Pickup trucks have become rolling showcases for clever engineering, and some of the fiercest competition has shifted to a part that was once little more than a slab of stamped metal. Ford, Ram, and GMC have all found increasingly elaborate ways to reinvent the tailgate, giving owners easier access, extra work surfaces, and new ways to manage cargo.
Hyundai hasn’t traditionally been part of that arms race. Its Santa Cruz occupies a very different corner of the pickup market, while Detroit’s manufacturers have spent decades refining features specifically for truck buyers.
That could be about to change. Hyundai has been working on an unusual piece of pickup hardware that suggests its future trucks may have a few surprises waiting for established rivals.
A recently uncovered patent reveals exactly what Hyundai’s engineers have been experimenting with. At first glance, the idea looks familiar, but one particularly clever feature gives the design a capability you won’t currently find on comparable tailgates from Ford or Ram.
Hyundai’s Tailgate Does Things Differently
Patent drawings show a tailgate divided into sections, with one portion hinged near the center. Opening that section allows it to swing outward like a door, providing easier access to the bed without requiring the entire tailgate to be lowered.
The clever part is what happens next. A secondary platform stored within the swinging section folds downward until it sits roughly level with the bed floor, effectively replacing the missing section of the conventional lowered tailgate.
That could prove useful when transporting bicycles, lumber, or other cargo that’s slightly too long for the bed. Instead of dropping the entire tailgate and leaving the bed completely open, the driver could theoretically use only part of it as an extension.
Hyundai’s design could have another advantage over existing split-tailgate systems. The arrangement appears capable of securing the swinging portion while it’s open, potentially allowing the truck to be driven with the extension deployed rather than leaving the door free to move around.
A Hidden Support Makes The Idea Work
Putting cargo on a platform attached to a sideways-opening tailgate creates an obvious engineering problem. Loads placed far from the hinges generate considerable leverage, potentially putting substantial stress on the tailgate and its mounting points.
Hyundai’s proposed answer is a folding support brace integrated into the main tailgate structure. The brace can extend outward and lock into position underneath the opened section, adding support without relying on conventional cables hanging across the cargo opening.
The patent describes an arrangement that keeps the hardware tucked away when it isn’t required. That could make the system useful not only for cargo but also for anyone who routinely sits or stands on a lowered tailgate while working around a truck.
Of course, additional hinges, latches, platforms, and supports also mean additional complexity. Hyundai would need to make the mechanism durable enough to survive years of dirt, water, heavy loads, and the general abuse pickup owners routinely throw at their trucks.
Tailgates Have Become A Pickup Battleground
Detroit’s truck manufacturers have already demonstrated how seriously they take tailgate design. GMC offers its elaborate MultiPro tailgate, while Ford’s Pro Access Tailgate incorporates a center-mounted swing gate that can be opened while towing.
Ram has taken a different approach with its Multifunction Tailgate, which can operate conventionally or open through a 60/40 split. Each solution attempts to solve the same basic problem: reaching cargo without climbing over or working around a large lowered tailgate.
Hyundai’s patent combines elements of those ideas while introducing its own solution. The ability to create a partial bed extension while keeping the swinging section supported could be genuinely useful, particularly on a midsize truck where every extra inch of usable bed length matters.
This Could Be Destined For Hyundai’s Next Truck
Interestingly, the patent illustrations appear to depict something resembling the Hyundai Santa Cruz. That doesn’t necessarily mean the system was developed specifically for the compact pickup, however, and patent drawings aren’t reliable previews of future production vehicles.
Hyundai has much larger pickup ambitions on the horizon. The automaker is developing a body-on-frame midsize truck aimed at a segment currently occupied by machines such as the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger, giving Hyundai a considerably tougher arena in which to compete.
A feature like this could help distinguish that truck from established rivals if Hyundai decides to bring the patent to production. Pickup buyers tend to appreciate features that solve actual cargo-management problems, particularly when they don’t compromise the truck’s basic functionality.
For now, Hyundai has patented an intriguing idea rather than announced a revolutionary new tailgate. If it reaches production on the company’s future midsize pickup, however, Detroit’s increasingly complicated tailgate war could soon have another participant.