Ram has upgraded the tailgate on its 2019 1500 pickup truck with its latest and greatest idea: the Multifunction Tailgate.

The Multifunction Tailgate features a 60/40 split and can be opened swing-away barn-door-style, making it easier to load and unload the bed, or to step up into it.

Forklift loading is now an option, too, and this should make it easier to wash the bed.

The tailgate is fully dampened, and can also drop down like a regular tailgate.

The doors can be opened independently of each other, which is helpful when a trailer is attached, because it doesn’t require it to be unhooked. Each door can swing up to 88 degrees and retains its 907-kg load rating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJvruCcHz78

“The Ram Multifunction Tailgate is intuitive to operate, and owners will find it immediately useful,” says Reid Bigland, head of Ram brand. “Combined with Ram’s class-exclusive RamBox feature and new tailgate step, we’re taking Ram’s cargo management and storage to the next level.”

On top of the versatile bed, the Ram 1500 can be optioned with RamBox cargo management, which includes lockable storage in the bed rails with a 115-volt 400-watt outlet.

The Multifunction Tailgate will be available in the second quarter of 2019 and can be added to any of the seven Ram 1500 trim levels.