Anyone who drives a pickup knows that your truck is much more than your mode of transportation. You live, work, relax, eat, and even sleep in it sometimes. Chevrolet understood this when they created their multi-flex tailgate, which is now available across the Silverado lineup. This highly functional, multi-purpose tailgate makes so many of the things you probably already do with your pickup much simpler.
When you visit your Chevy Silverado 1500 dealer, ask to check out a pickup with this feature. Try it out in its various positions. Bring some heavy items to experiment with loading and unloading using this helpful feature. Once you’ve explored its many functions, you’ll wonder how you ever lived with a regular old tailgate, especially once you learn that it’s just under $450 to add. Here’s a look at how its various positions work.
The Multi-Flex Tailgate Offers Six Useful Positions
The multi-flex tailgate has a total of six unique positions, enabling you to configure your truck bed to hold items securely, as well as making it easy to enter the bed and remove them. It can even provide a welcomed upgrade to your job site work area. The various positions are as follows:
Primary Gate Access
When set into primary gate access mode, the multi-flex tailgate looks just like a traditional tailgate. You can open it in several ways: using the power release button on your key fob, via a button on the instrument panel inside the truck’s cabin, or a button on the actual tailgate. No matter where you are, inside or outside of the vehicle, lowering the tailgate is just one click away.
Primary Gate Load Stop
This is where you can already see how this tailgate instantly boosts the versatility of this truck. If you need to occasionally haul long items but do not want to commit to a longer truck bed permanently, this position on the multi-flex tailgate can let your bed temporarily extend. In this position, you open the primary gate and then lift up a load stop that holds longer items in place that are lying on the floor of the bed (we specify this because there’s a stop for top-tier items, too, which we’ll get to).
Foldable Inner Gate for Easy Access
When you want to access things in the back of the truck without hoisting your upper body over the tailgate and without opening the entire tailgate, try this function. It lets you fold down just an inner tailgate, making it easy to access items in the bed of the truck without opening the tailgate entirely.
Full-Width Step
If you own a moving company, run a construction company, or do anything that requires you to get completely in and out of the bed of your truck regularly, this position is a major perk. In this position, the inner gate folds down to create a large step, making entry into and exit from the truck bed safe and easy, with support of up to 375 lbs. Additionally, an assist handle pops out of the driver’s side of the box for further stabilizing support. GM has confirmed that this tailgate has gone through more testing than any tailgate in the company’s history and has proven to be strong and durable enough to carry out all functions.
Inner Gate Load Stop
Here’s where the second-tier stop comes into place. If you have items that will load on the second-tier of the bed, meaning items loaded above the wheel arches, this stop sits high enough to keep those from flying out of the truck bed. This is a very handy position for people who need to stack items for hauling in their truck bed, keeping items secure, like plywood that might stick out slightly from the bed when transported.
Inner Gate Work Surface
If you need to fill out invoices, go over blueprints, or simply jot down notes while you’re on the job, this is an extremely valuable function. In this position, the inner gate opens outward, forming a handy work surface. If you regularly work on documents or a laptop on the back of a regular tailgate, you either have to bend over into an awkward position or, if you’re using a laptop, you can try to balance it on the edge of the bed to keep it at standing height. However, this poses an obvious risk, but this built-in work surface lets you stay in a comfortable standing position when you work, keeping your documents or devices secure. This upper surface can also double as a second-tier loading platform, supporting heavy items as you load them into that second-tier position, so you don’t need to rely solely on manpower.
Other Things To Know
The multi-flex tailgate is a must-have for anyone who is very active around the tailgate portion of their truck. Here are some other things worth noting if this feature is a must-have for your Silverado:
You Can Get a Built-in Speaker
You have the option to add a built-in Bluetooth-enabled speaker to your multi-flex tailgate. This is an ideal add-on for those who use their pickup for tailgate parties, camping, days on the lake, and other excursions when pumping tunes adds to the atmosphere.
You’ll Kiss the Power-Operated Tailgate Goodbye
The multi-flex tailgate eliminates the power-operated tailgate. So if you choose this one, you will forego the power-operated tailgate.
Beware of Hitch Contact
Some users have noted that when the inner gate is dropped, it can come into contact with an attached hitch. Consider removing your hitch if you’re going to drop the inner gate often, or be very gentle when lowering it.
It’s a Re-Brand
The multi-flex tailgate, as you see it today, is actually just a re-named feature that already existed. The 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 and the 2020 GMC Sierra HD had something called a MultiPro, which was the exact same tailgate.
It Expanded in 2022
Until 2022, the multi-flex tailgate was only available on the Chevy Silverado 1500. Then, it got added to the 2500 HD and 3500 HD. In addition to being available on all HD 2022 models, it will also be available on the segment-exclusive Power-Up/Down tailgate option on the LT, LTZ, and High Country trims.
So, Should You Get the Multi-Flex Tailgate?
If you use your truck bed regularly, there is almost no reason not to add this tailgate. Think about the things you commonly do on and around your tailgate, and it will quickly become clear that you’ll make use of many, if not all, of the positions of the multi-flex on a regular basis. It might even empower you to finally do things that you’ve wanted to do, but couldn’t with a standard tailgate. You can begin that shed you wanted to build in the backyard and be able to transport the lumber and building supplies with ease.
Furthermore, if you are purchasing your truck with the intention of selling it one day, this tailgate is a great investment. At just under $450 to add, it can make the car tremendously more appealing to future buyers. Just imagine showing them all those cool functions. Plus, you never know how long Chevrolet will offer this fun and useful feature. If it becomes a thing of the past, future buyers could be willing to pay top dollar for Chevy trucks donning this special feature.
Ultimately, this tailgate lets you make temporary adjustments to your truck bed, so you don’t have to pay for or commit to more permanent and similar changes. You can load longer items without paying for a longer bed that you’ll only occasionally use. You’ll have securities in place for long and top-tier items, so buying additional accessories to secure these can be a thing of the past. Overall, it’s a clever add-on that you won’t regret.
