Abstract: A tailgate assembly is disclosed for use with a dump truck which has a bed, two side walls and a bed opening, and also has an obstruction, such as a tag wheel assembly, spaced relatively closely to the bed opening. The assembly comprises a tailgate pivotally connected to hydraulically operated arms for moving the tailgate between open and closed positions. Guides restrict the tailgate to a first substantially rectilinear path of travel and lost-motion connections prevent relative pivoting of the tailgate with respect to the arms to cause outward swinging of the tailgate with respect to the truck bed during a second path of movement to prevent interference between the tailgate and the obstruction during sequential opening of the bed and the raising of the bed to its dumping position.