2019 GMC Sierra MultiPro tailgate

The 2019 GMC Sierra has plenty of new features on the menu, from a carbon-fiber bed box to a new diesel engine option. But the most intriguing new item when it comes to versatility is the new MultiPro tailgate.

Now, tailgate technology has not evolved that much over the past few decades, with the biggest advance arguably being the soft-opening feature that prevents the gate from slamming down hard when opened. But in today’s hyper-optimized world of pickups, tailgate engineering has not kept up with the demands of the workplace or truck life as a whole.

The MultiPro tailgate aims to change all that by offering a two-stage gate with a wide range of usability and positions. A smaller, second tailgate is incorporated into the main one, serving as an elevated table that can also be used as a load stop while the main gate is locked in its upright position or serve as a step when the main gate is down.

Used as a step, the smaller gate can handle 375 pounds, while also serving as a footrest when the main gate is down and is being used as a seat. As you can see in the video above, there are plenty of uses for the load-stop that folds out of the smaller gate, including carrying long pieces of cargo like ladders or pipes, or allowing large items to be loaded easier and in a more compact way, while also reducing the weight pressure on the main gate when large items are wheeled into the bed via ramp.

The smaller gate is also useful as a small work table because it’s positioned higher than the main gate when folded down. This makes working on small items or documents easier — they will be positioned about chest-high when the small gate is used as a table.

“This multifunctional tailgate offers proven strength and durability, having undergone more testing and validation than any tailgate in GM’s history,” GMC says. “Sierra is the first and only truck to offer the MultiPro Tailgate, providing premium truck customers the ultimate flexibility. MultiPro Tailgate will be standard on Denali and SLT.”

All we can say is: It’s about time that tailgate design caught up with the wide variety of situations that gates are forced to deal with in business and in leisure use, and this seems like an item that trucks owners will appreciate.