Tailgate chains on new paint

[DPete]

I left mine but would like to know what you do to keep them from swinging? I think the sleeves on mine are a little short which makes them more flexible. Any pics of chains that don't swing? Or ideas?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Go to your local bike shop and ask them for some of the road bike inner tubes they throw away. They fit tightly on our chains. You don't want mountain bike inner tubes! You cut them to length. They don't last forever but it keeps them from scratching the paint.

[DPete]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Go to your local bike shop and ask them for some of the road bike inner tubes they throw away. They fit tightly on our chains. You don't want mountain bike inner tubes! You cut them to length. They don't last forever but it keeps them from scratching the paint.

Ten speed tubes? There was a guy on here making leather covers that looked really good, tried to PM him, mailbox full and no recent posts

[dsraven]

anything you put on there is going to rub somewhere. how about an upholstery shop makes you a "tube" of whatever material you decide and you run the chains inside that. then, on the box, you install some 3M rock chip guard like you see on the front of a lot of cars. it is like a clear decal and would protect your paint. if it scuffs over time you just peel it off and apply a new piece. those places that sell the stuff probably have lots of small pieces laying around from cut off. would be cheap.
just a thought.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by DPete

Ten speed tubes? There was a guy on here making leather covers that looked really good, tried to PM him, mailbox full and no recent posts

Ha ha, "ten speed" tubes? Hell, you must be as old as I am to remember when road bikes were all generically called "ten speeds"

But yes, the narrow tubes used in a road bike. See my photos below. The loose tubesthat look like ass are from a mountain bike. They look terrible.

I immediately changed to the tight fitting tubes. Now, with finished paint on my truck I will use two tubes one over the other so they'll last a little longer. Bike shops have them in their trash and will give them to you.

PS: As for the leather covers - are you trying to draw attention to your tail gate chains or are you just wanting to protect your paint? I plan to use the 3M film too. I just didn't do it when I was sporting Rustoleum Sage rattle can paint but I will now.

[dsraven]

even better would be one of those old kids riding horses with the spring suspension, all dolled up and pimped out in leather saddle etc, sitting in the back. or an old bicycle from the era with the basket on the handlebars and leather tassels.haha

[greg_h]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Ha ha, "ten speed" tubes? Hell, you must be as old as I am to remember when road bikes were all generically called "ten speeds"

But yes, the narrow tubes used in a road bike. See my photos below. The loose tubesthat look like ass are from a mountain bike. They look terrible.

I immediately changed to the tight fitting tubes. Now, with finished paint on my truck I will use two tubes one over the other so they'll last a little longer. Bike shops have them in their trash and will give them to you.

PS: As for the leather covers - are you trying to draw attention to your tail gate chains or are you just wanting to protect your paint? I plan to use the 3M film too. I just didn't do it when I was sporting Rustoleum Sage rattle can paint but I will now.

The hidden key to those pictures is to start the hook from the bottom of the latch. It makes the hooks hang more straight down, the chains hang nicer, and they actually don't flop around as much as when they are hooked from the top.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by greg_h

The hidden key to those pictures is to start the hook from the bottom of the latch. It makes the hooks hang more straight down, the chains hang nicer, and they actually don't flop around as much as when they are hooked from the top.

Yup, absolutely! My Dad taught me to do it that way and when I see someone just stick the hook downward through the hole it bugs the crap outta me.

And you're right that the chains seems to move around less, though the tight inner tube covers had something to do with that.

PS: I like the idea of the industrial shrink tubing. I'd still use black I think. Unless I used a medium gray or silver. Color matched to the body would look cheesy in my opinion - and we all know what opinions are worth

[jweb]

I like dsraven's idea for the chains, but I wonder if you could spray the hooks with some clear plasti dip or use clear heat shrink tubing so it doesn't wear on the tailgate.

My truck is getting painted in November so I have been trying to come up some ideas too.

[1project2many]

There was a guy on here making leather covers that looked really good,

I wonder how a lace-on leather steering wheel cover would look?

on the box, you install some 3M rock chip guard like you see on the front of a lot of cars.

The clear chip guard is very durable. I like this idea.

[DPete]

Here's a pic of the members work, pretty cool I think if you don't have to park in the rain which I don't. I like the clear rock chip idea too. Might check with a local leather guy to see if he would want to make a pair, we live in saddle shop country.

[Foot Stomper]

Put some paint protection film on your truck and free the chains!

[dsraven]

those would look good to match the seat covering and handlebar tassels on the vintage motorbike you could haul in the box, haha.

[DPete]

Hell ya, or I'll load up my wife's horse and head to the Calgary Stampede. Ye ha ha

[Russell Ashley]

Those brown leather covers are beautiful. I have the clear plastic covers that I bought along with the chains which are good and stiff enough to keep the chains from moving around. If you make your own covers don't forget to put a drain hole at the bottom where they curve.

[DPete]

Small inner tube looks good Dan, Oddly enough my name is Dan also and I grew up there in Pasadena, graduated from PHS in 73' so ya I'm old

[1project2many]

What about industrial shrink tubing? It's available in many colors. 1" or 1-1/4" should work.

[tmoble]

Some place like Fry's Electronic will have a big selection of different sizes and colors. I use it for all kind of stuff. It's pretty tough.

What's the deal on the clear plastic decals? Any caveats? get it off later with a heat gun?

[vintovka]

Not sure plastic stuff will work here on the coast. Moisture (salty sea air) gets behind everything.

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by tmoble

What's the deal on the clear plastic decals? Any caveats? get it off later with a heat gun?

Do you mean paint protection film? Yes, heat gun if you ever feel the need to take it off. No salty moisture will get underneath it either.

[jams97355]

Another way to go. Just another option.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1506668192

[DPete]

I think the key to keep them from swinging is to keep the cover long like in Dans inner tube pic on the right. Every chain joint is like a hinge the more links exposed the more it will swing.

[Dan in Pasadena]

When I had those road bike inner tubes on my chains I found that UV attacks them pretty aggressively. The rubber is pretty thin. So the idea of the large diameter heat shrink is intriguing to me. Fry's has it in 3/4" and 1" diameters and colors including clear.

My objection to the clear tubing some guys use on their chains is that it gets cloudy and eventually yellows. I assume heat shrink would be much more UV resistant. I'd use black but I wonder if it would resist turning color if I used clear? Any electricians here that know how that stuff ages? Does it become brittle and crack?

[dsraven]

will the shrink tube bend enough to make the chains look proper without fatigue cracking?

[1project2many]

Originally Posted by dsraven

will the shrink tube bend enough to make the chains look proper without fatigue cracking?

I think it depends on the wall thickness. If you don't open the gate much you could shrink the cover after the chains are hooked in.