Copy Ford Maverick adjustable tailgate

[Trace26]

The Ford Maverick tailgate can be set to the same height as the fenders so you can load 4x8 goods.
My friend has a Maverick and we used the tailgate trick to haul 8 sheets of drywall and some plywood and it worked great.
If Slate can't widen the area between the fenders then they need to copy the Maverick tailgate.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2022-ford-maverick-flexbed-versatile-cargo-box/

 

[Adam W]

How does it lock at an angle? Is there a stop in the hinge, or do you relocate the support cables?

 

[AZFox]

How does it lock at an angle? Is there a stop in the hinge, or do you relocate the support cables?

Relocate.
Low:

High:

 

[Adam W]

Relocate.

Oh, you just move it to the tailgate latch pins. Seems easy enough to engineer.

Hopefully you don't forget to move the cables back before slamming the tailgate closed.

 

[Tinker]

That is handy!

 

[sodamo]

looks like it could also be a DIY mod.

 

[The Dude]

Never had an issue loading my cargo sideways in my nissan.

 

[Trace26]

Never had an issue loading my cargo sideways in my nissan.

Have you loaded 8 sheets of drywall and not damage any of them?

 

[ScooterAsheville]

At the Slate intro event they stated (slated?) that the minimum bed width would be 50 inches. So no need for the Maverick halfway down gate feature. I have a Maverick, and I've used that feature a few times. Because the min bed width on the Maverick is much smaller.

A few things I do love about my Maverick bed are the adjustable cleated bed rails (optional). Definitely would love that accessory in a Slate. Also the bed lighting is great.

 

[AZFox]

A few things I do love about my Maverick bed are the adjustable cleated bed rails (optional). Definitely would love that accessory in a Slate. Also the bed lighting is great.

Those rails are really useful!

For a while, the Nissan Titan bed had an lockable exterior cubby / storage box for storing the accessories that go with the rails. Clever!

 

[The Dude]

I used towels and had help unloading. But didn't really bother me.

 

[The Dude]

Have you loaded 8 sheets of drywall and not damage any of them?

Wouldn't they crack without support in the middle? Slate has an easier solution. Use your own 2x4 braces.

 

[Imhotep]

Looks like the Slate has slots where you can fit in boards to allow sheets of plywood/drywall to lay flat above the wheel wells. Photo credit @jwocky

The wheel wells are tall enough that you’ll be going over the sides after a half dozen or so sheets so strap tie downs would be appreciated. Tailgate cables rigged to close to the height of those board slots would seem ideal to me.

 

[KevinRS]

As far as what slate has shown so far, the space between the wheel wells is just a bit too narrow for full sheets of plywood or drywall to lay flat between them. At least 1 interview said that was something they were working on though.
Also, looking at the top edge of the bed, is that a rail to be able to attach tie downs of some type?

 

[Adam W]

Also, looking at the top edge of the bed, is that a rail to be able to attach tie downs of some type?

The track on the bed rail is used by the SUV topper, but is also available for whatever you want when in truck mode. Tiedown rings or cleats would be an easy add.