US Patent 9387985 Tailgate assembly for a refuse vehicle

A body assembly for a vehicle includes a storage body, a tailgate rotatably coupled to the storage body, an actuator, and a prop. The actuator includes a cylinder tube having an outer tube end coupled to the tailgate and a rod having an outer rod end coupled to the body. Extension and retraction of the actuator moves the tailgate between an open position and a closed position. The prop has an interface surface configured to selectively engage the cylinder tube. The rod end and the prop are rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the storage body such that an operator standing alongside the refuse vehicle may support the tailgate in the open position by directly engaging the prop.