<!-- wp:html --><p>1985 Ford pickup truck</p>
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
<p>The new Ford Pro Access tailgate is the latest in 100 years of Ford tailgates.Ford is constantly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-f150-new-tailgate-pro-access-ram-gm-2024-2023-9" rel="noopener">trying to one-up rivals</a> Chevrolet and Ram on pickup truck features.Many features have come and gone in 100 years of Ford tailgates.</p>
<p>Ford's latest take on the pickup truck tailgate is hitting dealer lots on the 2024 Ford F-150.</p>
<p>The refreshed F-150 can be equipped with the new Pro Access Tailgate, which has several new configurations. In addition to dropping open like a typical truck tailgate, the Pro Access Tailgate can swing out like a door to provide easier access to the bed.</p>
<p>Ford's new tailgate is the latest swing in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-elon-musk-has-a-lot-to-learn-in-pickup-market-2023-7" rel="noopener">Detroit's pickup truck wars</a>, where Ford, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-chevy-silverado-ev-truck-chevrolet-f150-lightning-2022-9" rel="noopener">Chevrolet</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ram-electric-truck-ramcharger-gas-generator-range-charging-2023-11" rel="noopener">Ram</a> are in a constant battle to one-up each other.</p>
<p>It's also the latest in a long line of tailgate innovation for Ford, which stretches back almost a century to the company's first pickup truck in 1925.</p>
<p>Take a look at the evolution of the Ford tailgate here:</p>
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<div class="slide-title">The Ford Model A station wagon tailgate features the same basic configuration we see today.</div>
<div class="slide-image">1929 Ford Model A station wagon rear quarter
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
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<div class="slide-title">In 1964, Ford introduced steel tailgate support straps that fold into the tailgate out of sight.</div>
<div class="slide-image">1964 Ford pickup truck advertisement.
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
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<div class="slide-title">In the 1980s, a removable tailgate option showed up on the F-Series.</div>
<div class="slide-image">1985 F-150 removable tailgate
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
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<div class="slide-title">The same removable tailgate was also available on the smaller Ranger pickup truck.</div>
<div class="slide-image">1985 Ford Ranger removable tailgate
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
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<div class="slide-title">By 2006, Ford had added an extendable step on the tailgate for the F-150 King Ranch.</div>
<div class="slide-image">2006 F-150 King Ranch step
<p class="copyright">Jim Fets</p>
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<div class="slide-title">In 2007, Ford debuted a new truck concept with a tailgate that lowers to be used as a step.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ford 2007 Powerforce pickup concept
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
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<div class="slide-content"></div>
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<div class="slide-title">The F-Series Super Duty was equipped with a bed extender in the 2008 model year.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ford 2008 F-Series Super Duty bed extender
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
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<div class="slide-content"></div>
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<div class="slide-title">For the 2021 model year, Ford introduced a new tailgate work surface with a built-in measuring stick. That model year, Ford also equipped all F-150 tailgates with tie-down hooks that doubled as bottle openers.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The 2021 Ford F-150 tailgate.
<p class="copyright">Ford Motor Co.</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">The 2024 Pro Access Tailgate swings open like a door to allow for easy access to the bed.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ford's new Pro Access Tailgate found on the 2024 F-150 takes aim at fancy tailgates from GM and Ram.
<p class="copyright">Ford</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
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<div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/history-ford-f150-pickup-truck-tailgate-step-swing-pro-access-2023-11">Business Insider</a></div><!-- /wp:html -->
1985 Ford pickup truck
Ford Motor Co.
The new Ford Pro Access tailgate is the latest in 100 years of Ford tailgates.Ford is constantly trying to one-up rivals Chevrolet and Ram on pickup truck features.Many features have come and gone in 100 years of Ford tailgates.
Ford’s latest take on the pickup truck tailgate is hitting dealer lots on the 2024 Ford F-150.
The refreshed F-150 can be equipped with the new Pro Access Tailgate, which has several new configurations. In addition to dropping open like a typical truck tailgate, the Pro Access Tailgate can swing out like a door to provide easier access to the bed.
It’s also the latest in a long line of tailgate innovation for Ford, which stretches back almost a century to the company’s first pickup truck in 1925.
Take a look at the evolution of the Ford tailgate here:
The Ford Model A station wagon tailgate features the same basic configuration we see today.
1929 Ford Model A station wagon rear quarter
Ford Motor Co.
In 1964, Ford introduced steel tailgate support straps that fold into the tailgate out of sight.
1964 Ford pickup truck advertisement.
Ford Motor Co.
In the 1980s, a removable tailgate option showed up on the F-Series.
1985 F-150 removable tailgate
Ford Motor Co.
The same removable tailgate was also available on the smaller Ranger pickup truck.
1985 Ford Ranger removable tailgate
Ford Motor Co.
By 2006, Ford had added an extendable step on the tailgate for the F-150 King Ranch.
2006 F-150 King Ranch step
Jim Fets
In 2007, Ford debuted a new truck concept with a tailgate that lowers to be used as a step.
Ford 2007 Powerforce pickup concept
Ford Motor Co.
The F-Series Super Duty was equipped with a bed extender in the 2008 model year.
Ford 2008 F-Series Super Duty bed extender
Ford Motor Co.
For the 2021 model year, Ford introduced a new tailgate work surface with a built-in measuring stick. That model year, Ford also equipped all F-150 tailgates with tie-down hooks that doubled as bottle openers.
The 2021 Ford F-150 tailgate.
Ford Motor Co.
The 2024 Pro Access Tailgate swings open like a door to allow for easy access to the bed.
Ford’s new Pro Access Tailgate found on the 2024 F-150 takes aim at fancy tailgates from GM and Ram.
