Drop tailgate with integrated step

A tailgate assembly for a vehicle having a cargo area disposed between a first bedside and a second bedside, said tailgate assembly comprising:

• a tailgate having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a perimeter defined by a first close face, a second close face, a top, and a bottom, said tailgate configured to be pivotally supported on the first besides of the vehicle for movement between a stowed position and a plurality of open positions;
• at least one tailgate latch assembly releasably retaining said tailgate in said stowed position;
• a first support cable extending between a first support cable bedside end and a first support cable tailgate end, said first support cable bedside end configured to be attached to the first bedside of the vehicle;
• a second support cable extending between a second support cable bedside end and a second support cable tailgate end, said second support cable bedside end configured to be attached to the second bedside of the vehicle;
• a first swing link assembly including a first swing link extending between a first swing link proximal end and a first swing link distal end, a first swing link pivot pivotally connecting said first swing link proximal end to said first close face of said tailgate to permit rotation of said first swing link between a stored position and a deployed position, and a first swing link latch assembly releasably retaining said first swing link in said stored position;
• a second swing link assembly including a second swing link extending between a second swing link proximal end and a second swing link distal end, a second swing link pivot pivotally connecting said second swing link proximal end to said second close face of said tailgate to permit rotation of said second swing link between a stored position and a deployed position, and a second swing link latch assembly releasably retaining said second swing link in said stored position;
• said first support cable tailgate end connected to said first swing link distal end and said second support cable tailgate end connected to said second swing link distal end such that said tailgate is limited to rotation between said stowed position and a first open position when said first swing links are in said stored position and further rotation of said tailgate between said first open position and a second open position is permitted when said first swing links are in said deployed position;
• and
• at least one step disposed along said interior surface of said tailgate that provides access to said cargo area when said tailgate is in said second open position,
• wherein said first swing link latch assembly includes a first swing link latch striker extending from said first swing link distal end in a first inward direction pointing towards said second close face of said tailgate, a first swing link latch jaw that is pivotally mounted to said tailgate for rotation between an engaged position and a release position, said first swing link latch jaw disposed along said first close face of said tailgate between said top of said tailgate and said first swing link pivot, said first swing link latch jaw including a first U-shaped swing link jaw cutout that captures said first swing link latch striker when said first swing link is in said stored position, and a first swing link latch locking arm that is pivotally mounted to said tailgate for rotation between a locked position where said first swing link latch locking arm extends into said first U-shaped swing link jaw cutout to prevent said first swing link latch jaw from rotating and an unlocked position where said first swing link latch locking arm rotates out away from said first U-shaped swing link jaw cutout, enabling said first swing link latch jaw to rotate to said release position and release said first swing link latch striker to permit further rotation of said tailgate from said first open position to said second open position.

A tailgate assembly for a vehicle having a cargo area disposed between a first bedside and a second bedside, said tailgate assembly comprising:

• a tailgate having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a perimeter defined by a first close face, a second close face, a top, and a bottom, said tailgate configured to be pivotally supported on the first besides of the vehicle for movement between a stowed position and a plurality of open positions;
• at least one tailgate latch assembly releasably retaining said tailgate in said stowed position;
• a first support cable extending between a first support cable bedside end and a first support cable tailgate end, said first support cable bedside end configured to be attached to the first bedside of the vehicle;
• a first swing link assembly including a first swing link extending between a first swing link proximal end and a first swing link distal end, a first swing link pivot pivotally connecting said first swing link proximal end to said first close face of said tailgate to permit rotation of said first swing link between a stored position and a deployed position, and a first swing link latch assembly releasably retaining said first swing link in said stored position;
• said first support cable tailgate end connected to said first swing link distal end such that said tailgate is limited to rotation between said stowed position and a first open position when said first swing link is in said stored position and further rotation of said tailgate between said first open position and a second open position is permitted when said first swing link is in said deployed position;
• at least one step disposed along said interior surface of said tailgate that provides access to said cargo area when said tailgate is in said second open position;
• and
• a first re-latch bumper configured to mount to the first bedside of the vehicle, said first re-latch bumper positioned to contact said first swing link distal end and return said first swing link to said stored position when said tailgate is rotated to said stowed position.