Ford Fathom may have a front tailgate you can put a TV in, per patent images

Ford has filed a patent application for a tailgate mounted at the front of a truck rather than the rear, an unusual layout that would turn the nose of a pickup into a multi-purpose panel. The patent images suggest the design could hold a full-size television inside the tailgate itself, making the front of the vehicle work almost like an outdoor screen rather than a simple barrier. The idea is widely expected to relate to Ford's upcoming Fathom.

That represents a real departure for the class. Pickup owners already treat the traditional tailgate as a workbench, a step or a mounting point for accessories, and Ford has previously experimented with multi-function tailgates on its larger trucks. Shifting that concept to the front end raises immediate questions about cooling, crash structure and day-to-day practicality, and a patent filing does not answer any of them.

Should the Fathom reach showrooms, it would compete in the mid-size pickup segment, where Saudi buyers already weigh established options such as the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max and Ford's own Ranger, alongside the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It is a crowded, price-conscious field where durability, parts availability and resale value often count for more than clever features.

For shoppers, caution is the sensible position. A patent is not a production commitment, and ideas shown in patent drawings frequently change or vanish before a vehicle launches. A front-mounted