[Accused]

Interesting patent from the RAM boys here. Its a proposed split tailgate which could show up for MY '16...

 

[L.O.A.]

Not a bad idea. This can be really helpful, many perks to this.

 

[Diesel Washington]

It look like the idea is having the ability to open the door either horizontally or vertically. That versatility would probably come in handy in many circumstances. I wonder what vehicle will be the first to have this tailgate on it.

 

[shaker223]

Their station wagons did this in the 60s and 70s. Not new however the split part is.

 

[Accused]

do you really think people have been missing this though?

 

[shaker223]

do you really think people have been missing this though?

No.

 

[Accused]

yea me neither, I would think there may be some odd issues with tie down in certain configurations...

 

[AnywhereInTX]

Virtually taking an SUV's tailgate and putting it on a truck. I think it will be useful for people who use a truck more as a car, people who like to put canopies on the back, or hard tonneau cover owners.

 

[L.O.A.]

@AnywhereInTX Yeah thats what it basically comes down to, tonneau cover owners are going to love this. Being a patent, this is a great plus side to owning a Ram

 

[Panther Dash]

Ultimately it doesn't take anything away from the truck, it only makes it more versatile. Even if you can't think of much to use it for, the option of being able to open it differently could come in handy at some point. I don't think that there is really a downside.

 

[Accused]

there is downside. The tailgate has been a simple design since ever, now they want to add extra hinges and mechanisms to a simple piece of metal on rope... Why don't we reinvent the wheel as well while we're at it

And as for tonneau owners, most tonneaus don't let you open the tailgate without lifting thr tonneau well at least the hard locking ones are. This is not exactly going to change that...

 

[L.O.A.]

you're right about it being more complicated, and it is likely that well see problems come up about it, hopefully nothing too serious, it is rather simple afterall so who knows

 

[Tim]

Hope its an option, I'm not going to like the line down the middle.

 

[AnywhereInTX]

I see it as a detriment for what I use a truck for. All I see is stuff I have to grease, things to break, and seals to replace. Like I said, some will love it, np but it will be the crowd that is in between a truck and SUV.

 

[Diesel Washington]

All of your criticisms assumes that there will be problems with the tailgate and there is absolutely no evidence or information that would suggest that. You should at least wait till there actually are problems before you cast off a new feature. The problems you speak of don't even exist.

I also think that its hard to judge a feature like this without seeing it work in real life. Maybe instead of being plagued by problems, it will impress everybody by how great it works. I'm just saying that all this speculation is not really based on anything concrete.

 

[Accused]

All of your criticisms assumes that there will be problems with the tailgate and there is absolutely no evidence or information that would suggest that. You should at least wait till there actually are problems before you cast off a new feature. The problems you speak of don't even exist.

I also think that its hard to judge a feature like this without seeing it work in real life. Maybe instead of being plagued by problems, it will impress everybody by how great it works. I'm just saying that all this speculation is not really based on anything concrete.

You dont need evidence. What is a tailgate? A tailgate is a metal board that folds downwards, mounted on pegs and suppored with thick metal wire. There is a handle to disengage and some of them have simple locks.

What happens when you add extra hinges and multiple release points, it introduces a degree of complexity into a simple system that was already without flaws. Complexity ALWAYS breaks, there are too many links. Instead of two simple pivot points there now has be outward swinging hinges as well as downward swinging hinges, plus individual release mechanisms for downward and out swinging on BOTH sides. You've more than doubled the amount of components, FOR A TAILGATE...

Why should we wait for a system that no one really wants regardless, its backwards logic. There's a reason wagons with a similar system went away in the past...

 

[dravas]

So its going to do something like this?

Well the image i was using doesn't want to link but like the Lincoln blackwoods?

 

[Accused]

So its going to do something like this?

Well the image i was using doesn't want to link but like the Lincoln blackwoods?

yes exactly like the blackwoods, except the two halves will also be able to swing down individually, as well as down together as a traditional tailgate....

If I remember correctly they sold what 5 blackwoods total

 

[Diesel Washington]

I just don't think it is actually that complex to add a few more hinges and handles. Far more complex things have been done in the car industry. I'll acquiesce to you if it does end up breaking a lot, but I am just saying that it seems strange that you assume it will when we haven't seen it in person, and I just don't think its really that complex compared to what the auto industry is capable of.

 

[L.O.A.]

i can't wait to see in it person but ideally they should at least show a video of it once the time is right