In terms of technology, trucks today are head and shoulders above what conquered the roads before.
The first truck had a four-horsepower engine with only two forward gears and one reverse. Today, modern trucks have a cargo management system, multipro midgate, transparent trailer view, and trailer hitch assists, among others.
Let’s explore today’s coolest innovations that improve a truck’s comfort, storage, and performance.
Cargo Management System
Some trucks have two additional compartments on the sides of the truck bed, giving drivers extra room for storage. Typically, a truck bed is structured to not have additional compartments, with only the floor panel as your means of storage.
RamBox
Several Ram trucks have this feature, called the RamBox. Models with a RamBox include the following:
Ram 1500 Regular Cab
Ram 1500 Crew Cab
Ram 1500 Quad Cab
Ram 2500 Crew Cab
Ram 2500 Mega Cab
Ram 3500 (single rear wheel) Crew Cab
Ram 3500 (single rear wheel) Mega Cab
The RamBox has lighting, a drain plug, and a 115-volt auxiliary outlet, making it one of the most versatile truck storage boxes out there.
It comes in two sizes: one for 5’7″ truck beds and one for 6’4″ truck beds. The former has 7.3 cubic feet of cargo space, while the latter has 8.6 cubic feet of additional space. This means you can fit larger tools like shovels, fishing rods, pickaxes, and more.
Gear Tunnel
Similarly, the Rivian R1T has a similar form of extra storage called the Gear Tunnel. The difference is the location.
The Gear Tunnel is in front of the bed that spans the truck’s width. It comes with two outlets (12V and 110V) that can power electrical items, making it a convenient feature when camping. The extra storage also frees up space in the bed, making for a nice bonus.
Multipro Midgate
Unlike the prior space-related features, the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali’s Multipro Midgate extends the bed truck instead of giving additional storage room.
The midgate is a hinged door that lets you extend the bed into the cab to create additional space, expanding the 5’11 ft bed to 9’1 ft, a considerable upgrade.
To lower the midgate, you first need to fold the rear seats to make room for the folded midgate. Stand outside and hold the midgate to prevent it from falling forward, then press the buttons at the bottom of both sides.
Transparent Trailer View
Another innovation by GMC is the Transparent Trailer View, which comes as part of its Sierra Heavy Duty and Sierra 1500 pickup trucks.
This feature allows you to see through the connected trailer. The trailer’s outline appears on the infotainment system. The screen displays a ghost image that removes blind spots and gives you a view of the trailer’s sides.
The Transparent Trailer View uses different camera views that form a single image of the “see-through” trailer. It relies on a primary tailgate-mounted camera and an accessory camera on the trailer rear.
The system also uses the left- and right-side mirror cameras to transmit data to other systems like blind-spot warning and lane-departure warning. These cameras make it so the towed trailer looks invisible on the screen.
Turning on the Transparent Trailer View lets you see around the trailer, making it easier to drive and improving safety.
Trailer Hitch Assist
Some Ford trucks feature an innovative assist feature called the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist. These include the following:
Note that only trim levels from 2015 onwards have this feature.
Other models with Hitch Assists are the Ford F-150, the Ford F-150 Lightning, and the F-Series Super Duty (F-250, F-350) on select 2023 models.
The Pro Trailer Hitch Assists uses the truck’s reverse cam and sensors to help you steer while backing a trailer. This system uses a rotary dial on the dash, so you won’t need to guess which way to back up.
To use the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, drivers only need to push and hold a button while monitoring progress on the center screen display.
Hybrid Powertrain
One economic truck feature today is Ford’s hybrid powertrain found on the Maverick that delivers 40 city, 33 highway, and 37 combined mpg if combined with front-wheel drive. For comparison, a 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 gets 23 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
And while the Maverick isn’t the fastest truck on the market with only 191 hp, that upside of less frequent gas station stops should entice more buyers.
While it remains to be seen when or if other manufacturers will pick up something similar to the hybrid powertrain, it’s for sure going to make a buzz in the industry.
Other notable trucks with hybrid powertrains include the Toyota Tundra Hybrid, Ford F-150 Hybrid, and Ram 1500 with eTorque.
Multi-Flex Tailgate
Another GMC innovation is the Multi-Flex Tailgate found on the Chevrolet Silverado line of full-size pickup trucks. It’s a feature that lets you transform the tailgate into six different positions by pushing a button on the key fob or bed.
One position extends the bed and lifts a load stop that prevents items from slipping out of the bed. Similarly, you can lower the inner gate alone to provide a work surface at a comfortable height, making a makeshift workbench. Trucks with a Multi-Flex Tailgate are also equipped with an audio system if you want to play some music.
Ford has also capitalized on the Multi-Flex success with the Pro Access Tailgate, which includes a step and a handrail to make it easier to enter and exit the bed. As of early 2025, the Pro Access Tailgate is only available on the 2024 Ford F-150.
Pro Power Onboard
Speaking of Ford, the F-150 Lightning has an added electrical feature called the Pro Power Onboard. This essentially acts as extra power outlets, letting you plug devices in the cabin, truck bed, and even the frunk to power different tools.
The Pro Power Onboard is available on F-150, Super Duty, and E-Transit models that can output up to 7.2 kW of power. Electronic models can push out up to 9.6 kW. For reference, 9.6 kW can power a large microwave, a washing machine, a small air conditioner for a few hours, and more.
Isodynamic Performance Seats
Toyota’s IsoDynamic Performance Seats are exclusive to the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro variant. It has shock absorption that aims to stabilize the driver’s field of vision to improve focus and comfort while reducing fatigue when driving off-road.
The seats also allow for simultaneous vertical and lateral movement to dampen body movement and stabilize the head and neck, keeping alignment with the spine. While it remains to be seen how popular this seat is for off-road enthusiasts, it’s definitely one of the coolest truck features around.
Crab Walking Mode
Crab walking is a four-wheel steering setting that lets the rear wheels copy the angle of the front wheels. It got its name because the feature allows trucks to move laterally, similar to how crabs walk.
Trucks that can crab walk include:
GMC Hummer EV SUV
GMC Hummer EV Pickup
Sierra EV Denali Editions 1 and 2
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Crab walking trucks have launched a handful of similar technologies, like Hyundai IONIQ 5’s e-Corner System that lets each wheel move independently. There’s also “Zero Turn” that lets the front wheels move inward while the back wheels move outward, essentially spinning the truck in the same spot.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
