Tailgate utility rail and attachments

An apparatus comprising:

• a flat elongated rail formed with a first surface bounded by left and right edges, the rail comprising openings in the first surface for receiving a portion of an attachment base of an implement to be carried on a truck;
• left and right flexible straps extending the length of the first surface and facing a second surface of the rail that is opposed to the first surface, the straps being coupled to the first end of the rail and extending to the second end of the rail;
• a tightening assembly receiving the straps for tightening and loosening the straps to engage the apparatus with a tailgate of a truck with the tailgate between the straps and the rail;
• and
• at least one feature selected from:
• (a) at least one dual buckle plate comprising a unitary body formed with left and right strap slots for engaging the left and right flexible straps, respectively;
• (b) at least one flippable latch of the tightening assembly, the flippable latch being movable to a tightened configuration, in which the latch is disposed substantially flush against the rail, and a loosen configuration, in which the latch is pivoted upward from the rail, the latch being formed with a slot for receiving, in the tightened configuration, a locking tab extending from the rail, the locking tab comprising a hole for receiving a lock to lock the rail in the tightened configuration;
• (c) at least one rail extension engageable with the rail for extending longitudinally therefrom, the rail extension comprising two side tangs with at least one hole each to receive a respective connector oriented in a first dimension to engage the side tangs with the rail, the rail extension comprising a middle tang with plural holes to receive respective connectors oriented in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension to engage the middle tang with the rail;
• (d) a hex key removably engaged with the apparatus and configured to be manipulated to adjust and configure the apparatus;
• (e) at least one pad disposed along the rail and comprising material thermoformed under heat and pressure to reduce fraying when trimmed.