Not to be outdone with press releases from both Ford and GM, Ram has announced a new feature for their half-ton pickup trucks. It’s called the multifunction tailgate and it works like this: in addition to the traditional method of opening, the tailgate can be split into barn doors, with a 60/40 split line, and each door can be opened individually. The doors swing out 88 degrees.

In addition, an optional center step can be optioned and the RamBox cargo bins are still available. Which is neat and all…and it leaves us with a feeling of déjà vu: with Ram and GMC announcing multifunction tailgates, are you starting to see hints of 1970s American station wagons now? Think back to Ford’s “Magic Doorgate”, for example: A trick rear gate, plus extra storage in clever little locations, on a vehicle that originally was a utility design but now has morphed into some kind of gigantic status symbol. At least Ram’s tailgate does serve one good utility purpose: forklift loading will be an absolute breeze with both doors swung wide open!