Tailgate counterbalancing hinge

A hinge assembly for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart first and second side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis of said closure member between open, closed and removal positions, the hinge assembly comprising:

• first and second hinge brackets secured to first and second ends, respectively, of the closure member,
• first and second bushings mounted on the first and second hinge brackets, respectively, the first and second bushings having pivotal axes that are coincident with the axis of pivotal movement of said closure member,
• a first mounting bracket secured to the first vehicle side panel, the first bracket including an elongated key slot,
• a first bushing insert rotatably inserted in the first bushing and including a first elongated key for insertion into the elongated key slot,
• a second mounting bracket secured to the second vehicle side panel, the second bracket including a second elongated key,
• a second bushing insert rotatably inserted in the second bushing, the second bushing insert and second bushing including a laterally open slot therein to permit the second bushing insert to laterally engage the second elongated key when the closure member is in the removal position;
• and
• an axially elongated torque rod having a first end connected in driving engagement to the vehicle body through the first bushing insert and a second end connected in driving engagement to the closure member through the second bushing,
• the torque rod being twisted in tension when the closure member is pivoted to either the closed or open positions from the removal position, thereby providing a counterbalancing effect to assist with pivotal movement of the closure member, and permitting facile removal of the closure member from the vehicle body when the closure member is in the removal position.

A tailgate counterbalancing hinge comprising:

• a first end assembly with a first support for pivotally carrying a tailgate adjacent to a first vehicle body panel, the first support comprising a mounting bracket with a seat and a first bushing insert pivotally received by a first bushing attached to the tailgate and including a stem for locking the first bushing insert with respect to the vehicle;
• a second end assembly with a second support for pivotally carrying the tailgate adjacent to a second vehicle body panel opposed to the first body panel, the second support comprising a key with a mount for securing said key to said second body panel, a second bushing insert having a slot aligned for reception of said key, and a second bushing received in an opening in the tailgate and carrying the second bushing insert;
• and
• a torque rod having a first end secured with respect to the first bushing insert and a second end secured for movement with the second bushing insert for movement with the second bushing insert.

A vehicle body comprising:

• a bed,
• first and second pillar structures on first and second sides, respectively, of said bed,
• a tailgate, and
• a hinge structure pivotally and removably supporting the tailgate at the first and second pillars, the hinge structure comprising:
• a first end assembly comprising a first support for pivotally carrying the tailgate adjacent to the first body pillar, the first support comprising a first bushing attached to the tailgate, a first mounting bracket secured to the first body pillar including a slot, and a first bushing insert rotatably received within the first bushing and including a first elongated key aligned for insertion in the slot to secure the first bushing insert with respect to the vehicle body, and
• a second end assembly comprising a second support for pivotally carrying the tailgate adjacent to the second body pillar, the second support including a second bushing attached to the tailgate, a second bushing insert rotatably received within the second bushing, and a second mounting bracket including a second elongated key, the second bushing including a stem for locking the second bushing with respect to the tailgate, the second bushing insert including a slot for laterally receiving the second elongated key,
• a torque rod including a first end secured with respect to the first bushing insert and a second end secured for movement with the second bushing insert.

A method for assembling a selectively removable tailgate with a hinge structure to first and second vehicle body pillars positioned adjacent to first and second ends of the tailgate, the hinge structure including a torque rod with first and second ends having faceted cross-sections, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the first end of the torque rod in a first bushing insert including a first chamber with a correspondingly faceted cross-section,
• inserting the second end of the torque rod into a first bushing fastened to the first end of the tailgate, and through the tailgate, whereby the first bushing insert is inserted into the first bushing,
• inserting the second end of the torque rod in a second bushing attached to a second end of the tailgate and including a second chamber with a correspondingly faceted cross-section,
• inserting a second bushing insert with a laterally open slot into the second bushing,
• inserting a key attached to the first bushing insert into a key slot attached to the first body pillar, and
• sliding the second bushing insert slot over an aligned, elongated key attached to the second vehicle body pillar, and
• pivotally rotating the tailgate from a removal position to an open or closed position.