Dump Truck Tailgate Lifting Assist Devices

A tailgate lifting apparatus comprising:

• a first cog, wherein the first cog is fixedly attached to a lower hinge pin of the tailgate;
• a second cog, wherein the second cog meshes with the first cog;
• a housing fixedly attached to a dump body, wherein the second cog is rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the housing comprises a ratcheting mechanism that selectively engages the second cog, the device therewith operable to maintain the tailgate in a plurality of positions between a fully opened and fully closed positions,
• wherein the second cog has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first cog,
• wherein the housing includes a box section and wherein the second cog is located within and supported at a front and rear of the cog by the box section and a shaft passing through the box section, the shaft essentially parallel to the axis of the tailgate lower hinge pin;
• a pawl functionally attached to the housing, wherein the pawl selectively engages teeth on the second cog to prevent the second cog from rotating in an opposite direction from a direction for lifting the liftgate;
• and
• a ratcheting rod coupled to the pawl, the ratcheting rod operable to disengage the pawl from the second cog.