Horizontal positioning of dump truck tailgate

An upper latchable hinge for a dump body and a tailgate, comprising:

• at least one strike defining an aperture, said strike mounted to one of the dump body or the tailgate;
• at least one plunger assembly mounted to the other of the dump body or the tailgate, said plunger assembly comprising,
• a bias tab and a spaced guide tab each defining an aperture axially aligned with the strike aperture when the tailgate is in a raised vertical position,
• a bolt longitudinally movable within said tab apertures between an extended position and a retracted position, said bolt having a pin end, means for retaining a spring, and an actuation end,
• a spring trapped between the bias tab and the spring retaining means, wherein said spring biases said bolt toward the extended position, and
• a lever with a first end comprising a handle and an opposing second end, said lever mounted to said bolt;
• wherein moving the handle moves said bolt between the extended position, in which the bolt pin end is captured for relative rotation within the strike aperture when the tailgate is in the raised vertical position, and the retracted position, in which the bolt pin end is withdrawn from the strike aperture.

A tailgate latching system, comprising:

• a truck body having a bed with front, first and second sides, each extending from the bed to a top edge;
• a tailgate abutting the rear of the truck body, said tailgate having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side, a second side, an interior face and an exterior face;
• a pair of strikes, one strike mounted to each of the tailgate first and second sides adjacent to the upper edge, each said strike defining an aperture;
• a pair of plunger assemblies, one plunger assembly mounted to each of the truck first and second sides, each said plunger assembly including,
• a bias tab and a spaced guide tab, each tab defining an aperture axially aligned with the strike aperture,
• a bolt coaxially movable within said tab apertures between an extended position and a retracted position, said bolt having a pin end with a rear facing bevel, a first transverse aperture between the tabs, and an actuation end with a second transverse aperture,
• a coiled spring surrounding said bolt, one end trapped by the bias tab and an opposing end trapped by a pin extending through the first aperture, wherein said spring biases said bolt toward the extended position, and
• a lever with a first end comprising a handle and a second end comprising an eccentric yoke, said yoke coupled to the second transverse aperture and abutting the bias tab;
• wherein moving the handle rotates the eccentric yoke against the bias tab, toggling said bolt between the extended position in which the bolt pin end is rotatably captured within the strike aperture, and the retracted position in which the bolt pin end is withdrawn from the strike aperture.