Abstract: A mechanism and process for lifting the tailgate of a pick-up truck when the truck is being coupled to a fifth wheel vehicle. The mechanism comprises a cable that connects with the tailgate, passes over pulleys on the side of the truck, spans the open bed of the truck and passes over pulleys on the other side of the truck. As the truck is backed underneath the forward section of the fifth wheel vehicle, the pin box which depends from the forward section engages the cable where it spans the open bed of the truck. As the pin moves toward engagement in the fifth wheel mount on the bed of the truck, the cable gradually rotates the tailgate from the open to the closed position. In decoupling the process is reversed.