent to the step can then be flipped up 90 degrees to form a new rear wall and then fences hidden inside of them opened to the sides like doors to close the gap to the sides of the cargo box. The step is then set upright to close off the remaining gap.
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It’s a clever system that provides a range of functionality. The only hitch we see is that when it is out of its storage recess, the bed floor is not longer perfectly flat.
As with all patents, there’s no guarantee this one will make it to production and Ford hasn’t yet suggested that anything like it will.
