A drive system includes a first rotary component configured to be rotated by an actuator, a second rotary component selectively coupled to the first component, and a third rotary component selectively coupled to the first component. A coupling arrangement is configured to, in a first range of angular positions of the first component, couple the first and second components and decouple the first and third components and configured to, in a second range of angular positions of the first component that does not overlap with the first range, couple the first and third components and decouple the first and second components.

Methods and systems are described for a folding tailgate. The system includes a first panel and a second panel forming a tailgate of the vehicle. The vehicle has a first vehicle sidewall and a second vehicle sidewall. The system may include a first hinge coupled between the first panel and the second panel. The first hinge is configured to rotate the second panel toward the first panel, moving the second panel towards the first vehicle sidewall for opening the tailgate sideways.

A universal tailgate latch and support system for receiving a commonly available latching mechanism. The latch housing secures the latch to the side of a vehicle cargo bed and allows the cargo door to be supported with a cable or the like when open and secured when closed. The housing may be modified to fit a variety of latches and lends itself to restoring a variety of new or vintage truck beds.

A universal tailgate latch and support system for receiving a commonly available latching mechanism. The latch housing secures the latch to the side of a vehicle cargo bed and allows the cargo door to be supported with a cable or the like when open and secured when closed. The housing may be modified to fit a variety of latches and lends itself to restoring a variety of new or vintage truck beds.

In a work vehicle of the present invention, a load carrying bed includes a floor panel, a pair of left and right side panels, and a rear gate which is openable and closable. The rear gate includes left and right lock operational portions for maintaining the rear gate under a closing posture through engagement with locking engagement portions formed in the left and right side panels, a single handle disposed at an intermediate position in the left/right direction of the rear gate and supported to be pivotable about a horizontally oriented operational axis X, and left and right operational wires for operating left and right locking members in a direction for pulling these locking members out of the locking engagement portions by an operation of the handle about the operational axis X.

In a work vehicle of the present invention, a load carrying bed includes a floor panel, a pair of left and right side panels, and a rear gate which is openable and closable. The rear gate includes left and right lock operational portions for maintaining the rear gate under a closing posture through engagement with locking engagement portions formed in the left and right side panels, a single handle disposed at an intermediate position in the left/right direction of the rear gate and supported to be pivotable about a horizontally oriented operational axis X, and left and right operational wires for operating left and right locking members in a direction for pulling these locking members out of the locking engagement portions by an operation of the handle about the operational axis X.

An add-on extender for a pickup truck having a bed and a tailgate with a pair of sides and a top. The extender selectively extends both the bed and the tailgate of the pickup truck, and permanently mounts onto the tailgate of the pickup truck so as not to have to be removed when not in use. The extender includes a pair of side panels and a rear panel. The pair of side panels pivotally attach to the pair of sides of the tailgate of the pickup truck, respectively, so as to have a non-operational folded position and an operational unfolded position that extends the bed of the pickup truck. The rear panel pivotally attaches to the top of the tailgate of the pickup truck so as to have a non-operational folded position and an operational unfolded position that extends the bed and the tailgate of the pickup truck.

A load retaining gate assembly is provided to restrain the movement of items stored in the bed of a vehicle. The load retaining gate assembly is made of two gate members arranged in sliding relationship and has at least one compression spring-loaded assembly. One gate member slides into another gate member. A compression spring is held in place within the gate members for biasing the length of the gate assembly against side walls of a vehicle bed. The gate assembly is held in place by the pressure put by the spring against the side walls of the vehicle bed. The gate assembly can be positioned anywhere across the width of the vehicle bed and can be easily removed from its position when not needed and locked in a compressed state.

A load retaining gate assembly is provided to restrain the movement of items stored in the bed of a vehicle. The load retaining gate assembly is made of two gate members arranged in sliding relationship and has at least one compression spring-loaded assembly. One gate member slides into another gate member. A compression spring is held in place within the gate members for biasing the length of the gate assembly against side walls of a vehicle bed. The gate assembly is held in place by the pressure put by the spring against the side walls of the vehicle bed. The gate assembly can be positioned anywhere across the width of the vehicle bed and can be easily removed from its position when not needed and locked in a compressed state.

A vehicle tailgate includes a frame, pair of hinges, inner tailgate panel, and outer tailgate panel. The frame has a first outer side-member and a second outer side-member. Each of the outer side-members is secured to ends of a lower outer cross-member. The outer side-members each have an internal surface and an external surface. The internal surfaces define T-slots. One of the pair of hinges is secured to each external surface of the outer side-members. The inner and outer tailgate panels are secured to opposing outer sides of the frame such that the external surfaces of the outer side-members remain exposed.