Gallery: History of pickup truck tailgates

On a trip to drop off furniture at a resale shop, the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition's 4.6-foot short box was easy to load thanks to the MultiPro tailgate.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 is available with the six-way Multi-Flex tailgate. Corner bumper steps also allow good bed access.

Barb Willobee, Mopar Design Lead Engineer demonstrates the factory-engineered, factory-backed retractable, center-mounted bed step for the Ram 1500, further enhancing the functionality of Ram’s exclusive multifunction tailgate. Designed to fit specifically with the multifunction tailgate, the step is rated for 350 pounds.

The innovative Ridgeline's tailgate can drop or swing open like an old station wagon. It also features an in-bed trunk.

1925 Beginning in late 1924 Ford introduced the first factory-assembled pickup, the 1925 model Model TT, featuring a cargo box and (natch) adjustable tailgate.

1929 The first station wagon – and no, National Lampoon Vacation fans, it wasn’t called the Wagon Queen Family Truckster. The Model A debuted Ford’s first family wagon showcasing a tailgate and, um, no rear window.

1960 Back to the car side of the business and the Falcon wagon became the first Ford with a single-piece, drop-down tailgate and retractable rear window

1960 Back to the car side of the business and the Falcon wagon became the first Ford with a single-piece, drop-down tailgate and retractable rear window

1960 Back to the car side of the business and the Falcon wagon became the first Ford with a single-piece, drop-down tailgate and retractable rear window

1961-69 The ‘60s were a golden age of automobile innovation from race cars to station wagons to pickup trucks. Steel chains disappeared from Ford tailgates, replaced by instant-lock latches. Ford marketed the innovation as “grain-tight,” and the tailgate also grew by a whopping 13 inches. In 1964, the pickup grew to 128-inches long - longer than most luxury cars - with a tailgate that could hold 2,000 pounds. The tailgate also featured support straps made of steel that folded into tailgate. The so-called Magic Doorgate took a bow in 1966 on Ford, Fairlane, and Falcon wagons. It opened like a tailgate or like a door. Come ‘69, it could be opened as a door with the window up or down.

1961-69 The ‘60s were a golden age of automobile innovation from race cars to station wagons to pickup trucks. Steel chains disappeared from Ford tailgates, replaced by instant-lock latches. Ford marketed the innovation as “grain-tight,” and the tailgate also grew by a whopping 13 inches. In 1964, the pickup grew to 128-inches long - longer than most luxury cars - with a tailgate that could hold 2,000 pounds. The tailgate also featured support straps made of steel that folded into tailgate. The so-called Magic Doorgate took a bow in 1966 on Ford, Fairlane, and Falcon wagons. It opened like a tailgate or like a door. Come ‘69, it could be opened as a door with the window up or down.

1961-69 The ‘60s were a golden age of automobile innovation from race cars to station wagons to pickup trucks. Steel chains disappeared from Ford tailgates, replaced by instant-lock latches. Ford marketed the innovation as “grain-tight,” and the tailgate also grew by a whopping 13 inches. In 1964, the pickup grew to 128-inches long - longer than most luxury cars - with a tailgate that could hold 2,000 pounds. The tailgate also featured support straps made of steel that folded into tailgate. The so-called Magic Doorgate took a bow in 1966 on Ford, Fairlane, and Falcon wagons. It opened like a tailgate or like a door. Come ‘69, it could be opened as a door with the window up or down.

1961-69 The ‘60s were a golden age of automobile innovation from race cars to station wagons to pickup trucks. Steel chains disappeared from Ford tailgates, replaced by instant-lock latches. Ford marketed the innovation as “grain-tight,” and the tailgate also grew by a whopping 13 inches. In 1964, the pickup grew to 128-inches long - longer than most luxury cars - with a tailgate that could hold 2,000 pounds. The tailgate also featured support straps made of steel that folded into tailgate. The so-called Magic Doorgate took a bow in 1966 on Ford, Fairlane, and Falcon wagons. It opened like a tailgate or like a door. Come ‘69, it could be opened as a door with the window up or down.

1961-69 The ‘60s were a golden age of automobile innovation from race cars to station wagons to pickup trucks. Steel chains disappeared from Ford tailgates, replaced by instant-lock latches. Ford marketed the innovation as “grain-tight,” and the tailgate also grew by a whopping 13 inches. In 1964, the pickup grew to 128-inches long - longer than most luxury cars - with a tailgate that could hold 2,000 pounds. The tailgate also featured support straps made of steel that folded into tailgate. The so-called Magic Doorgate took a bow in 1966 on Ford, Fairlane, and Falcon wagons. It opened like a tailgate or like a door. Come ‘69, it could be opened as a door with the window up or down.

1961-69 The ‘60s were a golden age of automobile innovation from race cars to station wagons to pickup trucks. Steel chains disappeared from Ford tailgates, replaced by instant-lock latches. Ford marketed the innovation as “grain-tight,” and the tailgate also grew by a whopping 13 inches. In 1964, the pickup grew to 128-inches long - longer than most luxury cars - with a tailgate that could hold 2,000 pounds. The tailgate also featured support straps made of steel that folded into tailgate. The so-called Magic Doorgate took a bow in 1966 on Ford, Fairlane, and Falcon wagons. It opened like a tailgate or like a door. Come ‘69, it could be opened as a door with the window up or down.

1961-69 The ‘60s were a golden age of automobile innovation from race cars to station wagons to pickup trucks. Steel chains disappeared from Ford tailgates, replaced by instant-lock latches. Ford marketed the innovation as “grain-tight,” and the tailgate also grew by a whopping 13 inches. In 1964, the pickup grew to 128-inches long - longer than most luxury cars - with a tailgate that could hold 2,000 pounds. The tailgate also featured support straps made of steel that folded into tailgate. The so-called Magic Doorgate took a bow in 1966 on Ford, Fairlane, and Falcon wagons. It opened like a tailgate or like a door. Come ‘69, it could be opened as a door with the window up or down.

1997 A standard locking tailgate debuted on F-150. The tailgate could be unlocked using the same key as on the cab doors.

2003-2007 Innovation really accelerated with the tun of the century. Luxurious Lincoln Navigator SUVs offered an optional power liftgate. Come 2004, Ford built a torsion bar into the tailgate to bear much of the tailgate’s weight for easier operation. The Excursion ute in 2006 got fancy with a Tri-Panel door system with rear cargo door and a lower French doors for cargo access. A 2007 Ford concept introduced a tailgate elevator that would drop the entire tailgate to the ground for a lift up. Alas, it wasn’t produced. In ‘06 Ford brought to market a mid-gate step that dropped down for easy bed access (complete with a pole so you could haul yourself up).

TailGate Step Makes Cargo Loading As Easy As 1-2-3: The 2008 F-Series Super Duty’s TailGate Step pulls down and out in one motion enabling easy access for climbing into the bed. Made of high-strength steel construction, the step is MIG welded for added strength, and has been tested up to 1,000 pounds.

2003-2007 Innovation really accelerated with the tun of the century. Luxurious Lincoln Navigator SUVs offered an optional power liftgate. Come 2004, Ford built a torsion bar into the tailgate to bear much of the tailgate’s weight for easier operation. The Excursion ute in 2006 got fancy with a Tri-Panel door system with rear cargo door and a lower French doors for cargo access. A 2007 Ford concept introduced a tailgate elevator that would drop the entire tailgate to the ground for a lift up. Alas, it wasn’t produced. In ‘06 Ford brought to market a mid-gate step that dropped down for easy bed access (complete with a pole so you could haul yourself up).

2011 The compact Escape SUV got in on the electronics revolution with the Hands-Free Liftgate that opened with a kick of the foot under the bumper. Multiple brands copied the idea.