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There’s a new tailgate in town, and Ford is calling it the Pro Access Tailgate. The big party trick on display here with the Pro Access Tailgate is the middle portion of the gate that swings out like a single barn door. The point of a sideways-swinging tailgate is the same in the F-150 as it is in other trucks that offer it. You can walk right on up to the edge of the bed without having to lean across a flat-laying tailgate, allowing for easier loading and unloading of awkward items. Of course, this new tailgate necessitated a switch-up from the traditional ladder step and extendable grab handle seen in the standard tailgate design. Instead, a footstep can be pulled out from under the bumper, allowing you to first step up onto there. Then, Ford extended the bumper section to act as a second step that you can hop to before hauling yourself the rest of the way into the bed. The only trim where it will be mandatory is in the new-for-2024 Platinum Plus trim. Other than that, it will be optional on every trim from the XLT on up.
