A connector for a removable tailgate includes a shank, an actuator and a retainer. The shank has a thread, a passage and an opening from the exterior of the shank to the passage. The actuator is received within the passage and has a stop portion and a void, and is movable relative to the shank from a first position in which the void is aligned with the opening and a second position in which the stop portion is aligned with the opening. And the retainer is received in the opening and movable relative to the shank from an extended position in which the retainer extends outwardly from the exterior of the shank farther than the thread and a retracted position in which the retainer is received at least partially in the void and in which the retainer does not extend from the exterior of the shank beyond the thread.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a handle assembly. A door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The handle assembly includes a housing, a first release switch and a second release switch. The housing extends at least partially into a cavity of the door and includes a lower wall and an upper wall that cooperate to define a pocket. The first release switch is disposed along the upper wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the horizontal axis. The second release switch is disposed along the lower wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the vertical axis.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a handle assembly. A door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The handle assembly includes a housing, a first release switch and a second release switch. The housing extends at least partially into a cavity of the door and includes a lower wall and an upper wall that cooperate to define a pocket. The first release switch is disposed along the upper wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the horizontal axis. The second release switch is disposed along the lower wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the vertical axis.

An assembly for securing a tailgate to a cargo bed includes, among other things, a strap having a first leg spaced from a second leg, and a fastener moveable to an engaged position with the strap. The fastener in the engaged position extends through a first aperture in the first leg to threadably engage a second aperture in the second leg. When the fastener is in the engaged position, the fastener and the strap are configured to secure a tailgate to a cargo bed.

A modular accessory attachment system for a tire carrier, a bike rack, container, or other structure that can be selectively attached to either a bedslide, cargo box bed, or tailgate hitch, is provided. The modular accessory attachment system may include a plurality of receivers disposed through the deck of the bedslide. Correspondingly sized posts may be extend from the tire carrier, bike rack, other racks, or accessories, and be disposed into the receivers. Pins, detents, or other like attachment means may be employed to secure the posts to the receivers.

A modular accessory attachment system for a tire carrier, a bike rack, container, or other structure that can be selectively attached to either a bedslide, cargo box bed, or tailgate hitch, is provided. The modular accessory attachment system may include a plurality of receivers disposed through the deck of the bedslide. Correspondingly sized posts may be extend from the tire carrier, bike rack, other racks, or accessories, and be disposed into the receivers. Pins, detents, or other like attachment means may be employed to secure the posts to the receivers.

An opening/closing mechanism for a tail gate includes a hinge device configured to rotate the tail gate relative to side walls, and a latch device configured for engagement with a striker provided on the side wall to hold the tail gate in a closed state. The hinge device includes an electric driving device provided on the tail gate and configured to rotate the tail gate by means of a motor, and a coupling configured to couple a body-side engagement portion provided on the side wall and an output shaft of the electric driving device together. The output shaft of the electric driving device fits in a fitting hole portion in a first cylindrical portion formed at one end side of the coupling, and the body-side engagement portion fits in a fitting recessed portion in a second cylindrical portion formed at the other end side of the coupling.

An opening/closing mechanism for a tail gate includes a hinge device configured to rotate the tail gate relative to side walls, and a latch device configured for engagement with a striker provided on the side wall to hold the tail gate in a closed state. The hinge device includes an electric driving device provided on the tail gate and configured to rotate the tail gate by means of a motor, and a coupling configured to couple a body-side engagement portion provided on the side wall and an output shaft of the electric driving device together. The output shaft of the electric driving device fits in a fitting hole portion in a first cylindrical portion formed at one end side of the coupling, and the body-side engagement portion fits in a fitting recessed portion in a second cylindrical portion formed at the other end side of the coupling.

A tailgate opening/closing device has a simplified tailgate opening/closing structure, reduced manufacturing cost, reduced weight, and improved quality. The device includes a release gear configured to be rotated forwards and backwards by a rotational force from a motor, a cinching gear engaged with the release gear, a linkage mechanism configured to receive force from the cinching gear to rotate toward a claw, the claw being caught by the linkage mechanism to rotate together therewith so as to be engaged with a striker, and a pawl unit configured to be caught by the claw in the state in which the claw is engaged with the striker so as to restrict rotation of the claw and configured to allow rotation of the claw in a release operation direction only when the release gear rotates in the release operation direction.

A tailgate opening/closing device has a simplified tailgate opening/closing structure, reduced manufacturing cost, reduced weight, and improved quality. The device includes a release gear configured to be rotated forwards and backwards by a rotational force from a motor, a cinching gear engaged with the release gear, a linkage mechanism configured to receive force from the cinching gear to rotate toward a claw, the claw being caught by the linkage mechanism to rotate together therewith so as to be engaged with a striker, and a pawl unit configured to be caught by the claw in the state in which the claw is engaged with the striker so as to restrict rotation of the claw and configured to allow rotation of the claw in a release operation direction only when the release gear rotates in the release operation direction.