Combined tailgate and ramp

A combined tailgate and ramp for a pickup truck. The tailgate can be removed from the truck and used as a loading ramp. As a ramp, one end of the tailgate is placed on the bumper or bed of the truck. The tailgate is laterally adjustable to form a ramp which accommodates the loading of vehicles having different track sizes or different wheel bases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a dual purpose device that serves as a tailgate 
for a pickup truck or similar vehicle, as well as a loading ramp. Typical 
of prior art patents relating to such devices are Bennett, U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,596,417--Combination Loading Ramp and Tailgate Closure Device, Hanson, 
4,668,002--Vehicle Tail Gate Ramp Assembly, Gerulf, 5,211,437--Combination 
Tailgate and Ramp Assembly and Belnap et al., 5,273,335--Truck 
Ramp/Tailgate. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed at a dual purpose tailgate for a pickup truck 
and similar vehicles. The tailgate of the present invention pivotally 
mounts in the original tailgate mounts in the rear of a pickup bed. 
Latches are provided that are cooperatively received by the original latch 
mounts or receptacles of the truck bed. The tailgate, as positioned in a 
truck bed, includes an upper section and a lower section which are 
divided, horizontally, at about midpoint. The tailgate is constructed from 
tubular steel, channel iron, steel rods and expanded metal mesh. In use as 
a loading ramp, the tailgate is simply taken out of the tailgate mounts, 
one narrow end placed on the bumper of the truck and the other narrow end 
on the ground, and then the sections moved laterally to extend the 
sections to the track width needed to accommodate the wheels or track of 
the item to be loaded in the truck bed. As a precaution, it is good 
practice to clamp, chain or otherwise affix the tailgate/ramp to the 
bumper so that it does not fall or slide out of position while loading. 
After the item is loaded in the truck, the tailgate/ramp is collapsed and 
re-installed in the pickup as a tailgate. The tailgate/ramp is useful for 
loading and unloading such items as lawnmowers, all terrain vehicles, 
snowmobiles and motorcycles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
With reference to the drawings, there is shown a dual purpose tailgate 2 in 
accordance with the present invention. The tailgate includes an upper 
section 4 and a lower section 6 which is divided, horizontally, the length 
thereof at midpoint 8. For a standard pickup, the tailgate measures 
overall about 22 by 66 inches. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the 
outer frame is made of 11/2" square tubing 10 to which, at each end, there 
is welded 2 inch iron channel members 11. In the upper section 4, there is 
provided latches 12, which engage the latch mounts or receptacle of the 
pickup body. The latches can be spring tensioned, not shown, if desired. 
In the lower section 6, at each end, at bottom, there is provided a slide 
rod 14 (11/4" diameter) which pivotally and removably mount in the 
tailgate mounts of the pickup body. In the upper and lower sections, there 
is welded a plurality of parallel square steel tubes 16 perpendicular to 
the top and bottom outer frame member 10. Suitably, the square tubing 16 
is 3/4 inch. A tire or track supporting surface 18 is affixed to the outer 
surface of tubing 16 and frame members 10 and 11. In the embodiment shown, 
the surface 18 is expanded metal. Other materials can be used such as 
corrugated metal. Expanded metal is preferred because it permits air to 
pass through it which provides less drag when the tailgate is mounted on 
the truck. Joining the upper and lower frame members 11, in slidable 
engagement, is square tubing member 20, best seen in FIG. 2. The square 
tubing member 20 is 11/2 inch. Extending between and perpendicular to 
members 20 is a T-shaped reinforcing and supporting member 22, best seen 
in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the embodiment shown, member 22 is formed of 11/2 
inch by 1/8 inch steel strap 24 and 11/2 inch by 3/16 inch steel strap 26. 
Secured to and perpendicular to T-shaped member 22 are a plurality of 
parallel spaced 1/2 inch cold rolled rods 28 on which cooperatively slide 
tubing members 16, as best seen in FIG. 2. The tailgate 2 is shown fully 
extended in FIG. 2 as a loading ramp. It can be, of course, extended to 
any intermediate position or, not extended at all, in accordance with the 
requirements of the item being loaded. 
The dual purpose tailgate can be made of other materials such as aluminum 
or good quality plastic or a combination of materials. Similarly, it is 
possible to use different forms of materials in the construction of the 
tailgate such as cylindrical tubing instead of square tubing, a single 
strap member or I-beam member in place of T-shaped member 22, and the 
like.