Truck tailgate accessory

A device for enlarging a cargo area of a truck and for providing a horizontal work surface extending from the cargo area, the cargo area being defined by a bed having substantially vertical sides and a tailgate extending between the sides, the tailgate having a side edge that is hingedly attached to the bed of the truck and a free side edge that is generally parallel to the hinged side edge, the device being adapted for mounting on the free side edge of the tailgate, the device comprising:

• a central panel having side edges and ends, one of the side edges having means for hinged attachment to the free side edge of the tailgate and means for accepting removable legs;
• and
• a pair of end panels pivotally attached to the central panel and having means for attachment to the sides of the cargo area, the end panels being adapted for
• stowage between the central panel and the tailgate, so that the end panels may fold under the central panel and between the central panel and the tailgate when not in use, and so that the end panels unfold from under the central panel and attach to the sides of the cargo area to extend cargo area, and then further unfold from the central panel to form a work surface.

A method for enlarging a cargo area of a truck and providing a horizontal work surface extending from the cargo area, the cargo area being defined by a bed having substantially vertical sides and a tailgate extending between the sides, the method comprising:

• providing a device being adapted for mounting on the tailgate of the cargo area, the device comprising:
• a central panel having side edges and ends, one of the side edges having means for attachment of said central panel to the tailgate and includes means for accepting removable legs;
• and
• a pair of end panels having means for attachment to the central panel and further having means for attachment to the sides of the cargo area;
• enlarging the cargo area by positioning the tailgate in a substantially horizontal position and attaching said central panel in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the tailgate while said end panels attach to the sides of the cargo area and extend from the sides of the cargo area to said central panel;
• and further
• creating a work surface by providing a pair of detachable legs, and extending the central panel away from the tailgate and away from the cargo area in a generally parallel manner from the tailgate and attaching the legs to the central panel to add support to the central panel.