Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the one-handed safe raising and lowering off a tailgate pivotally attached to a bed of a truck. The apparatus having a module which is positioned to be hidden when the tailgate is in an up position. The module having a spring attached to the tailgate and a side of the bed of the truck for providing a counterbalancing force operating against the weight of the tailgate. The tailgate counterbalance employs lost motion and pretension of a torsion bar to achieve both a safety stop position that arrests the tailgate at about 15 degrees as well as reducing the effort required to lift and lower the tailgate beyond that point.

Abstract: A compact tailgate accessory for assisting in the one-handed safe raising and lowering of the tailgate and to permit easy removal of the tailgate includes a counterbalance module tucked in-between the tailgate and the truckbed sides in a pocket so as to be hidden from view. The module counterbalances the tailgate so that raising and lowering the tailgate can be controlled easily by one hand, with the linkage sharing one or more common attachment points with the detachable tailgate holding straps to facilitate installation. Sharing the common attachment points with the detachable tailgate holding straps also facilitates removal of the tailgate. The accessory provides the ability to lower or raise a tailgate by a small person or non-muscular individual such as a woman with one hand so that the bed of the truck can be easily and safely loaded or unloaded, the tailgate being maintained in the down position by its own weight.

Abstract: A compact tailgate accessory for assisting in the one-handed safe raising and lowering of the tailgate and to permit easy removal of the tailgate includes a counterbalance module tucked in-between the tailgate and the truckbed sides in a pocket so as to be hidden from view. The module counterbalances the tailgate so that raising and lowering the tailgate can be controlled easily by one hand, with the linkage sharing one or more common attachment points with the detachable tailgate holding straps to facilitate installation. Sharing the common attachment points with the detachable tailgate holding straps also facilitates removal of the tailgate. The accessory provides the ability to lower or raise a tailgate by a small person or non-muscular individual such as a woman with one hand so that the bed of the truck can be easily and safely loaded or unloaded, the tailgate being maintained in the down position by its own weight.

Abstract: A tailgate guard assembly incorporates a metal plate that closes off the handle recess. The plate is stiffened by an inwardly extending skirt welded to the back of the plate so that the skirt projects into the handle recess to hinder direct access into the handle recess under the edge of the plate. A hinge section along the top edge of the plate hooks in behind the outer panel of the tailgate along the top of the handle recess. A lock disposed near the lower end of one of the sides of the handle recess has a locking dog that rotates to a locking position in which it latches behind the outer panel of the tailgate without any structural modifications or additions to the tailgate. Once the tailgate guard assembly is hooked by its hinge section to the tailgate, the assembly is swung downward toward the tailgate until the lock is positioned so that the locking dog can be turned to its locking position.