A quick-detach storage system with configurable compartments for a vehicle bed is provided. An example lightweight system has a rail member that can be quickly attached to and removed from the bed of a pickup truck by a single user standing near the pickup. A sliding member extends from the rail past the end of the tailgate of the pickup or other vehicle, allowing the user to attach and detach baskets and containers to the sliding member. The baskets and containers can then be retracted back into the pickup bed along the rail. Various containers of the system are outfitted to hold liquids, grocery items, tools, bicycles, and other objects for easy loading into the bed of the pickup, where the items remain secure. In an embodiment, multiple instances of the quick-detach storage system may be joined with each other.

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.

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative telescoping tailgate systems for an automotive vehicle and illustrative automotive vehicles with a telescoping tailgate system for carrying cargo or passengers. In an illustrative embodiment, a telescoping tailgate system for an automotive vehicle includes: a primary tailgate configured to be movably attached to a body of an automotive vehicle, the primary tailgate defining an opening therethrough; a secondary tailgate movably attached to the primary tailgate; and a telescoping mechanism configured to move the secondary tailgate between a retracted position and an extended position, the secondary tailgate being configured to close the opening in the primary tailgate when the secondary tailgate is in an extended position.

A vehicle tailgate configured to secure cargo and methods of using the same. The vehicle tailgate tray have a base portion. The base portion may have a top surface and be attachable to the vehicle. The vehicle tailgate may further have a top portion. The top portion may have a bottom surface and be attachable to the base portion. The top surface and the bottom surface may face each other and be configured to receive and fix the cargo when the top portion and the base portion are attached together. The bottom surface may be configured to adapt to a shape of the cargo.

An illustrative folding tailgate for an automotive vehicle includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion that are rotatably connected to one another. A first latch may be attached to the first wall portion and configured to engage with a complementary latch part at a first portion of a vehicle to lock the tailgate in a closed position. A guide member may be attached to the first wall portion and configured to move along a rail disposed at a rear of the automotive vehicle, the guide member configured to move along the rail in a manner constrained by the rail. A rotatable connection mechanism may be attached to the second wall portion and configured to attach to a second portion of a vehicle. The tailgate may be configured to open and close via folding movement of the first and second wall portions relative to one another.

A tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a sill coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. A door sub-assembly is disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a first door axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second door axis that is different than the first door axis.

An assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a step assembly that is movable back-and-forth between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a tailgate deployed position and a tailgate stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to a tailgate of a vehicle. In the second configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a vehicle deployed position and a vehicle stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to an area of the vehicle other than the tailgate.

A vehicle cargo structure includes a reinforcement panel, an upright strut member having an upper end, a front wall structure having an attachment bracket fixed to an outboard upper end of the front wall structure and a bracket. The bracket is fixedly attached to a forward portion of the reinforcement panel and the upper end of the upright strut member. The bracket is further secured to the attachment bracket of the front wall structure via mechanical fasteners.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a reinforcement or brace that can be installed on the tailgate of a vehicle. The reinforcement can provide structural support for heavier mounted objects, such as tires, as well as allowing for different attachment points. Advantageously, the tailgate hinge does not need to be removed or replaced.

A workpiece support is provided for a pickup truck tailgate. The tailgate includes a retractable step including a pair of step support members. The attachment brackets include a workpiece support bar and a riser that are attached to the step support members and to each other at a right angle. The workpiece support bar and riser may be fixedly attached to each other or attached by a pivot connector. Detachable connectors are provided to connect a workpiece support bar and riser detachably to the step support members.