For those still using chains, you might buy some Plasti-DIp (I use black but you can mix up a color to match your body color). Thin it with pure naphtha, sit down with a brush and carefully paint your chains. It is tedious...you need to first move the links one way and then another and re-coat, but when you're finished you'll have rubber coated links that will work great and for the hook that goes into the gate buy yourself some 3/8 inch electric shrink tubing, slip it on and heat it carefully to make it shrink. No more rust, no more rattles and the gate closes much more tightly now. Or...if you don't want to do this buy yourself some rubber coated 1/4 inch chain, separate the two end links and replace your chain with this. But beware and please don't say nobody warned you...the tailgate chains on your truck right now (if they're original) were meant to hold that tailgate up nice and straight. And the right side matches the left side. The imported chain you get today won't be made to that same standard and your gate might hang a bit too low or too high. Just enough to irritate you.
