How to Choose the Right Bed for Your Truck

In case the title is confusing, please note that we haven’t included mattresses in our amazing inventory. Instead, we’d like to talk about truck beds. When you start shopping for used trucks for sale in Florence, you might get a ton of information about engines, towing capacity, and cabin features, like infotainment suites and comfortable seats.

For many pickup truck drivers, the bed matters most. For stowing cargo of any size, shape, or weight, many drivers pay close attention to their beds. Truck manufacturers recognize this, which has resulted in each brand developing its own unique bed features. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular bed features you may encounter when shopping for a used truck to help you decide which option best fits your needs.

GM’s Generous Beds

In 2019, GM introduced the MultiPro tailgate on the GMC Sierra 1500 truck. Today, it can also be found on the GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, as well as the GMC Hummer EV Pickup. Despite some initial hesitation from drivers, the MultiPro tailgate proved so popular that it is now standard on all Sierra 1500 trims except the base Pro trim, where it can be optioned in.

The MultiPro tailgate functions just as any other pickup truck tailgate does, swinging downward on hinges to expose the entire bed. However, a smaller inner gate and some clever hinges and positioning allow the tailgate to take on several other duties, as well. The inner gate can be configured as a vertical load-stopping barrier for longer cargo on either the top or bottom section of the two-tiered bed storage system possible with the Sierra 1500. Lowering the inner gate with the main gate open allows you to get 7 to 9 inches closer to the bed floor, making it easier to load and unload the back of the bed. The inner panel can be folded into a step rated for 375 lbs, while a built-in grab bar can be extended from the box wall to help you climb into the back of the bed.

The tailgate can also be lowered into a workbench with an available 120V electric outlet. Starting in 2023, the MultiPro tailgate could also be outfitted with the MultiPro Audio System by Kicker, which places an independent audio system within the tailgate itself, along with USB device charging and Bluetooth streaming. Picnics at the Florence Nature Park or even working in the driveway on a warm summer day suddenly got much more entertaining.

Given that GM is Chevy’s parent company, it stands to reason that the Chevy Multi-Flex tailgate is essentially the same contraption. However, the Multi-Flex tailgate didn’t join the Chevy Silverado 1500 lineup until 2021, and it debuted on the Silverado 2500 and 3500 a year later. The Multi-Flex tailgate isn’t the only option Chevy Silverado drivers have, though, as they may also choose the EZ Lift tailgate, which has power up/down and lock/release features.

Chevy also offers drivers a selection of optional exterior cameras that provide extra assistance in the cargo bed, including a Bed View Camera and a Bed View with Cargo Bed Zoom and Bed Hitch Guidance.

Ram’s Versatile Options

As the name implies, the RamBox is exclusive to the Ram brand. It’s an option on Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, which means that not every used Ram truck you encounter may be equipped with a RamBox; however, since 2009, it’s been an incredibly popular feature, making your chances of finding one pretty good.

The RamBox is actually two separate storage bins that run along the pickup bed. Spanning the length of the bed itself and as wide as the wheel wells, each bin is weatherproof, lockable, and lighted, so you can store valuables like tools. In fact, the RamBox is also drainable and cleanable, making it a helpful cooler if you decide to take a bag of ice and some beverages on your next trip to the river for fishing, swimming, or hanging out with friends and family.

The bed of a Ram truck can also be configured to your needs via an adjustable divider and extender that is stored in the front of the bed and can be installed on the tailgate whenever you need it. Additionally, a sliding cargo rail system with adjustable cleats allows for tie-down configurations of all sorts, making strangely shaped loads no problem.

Ram also offers a multifunction tailgate, but this one does something the others don’t: it has swing-away functionality. It still flips down like a standard tailgate; however, the Ram multifunction tailgate also has a 60-40 split swing-open function. This means you can open your tailgate around your hitch. It also brings you closer to the bumper and bed of the truck, putting the items in the front of the bed closer to your fingertips. Even better, the multifunction tailgate has a 2,000-lb load rating, which means you can have the whole team hop in the back to help load and unload.

Ford’s Rear Workshop

The trucks in Ford’s F-Series also offer a flipping, swinging tailgate option. The available Pro Access tailgate not only drops to open but can swing open a full 100 degrees. You’ll be able to stand 19 inches closer to the contents of your bed, which can be helpful not only on the job site but after an expensive day on Mall Road.

The tailgate also has three different detent angles, meaning the gate can hold itself in place in three specific positions. As with the Ram multifunction tailgate, this means you can reach into the bed without unhitching a trailer. Ford has also turned the tailgate into a work area: the available Tailgate Work Surface includes clamp pockets, separate tie-down cleats in the tailgate, built-in rulers, and pockets for securing your phone, your drink, and smaller items like pens or screwdrivers.

Introduced as an option in the 2021 F-150 and now also available on the F-150 Lightning, Pro Power Onboard allows drivers to use their vehicle as a short-term generator. Drivers who chose this feature for their F-150 can get an in-cabin outlet and up to four 120V more in the bed. Power levels depend on the engine chosen, so you might want to double-check the output on any trucks you find that include this feature to make sure you have the right power supply for your needs.

Buying a Used Truck in Florence

Most of the time, customers who are shopping for pickup trucks don’t realize how much they’ll use the bed. We tend to spend a lot of time thinking about things like off-road performance, ground clearance, towing limits, and even payload limits and bed size, but we often forget to pause and consider how bed amenities can make our lives much easier.

GMC, Chevy, Ram, and Ford are certainly not the only manufacturers that have expanded convenience features to the bed of their trucks, but these are only a few examples of bed features you might find when shopping for a used pickup truck. When you look for your next truck, consider which of these options sound like something you could use, and look for those options or similar when narrowing down your favorites. While not all are standard, it shouldn’t be hard to find a truck whose original owner shares your appreciation for great bed features.