A vehicle tailgate extender mechanism including a tailgate frame having a tailgate bed extender guide, and a bed extender assembly coupled to the tailgate frame and including an extender cross member. An extender guide may be secured to the extender cross member, and an extender support member may be secured to the extender cross member. The extender support member is capable of at least partial insertion into and extraction out of the tailgate bed extender guide. A cargo restraining panel is rotatably coupled to the extender cross member. A ratcheting mechanism may couple the extender support member to the tailgate frame and allow the extender support member to be linearly displaced in a first direction within the tailgate bed extender guide while simultaneously preventing substantial linear movement of the extender support member in a second direction opposite the first direction within the tailgate bed extender guide.