Patent ID: 7780211

Claim:
An improved tailgate lifter device for manually removing and re-installing a full size pickup truck tailgate which attaches to the pickup box by means of a post and collar hinge wherein one post is slotted and one collar has an opening through which the slotted post can be removed thus freeing one side of the tailgate so the collar on the other side of the tailgate can be withdrawn from the post to completely free the tailgate from the truck and the process can be reversed to reinstall the tailgate on the truck, which tailgate lifter device is comprised of two rigid hooks, of sufficient internal diameter to engage the bottom edge of the tailgate, a spacer of rigid material communicating between the hooks so that the two hooks are of sufficient distance from one another so that the tailgate is relatively stable longitudinally when free of the truck bed, a strap connected between the ends of the hooks opposite from the end of the hook which engages the bottom edge of the tailgate, and midway along the length of the strap a roll-up handle provided with a slot along one end to receive the strap and being of sufficient width and length so that when it wraps around the strap it provides a well cushioned hand-hold for an individual removing or installing the tailgate, and the material of said roll-up handle and strap are of such thickness so as to be able to fit through the opening between the tailgate and the truck bed when the tailgate is opened.