Comparing the Multifunction Tailgates of the Chevy Silverado 1500 vs Ford F-150

At Riverton Chevrolet, we know how much Salt Lake County drivers depend on a well-built vehicle to handle work and everyday life around here. With construction being one of the leading industries in Kearns, we know Kearns professionals, in particular, need a solid pickup truck that they can count on to make all of their projects go smoothly. One of the often overlooked but very important parts of a pickup is the tailgate. Many shoppers look at things like towing abilities and bed and cab configurations without thinking about just how much they do at their tailgate.

The Chevy Silverado 1500 and Ford F-150 both premiered multifunction tailgates in recent years. Chevy debuted its Multi-Flex Tailgate in 2021, and Ford launched its Pro Access Tailgate a few years later with the 2024 F-150. We tested out both tailgates, trying out their various features and really getting to know them. And we have to say: the Chevy Multi-Flex Tailgate took the cake for us. If you’re looking for a Chevy Silverado for sale near Kearns, we’d love to show you this multifunction tailgate in person. Below, we’ll cover the features of each tailgate and explain why we think Chevy’s is superior.

The Chevy Silverado 1500 Multi-Flex Tailgate

As its name suggests, the Silverado’s Multi-Flex Tailgate can be set to multiple positions. They’re very well-thought-out positions, too. We’ll break them down below.

Primary Gate: This refers to using the tailgate as you normally would—just folding it down. It’s also worth noting that there’s an available power up and down feature for the tailgate. However, the cool thing is that you have three ways to operate it: from your key fob, a switch inside the cab, or a button built into the gate. If you’re sitting inside the cab and a coworker or friend needs to access the bed, you don’t have to get out and walk around to the back to open it for them. Or, if you’re walking away from your truck and forgot to close the tailgate, just push the button on your keyfob.

Primary Gate Load Stop: Sometimes, you need to transport longer items than anticipated. We get that. You pick up a friend from the South Valley Regional Airport, and they’ve brought extra-long skis or other snow-ready gear that doesn’t fit in the bed with the tailgate up. Luckily, it has a load stop, so you can keep those items in place.

Easy Access: With traditional tailgates, the gate swings down 90 degrees, putting you further away from your bed’s contents. However, the Multi-Flex Tailgate can fold down 180 degrees, completely out of the way, creating easy access to your bed’s contents.

Full-Width Step: When you want to reach further into your bed, you’ll love this full-width step that can support 375 lbs. It gives you a platform on which you can hoist yourself up. It also makes it easier and safer to hop out of the truck bed.

Inner Gate Load Stop: This position can prevent second-tier items from flying out of the bed. The next time you have to transport a large stack of wood planks or pipes that nearly reach the rim of the truck bed, they’ll be secure.

Inner Gate Work Surface: Need to fill out forms, sign contracts, and go over blueprints on the go? You can actually use the Multi-Flex Tailgate as a work surface that’s great for handling administrative work at the back of your pickup.

The Ford F-150 Pro Access Tailgate

Now, onto the Ford Pro Access Tailgate. This tailgate, like the Silverado’s, is also designed to give drivers close access to their bed’s contents. Ford achieved this by creating a swing-out inner portion of the tailgate. Inset into the tailgate is a hinged gate that you can swing out to 37, 70, and 100 degrees. The idea is to give drivers easy access to their bed when they’re trailering something (just open it to 37 degrees) or have the option to swing the gate out of the way entirely to 100 degrees when appropriate.

You can still drop down the full tailgate for the widest possible opening, in a traditional tailgate style, when you need to. It can also support a lot of weight, so if you want to sit on it while taking off your skates after an afternoon at the Utah Olympic Oval indoor skating arena, you can. Or, if you want to have a cookout at David Gourley Park, you can easily put a cooler full of food or a portable grill on the tailgate.

The unique design of the Pro Access Tailgate does have its perks, which we can admit. It also has an integrated ruler, pencil tray, and cup holder, so it can operate like a desk. Plus, it has a power up and down feature, too. However, it doesn’t provide those first-tier and second-tier load stops for longer items the way the Chevy Multi-Flex Tailgate does.

Then there’s the matter of the step. The Pro Access Tailgate does have a footstep that stows beneath the bumper, as well as an extended bumper section if you want a second level to climb onto. But, it doesn’t offer that nice full-width step of the Silverado’s Multi-Flex Tailgate. If it would be easier to access your items from a certain side of the bed, you’re sort of stuck standing on a narrow and centered step on the F-150’s tailgate. It’s also worth noting that Ford’s rear step is available as an add-on, whereas in the Chevy’s Multi-Flex Tailgate, a full-width step is always a part of the tailgate for no additional cost.

Find Your Chevy Silverado Today at Riverton Chevrolet

Our goal is to make the lives of Kearns drivers easier. We know that the weather and roads can be unpredictable out here, and while we can’t guarantee your drive to your job site will be a breeze, at least working with your tailgate will be when you have the Chevy Silverado Multi-Flex Tailgate. We admire how much thought Chevy put into this tailgate, addressing so many of the issues and tasks that contractors, farmers, and other workers face every day. Your truck should work for you, and we feel that the Silverado does just that.

At Riverton Chevrolet, we have every trim of the Silverado 1500 and a team of experts who know the specific features of each one. We love to welcome Kearns drivers to our dealership just up the road in South Jordan. As Salt Lake County drivers ourselves, we know what vehicles are right for this region, and we can help you find yours. You’ll love how dedicated our sales team is to understanding your needs and how vast our inventory is.

If you never know what the day will have in store for you, then you need a tailgate that’s ready for anything. After doing an in-depth analysis of the Chevy Multi-Flex Tailgate and the Ford Pro Access Tailgate, we believe the Multi-Flex Tailgate offers more value to our customers. Come check it out for yourself in person. We’ll show you how to use each of its functions so you can get the most out of it.