New fully powered tailgate? Anyone got experience with it?

I am considering a 2025 Tundra with the power lift gate. Any owners out there care to comment on whether they like it or not? I asked if there was a manual way to lower it and was told it is all automatic.

I have rheumatoid arthritis so it could be a nice capability for me. I live in a winter climate (Montana) so wondering if they work well in snow/ice/dirt roads/freezing cold temps.

I have my Dad on my shoulder whispering “One more thing to break”….

 

I am going to experience this feature on the HD truck that we are getting next week. I think you can open it with the handle as well so you wont be stuck if all the little motors and switches head south for the winter!

The HD truck has a switch on the dash to open and close it as well! I think we have entered the twilight zone!

 

Bonginator. I don't have a power lift gate and am glad I don't as I can do it myself. That said, I can see with you having rheumatoid arthritis how this would have very good value to you. With all the tech that comes on vehicles these days i.e. emergency braking , blind spot monitoring , navigation, adaptive cruise control etc. etc. etc. It can and does make life easier . But, to be fair your Dad was right also, "One more thing to break!" Don't you hate it when something doesn't go as planned and your Dad whispers over your shoulder "Told you". ;-)

 

Yeah, I just saw a video of this option. Even has an option to tap thr tailgate lid and it closes on its own. Rather they had out more engineering into the bumpers.

 

I'd rather they quit making crap we don't need and just make it a good. solid truck. I shouldn't have to have my seat trim panel replaced, my front brakes replaced, and worry about my engine spontaneously crapping out, all before 15K miles, but here we are. That being said, for somebody in your position, I can see how this feature would be a big help. But your Dad is right, it is truly one more thing to break. Just hope it breaks while under warranty and enjoy the feature while it works.

 

As long as the button is operable when driving down the road, and I can fill a few small buckets with nails or road tacks to be deployed James-Bond-Esque on tailgaters, I'm in. Else....

 

My friend has it on his new Tacoma. Like many…I thought it sounded like wasted money to me. You know it’s going to break. And then I used it…and shit, I want it now. So the going down isn’t the big deal, I already added the tailgate switch so I got that feature . But being able to grab your groceries or whatever you have back there and just give it a quick bump with your knee (which makes it go up) without ever touching it (with your hands) is really quite slick. It won’t lower while you’re driving. (We tried it..in the Tacoma anyway)

 

i just bought a 2025 this week and discovered it had this. Definitely a handy feature that i could easily see becoming a "how did i get along without this" thing

 

If I compare this to my buddies F150. With that, you pull the handle and the tailgate freefalls and crashes when the cables are taught. It usually rips your arm out off the socket too.

This sounds like Toyota is thinking about the users safety first!

I really like the way the tailgate (on my 22) comes down with the dampening so it doesn't crash. My concern would be reliability of the system.

 

not a good idea

 

Fyi, the gate on the 3rd Gen is spring loaded and very easy to raise by hand. My little wife can easily close it.

 

Your answer made me laugh. Still hate it when Dad was right. Unfortunately, (or perhaps fortunately) that happens all too often! I’ve accepted it as I have become older!

 

My 2014 Tundra had the dampening when opening it. I got used to it. Then one day 10yrs ago, I went to open my bosses 2013 F-150 and BOOM. Scared the crap out of me cause it was unexpected. Before my 2014, I always assisted the tailgate down so it wouldn't slam.

 

reported failures on tacos already...I wouldnt be all over this mod just yet.

 

That's too bad... Hopefully it gets refined, would love to add this to my '23.

 

Three months owning a 2025 and love it. No issues so far.

 

My Tundra is just under a month old. I have an RSI Smart Cap on the bed. 40% of the time the auto tailgate doesn't work. It hangs up or binds when I try to open it after driving the truck. I have to push the open button and then as it's trying to open, assist it by jerking on the tailgate. But once it's opened after a driving session, it will open automatically easily. I can also open the tailgate with the Smart Cap rear window closed. Sometimes. 50% of the time. The only thing I can figure is the RSI Smart Cap spreads the bed rails apart and the latches are binding on the little square loops. Sometimes it also won't close. I'll hit the button and it'll just beep at me. Usually when the tailgate has been down for a while. This thing is an atrocity honestly. Even when it works it's like watching paint dry waiting for it to open and close like automation from the 90's. It's motor is loud and it beeps codes as it's moving. Really melodramatic tailgate. Like the whole world revolves around it opening and closing. I'm just like, "Dude...just close and stfu. We don't have time to present you a medal for closing... FFS..."

 

Super useful info and timely. I am disabled with a bad left arm so the truck tailgate auto up and down is important to me. I was going to add the Smartcap to the truck I am ordering but this gives me big pause.

Are you fairly confident that it’s the SmartCap causing the issue?

I may have to rethink my whole purchase of the truck. I need a reliable tailgate lift and down unfortunately.

 

I am not confident the Smart Cap is the issue. It's just my best guess because there's no other reason that I can see. I think a set of bed stiffeners might be in order. A lot of guys won't put something on their bed without them

 

My powered tailgate on my 2025 Tundra with 3,000 miles just stopped working one day for absolutely no reason about 2 weeks ago.
Sure you can operate the old fashioned way, but it takes about 3 times the up force to back drive the motor. Quite annoyed.

 

Just to add since it happened this morning....

The powered seat that slides back and forth. Another completely unnecessary feature that just adds risk of breakage. What's the point of the seat sliding back when you get in and out? For fat people? I don't understand why it's necessary. Anyway....I got in the truck this morning, started it up, put it in gear and drove out of the garage... and then realized the seat never returned to the preset. I pushed the preset button and it moved forward. I thought, weird. Put the truck in park. Turned it off. Felt the seat slide back. Turned it back on and it slid forward. Hmmm. Okay. Drove to my destination. Turned the truck off. Got out. Did what I needed to do. An hour later. Jumped back in the truck. Drove a quarter mile up the street. Everything function correctly. Turned it off. Got out again. Did something else got back in, failed to slide back forward into the preset again....haaaaaa ....

CTFOM....

 

You are able to turn that feature off. One of the first things I did when I got my truck. I don't need to have the seat moved back for me. I know how to exit a vehicle.

 

I have the power tailgate and so far no issues, but I only have 1500 miles on it. I agree it is one more thing that can break, but as I get older I like these little conveniences. Also wish I had the memory seat as the steering wheel doesn't go up as high as I would like it to. Constantly banging my knees getting in and out of the truck.

 

We have a '25 with about 12,000 miles and the electric tailgate has failed a number of times. It reminds me of a garage door with the light beam blocked - it starts, and then stops or reverses. Sometimes it won't drop, sometimes it won't close. First time it was freezing rain, other times weather is fine. No pattern I can figure out. Yes you can pull it down and lift it back, but the latch is also electric, if that fails, the tailgate will stay in position until it decides to work or you take it in. Thankfully, ours has not done that.

I'll have the dealer look at it next time it is in for service.

 

The '25 I just bought has the power tailgate. I hope it doesn't give me issues based on some reports above.