Patents for an intriguing tailgate that could be featured in the production-spec Rivian R1T pickup truck have been filed by the company.
The tailgates of most pickup trucks simply fold down 90-degrees and double as an extension of the bed. Rivian’s tailgate can open like this but thanks to the use of innovative hinges, the tailgate can also swing open 180-degrees and hang vertically below the bed, allowing for things to be loaded into the bed with added ease, Teslarati reports.
Also Watch: Check Out The Rivian R1T’s Awesome Tank Turn Feature
The tailgate, dubbed the ‘Swing and Drop Tailgate’, is a better solution to what other car manufacturers have designed, including tailgates that open from the side like a regular door.
“A swing and drop tailgate assembly is configured to undergo more than one motion to provide access to cargo space, for example. For example, a tailgate assembly may be arranged at a boundary of the cargo space (e.g., the rear of a vehicle bed), and is configured to undergo more than one motion to allow access to the cargo space,” the patent describes.
There is one notable issue with such a tailgate design, though. If a Rivian R1T has a trailer hitch installed, the tailgate could fold directly onto it, causing a serious amount of damage. Rivian is aware of this issue, and in the patent describes the use of latches that could alter the angle at which the tailgate swings open to avoid hitting a trailer hitch.
