Torsion rod anchor for vehicle tailgate assembly

A tailgate assembly, comprising:

• a frame subassembly for a tailgate, the frame subassembly having a first brace placed adjacent to a second brace to provide a connection beam with a hollow structural section;
• a torsion rod at least partially disposed within the hollow structural section;
• a torsion rod anchor having a rod-receiving opening that receives an end portion of the torsion rod to anchor the end portion of the torsion rod;
• a set screw that engages the torsion rod anchor and extends partially into the rod-receiving opening to secure the end portion of the torsion rod within the rod-receiving opening, the set screw disposed entirely within the hollow structural section;
• and
• an anchoring fastener that secures the torsion rod anchor directly to the connection beam, wherein the connection beam includes a beam opening to provide access to the anchoring fastener, wherein the beam opening is a first beam opening, and wherein the connection beam further comprises a second beam opening to provide access to the set screw.

A tailgate assembly, comprising:

• a connection beam of a frame subassembly, the connection beam defining a hollow structural section;
• a torsion rod disposed at least partially within the hollow structural section;
• a torsion rod anchor positioned within the hollow structural section and including a rod-receiving opening configured to receive an end portion of the torsion rod, wherein the torsion rod anchor provides an entire circumferential perimeter of the rod-receiving opening, wherein the torsion rod anchor comprises no more than one piece;
• an anchoring fastener that secures the torsion rod anchor to the connection beam, the anchoring fastener having a head disposed within the hollow structural section;
• and
• a set screw engaged with the torsion rod anchor to secure the end portion of the torsion rod relative to the torsion rod anchor, the set screw being disposed within the hollow structural section.