A panel system attached to a truck box is provided. The system has a pair of side panels attached to the truck box and moveable between an extended position above the truck box and a stowed position within the truck box. The system also has a rear panel associated with the pair of side panels. The rear panel is configured to retain the pair of side panels in the extended position. The pair of side panels is configured to retain the rear panel in the stowed position. The system may carry more cargo and be easy to install and use.

A panel system attached to a truck box is provided. The system has a pair of side panels attached to the truck box and moveable between an extended position above the truck box and a stowed position within the truck box. The system also has a rear panel associated with the pair of side panels. The rear panel is configured to retain the pair of side panels in the extended position. The pair of side panels is configured to retain the rear panel in the stowed position. The system may carry more cargo and be easy to install and use.

Vehicle tailgate assembly that includes a sill flap and tailgate, where the sill flap has rollers that contact the tailgate while the sill flap and tailgate are opened or closed. The sill flap thus maintains rolling contact with the tailgate during opening and closing operations. In embodiments of the disclosure, the tailgate opens to leave a gap between the edge of the vehicle bed and the edge of the tailgate, and the sill flap is pivoted into this gap. While being pivoted into this open position, the sill flap rollers rotatably contact the tailgate, so that the sill flap maintains rolling contact with the tailgate rather than frictional contact therewith. This prevents damage to the sill flap and tailgate when opened and closed.

A vehicle tailgate assembly includes a vehicle body structure, a tailgate, a hinge assembly and a bumper. The vehicle body structure defines a tailgate opening and having a hinge support section. The tailgate is installed to the vehicle body structure for movement between an upright orientation and a horizontal orientation. The hinge assembly has a first portion installed to the hinge support section and a second portion installed to the tailgate. The bumper is installed to the vehicle body structure proximate the hinge support section such that with the tailgate in the upright orientation, the second portion of the hinge assembly contacts the bumper.

A chain connector for use with a tailgate chain linkage of a machine. The chain connector comprises a first flange, a second flange and a web. The chain connector provided with a first pair of apertures for coupling the chain connector to the machine, and a plurality of second pairs of apertures for coupling the chain connector to a chain. An effective length of the tailgate chain linkage may be adjusted by coupling the chain with a selected second pair of apertures since the plurality of second pairs of apertures are disposed at a plurality of distances from the first pair of apertures.

A chain connector for use with a tailgate chain linkage of a machine. The chain connector comprises a first flange, a second flange and a web. The chain connector provided with a first pair of apertures for coupling the chain connector to the machine, and a plurality of second pairs of apertures for coupling the chain connector to a chain. An effective length of the tailgate chain linkage may be adjusted by coupling the chain with a selected second pair of apertures since the plurality of second pairs of apertures are disposed at a plurality of distances from the first pair of apertures.

A vehicle may have a vehicle exterior panel, which includes a rigid body defining at least in part a vehicle outer surface. A utility panel having an exterior surface and a generally planar utility surface may be movable with respect to the rigid body between a first position and a second position. The exterior surface is integrated into the vehicle outer surface and the utility surface is concealed at least partially within the vehicle outer surface when the utility panel is in the first position. The utility surface is deployed outwardly from the vehicle outer surface and positioned substantially horizontally when the utility panel is moved to the second position, with the utility panel extending from a support point of the rigid body such that the utility surface provides a work surface extending from the vehicle.

Vehicle systems for accessing and utilizing vehicle cargo spaces on vehicles equipped with a tailgate assembly having a door subassembly may include deployable step systems, deployable lift panel systems, deployable cargo extender systems, etc. The vehicle systems may be either separate from or integrated with the door subassembly of the tailgate assembly. An exemplary vehicle system may include a deployable step that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position in order to present a step surface to a user for accessing the vehicle cargo space.

Embodiments of a system for controlling a vehicle power tailgate are described. The system includes a motor operably connectible to a tailgate and configured to open the tailgate at any of at least a first opening speed and a second opening speed lower than the first opening speed. The system is operable to, responsive to a determination that an external load is being applied to the tailgate when the tailgate is in a closed condition, control operation of the motor to open the tailgate at the second predetermined tailgate opening speed if an estimated magnitude of the load is below a predetermined threshold load.

An articulating tailgate assembly with improved accessibility into a cargo bed of a pickup truck, incorporating at least one door. The tailgate system provides a tailgate with a combination of predetermined plurality of functions for accessibility into the cargo bed of the vehicle and to improve functionality of the tailgate assembly.