Tailgate closing mechanism for tailgate hoist

In a tailgate load elevator system in which first and second longitudinally elongated tailgate support slides are slidably mounted in first and second upright support posts respectively for movement between a lowered position and a raised position, each tailgate support slide having an upper end and a lower end, and pivot means pivotally mounting a tailgate on the lower ends of the tailgate support slides for movement between a closed position in which the tailgate is generally upright and functions as a tailgate and a generally horizontal position tailgate functions as a platform, the improvement of;

• a tailgate closing mechanism comprising;
• a tailgate closing slide slidably mounted on at least one of said tailgate support slides for sliding movement in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the tailgate support slides for movement toward and away from the pivot means between a lowered position proximate and a raised position remote from the pivot means,
• connecting means connecting the tailgate to the tailgate closure slide such that sliding movement of the tailgate closure slide causes pivotal movement of the tailgate to at least partially raise the tailgate toward the upright position in response to movement of said tailgate closure slide from said lowered position toward said raised position,
• drive means carried by said tailgate support slide and being operable to drive the tailgate closure slide toward its raised position to at least partially raise the tailgate as aforesaid in response to movement of said tailgate closure slide from said lowered position toward said raised position.