Vehicle tailgate structure

A vehicle tailgate comprising:

• upper and lower spaced apart panels extending in a transverse direction;
• internal and external panels each secured to the upper and lower panels, and defining a cavity between the upper, lower, internal, and external panels, the external panel having a protrusion extending into the cavity;
• a first gusset disposed within the cavity, the first gusset having first and second flanges that are perpendicular to each other and are respectively secured to the upper and external panels;
• and
• a first V-shaped brace having a first central plate shaped to match a contour of the protrusion and having third and fourth flanges extending away from the first central plate in opposing directions, wherein the first V-shaped brace is disposed within the cavity, the third flange is secured to the internal panel proximate the upper panel, the first central plate is secured to the protrusion, and the fourth flange is secured to the internal panel between the upper and lower panels.