Tailgate Title Match: The Chevy Silverado 1500 Multi-Flex vs. the Ford F-150 Pro Access

Innovation has long kept the Chevy Silverado 1500 ahead of the pack in the competitive full-size pickup segment. From embracing efficiency with its Active Fuel Management system to delivering a unique four-wheel steering system and introducing the industry’s first hybrid pickup, Chevy’s commitment to continuous improvement has won the Silverado plenty of praise from drivers and critics alike. 

Take the tailgate, for instance. Once treated as little more than a simple way to access the cargo bed, Chevy has incited a full-on automotive arms race with the debut of its Multi-Flex tailgate. Originally unveiled in 2019, this ingenious multifunctional tailgate has taken the industry by storm and spawned no shortage of imitators. While Ford and Ram have both thrown their hats into the ring with the introduction of their Multifunction and Pro Access designs, both fail to clear the high bar set by Chevy’s Multi-Flex tailgate. With the ability to shift between six distinct configurations, the Multi-Flex tailgate maximizes the utility and accessibility of the Silverado 1500’s cargo bed while allowing the full-size model to cement its reputation as one of the most practical trucks for sale on today’s market. So what makes the Silverado 1500’s Multi-Flex tailgate such a standout, and how does it stack up against Ford’s Pro Access offering? Join us as we discover how a pickup’s prestige can hinge on something as simple as a tailgate.     

The Chevy Multi-Flex Tailgate

The Multi-Flex tailgate is basically six tailgates in one, allowing the Silverado to seamlessly adapt to whatever sort of task might find its way onto your to-do list. Let’s break down each of these six functions and see how Chevy has truly outdone itself when it comes to the Multi-Flex tailgate. 

Primary Gate Access

We’ll start with the basics. Like any truck on the market, the Multi-Flex tailgate can swing open to meet the various demands of the day, whether that be hauling building supplies or loading up a few kayaks for a trip up to the lake. Unlike many trucks, the Multi-Flex tailgate can be activated at the push of a button. The tailgate can also be remotely locked or unlocked with built-in dampers that will gently lower it to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.  

A Primary Gate Load Stop

With a maximum length of 98.4 inches when the tailgate is closed, the Chevy Silverado already boasts one of the roomier cargo beds on the market. If that sort of real estate isn’t quite enough to get the job done, the Multi-Flex tailgate is here to help. Simply fold down the tailgate, and a built-in load stop in the primary gate will keep your lumber, plywood, or other extra-long materials from sliding out of the back. The primary gate load stop plays an important role in promoting road safety, not to mention keeping everything nice and secure on your ride from the building supply store to the job site.  

A Foldable Inner Gate

The Silverado’s massive cargo bed can present some problems when trying to access some of the deeper recesses of the rear storage area. That’s where the foldable inner gate comes in. The Multi-Flex design features a smaller inner gate that’s built into the top half of the tailgate. This smaller gate can be folded down along with the primary tailgate, essentially creating a small cutout that’ll give drivers the opportunity to reach a little further into the cargo bed. The foldable inner gate can also be handy as an impromptu work surface, whether you need a place to review some building plans, lay out your tools, or catch a quick bite to eat on your lunch break. 

A Full-Width Step

Modern pickups are larger than ever, and while this sort of height confers some real advantages in terms of ground clearance and off-road ability, it can also make it hard to climb up into the cargo bed. Automakers have tried to engineer around this problem with steps built into the bumper, but Chevy provides a more elegant solution with the Multi-Flex full-width step. The convenient step folds out from the inner gate, giving you a leg up when you need it most. With a maximum weight capacity of 375 pounds, an assist handle, and plenty of traction, the full-width step goes a long way toward improving the ergonomics of the Silverado 1500. 

An Inner Gate Load Stop

The inner gate also provides its own built-in load stop, maximizing the utility of the Silverado’s bed by keeping all your cargo in check, no matter what height it might be riding at. While the primary gate load stop can only be used when the tailgate is folded down, the Multi-Flex’s inner gate load stop can be deployed with the tailgate in the full upright position. Safely packing a full load of cargo into the bed can often feel like playing a frustrating game of Tetris, but the Multi-Flex tailgate’s inner gate load stop lets drivers make the most of the pickup’s best-in-class cargo capacity without a lot of fuss. 

An Inner Gate Work Surface 

Finally, there’s the inner gate work surface. We already mentioned that the foldable inner gate can be used to get a little work done in the middle of a busy day, but some drivers might find the truck’s cargo bed to be a little too low for their liking. Luckily, the inner gate can also be folded down to provide an elbow-high work surface that’ll provide plenty of space while preventing you from having to hunch over as you review your plans, sketch out a new design, or dig into some grub.  

The Multi-Flex tailgate is the perfect complement to the Silverado 1500’s cutting-edge cargo bed. Leading its class with 12 standard tie-downs and 89.1 cu.ft. of cargo space––not to mention a convenient power up/down function and a high-strength steel bed that’s made from a roll-formed alloy––the Silverado was clearly designed with the demands of the working world in mind. In order to ensure every driver can enjoy this same level of functionality, Chevy has made the Multi-Flex tailgate available across the entire Silverado 1500 lineup. Whether you choose the entry-level Work truck, luxurious High Country, or the off-road beast that is the ZR2, you’ll have the chance to enjoy everything the innovative Multi-Flex tailgate has to offer. This stands in stark contrast to Ford’s Pro Access tailgate, which is currently limited to just half of the 2024 trims. The Multi-Flex tailgate also weighs less than the Pro Access design, which is an important consideration when weighing the pickups’ respective towing and hauling capacities.    

Ford Pro Access Tailgate

When compared to the Multi-Flex tailgate, the Pro Access tailgate is a bit of a one-trick pony in terms of functionality. While Chevy’s Multi-Flex feature can dramatically improve the utility of the Silverado 1500 with six functions to choose from, the Pro Access version basically just boils down to an extra side-swinging door built into the tailgate. This 37-inch-wide door allows the middle 60 percent of the tailgate to be opened while the rest of the tailgate to the left and right remain closed, essentially creating a mini access point. The practicality of this feature might be a little hard to appreciate at first, but Ford is marketing the tailgate as a way to access the cargo bed when there is a trailer, camper, or some other equipment attached to the trailer hitch. With a traditional design, these towables might prevent drivers from opening the tailgate, but the Pro Access solves this rare-if-annoying problem with its centrally located door. Swinging open the central door should also give drivers the opportunity to reach further into the cargo bed, which could be handy for shorter drivers or those with a limited reach.   

The door comes with built-in check stops that allow it to hold fast at 37, 70, and 100 percent depending on how much access you require. At 37 percent, the door is unlikely to make contact with a trailer or RV, while the 70-degree check stop provides enough room for an adult to climb into the cargo bed. The 100-degree check stop lets drivers load the bed with larger cargo, though this wide angle would almost certainly mean that the tailgate would make contact with anything attached to the trailer hitch. The Pro Access tailgate can also be folded down like a traditional tailgate, remotely lowered, and, on some premium trims, remotely raised. In addition to its 20/60/40 split functionality, the Pro Access tailgate also includes a built-in cupholder, a built-in work surface and measuring stick, and a recessed tab designed to hold a tablet or phone.   

There are a couple of drawbacks to Ford’s Pro Access Tailgate. First off, the functionality of the ProAccess Tailgate pales in comparison to the capabilities that Chevy brings to the table with the Multi-Flex. The Pro Access approach also gives the tailgate a segmented look that isn’t exactly too appealing from a design perspective. Once you understand how it improves the F-150’s functionality, the conspicuous seams are a little easier to ignore, but the design might be a little confusing for the average bystander and doesn’t exactly look sturdy from a distance. 

When You Need a Truly Versatile Tailgate, Chevy Has You Covered

Automakers have traditionally competed to outdo each other by offering the latest and greatest in off-road trims, engines, and advanced trailer tech, but the tailgate has quickly become the site of the newest arms race in the world of full-size pickups. The tailgate might not seem like a component that offers a lot in the way of innovation potential, but as any driver who has ever struggled to comfortably access the cargo bed, keep a load in check, or find a convenient place to review their blueprints can tell you, that’s simply not the case. The Chevy Silverado is already one of the most capable pickups on the road, but the Multi-Flex tailgate ups the ante and serves as the perfect addition to the truck’s long resume of work-ready features. It might not get quite as much attention as the Silverado’s 420-horsepower engine and 13,300-pound towing capacity, but when you need a tailgate that can adapt to meet the demands of the working world, there’s just no beating the Multi-Flex design.