Backboard bar with adjusting closure

A latching assembly for use to close a tailgate of a dump body having a frame, said latching assembly comprising:

• a latch catch having a contact surface, said latch catch being fixed to the tailgate with its contact surface extending at a given distance away from said tailgate;
• a hook pivotably mounted on a first pivot fixed to the frame of the dump body, said hook having a projection positioned and shaped to abut against the contact surface of the latch catch;
• an actuator fixed to the frame of the dump body;
• and
• means for transmitting movement from the actuator to the hook,
• wherein in use, said actuator transmits a rotational movement to the hook which is then turned between a first position in which the hook projection abuts against the contact surface of the latch catch, thereby preventing opening of the tailgate, and a second position wherein the hook projection is freed from any displacement trajectory from the latch catch, thereby enabling the tailgate to open, and
• wherein the latch catch comprises adjustment means for adjusting the distance between the contact surface and the tailgate.