The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop No tailgate chains

Hello stovebolters,
I've got a question, once you've decided not to use chains to support your tailgate when open. What are you folks using instead of the chains? If you have pictures that would be great. And if you can direct me to where you purchased the parts.

Thanks
Dendo

I have not tried them, but Mar-K sells hidden latches and links to replace the chains.
Here are the Links.

I used the Mar-K link assembly as per Kevin's post. They worked well. You have to cut a lot of material off the tailgate, which is a bit concerning, but's it's OK.

I believe Mar-K also sells hidden latches. I used latches from a marine parts supplier. Only issue is that the hook part of the latch can catch you if you use the tailgate as a bench.

For my next truck, I might rig up some sort of quick connect system to utilize stock chains when at a show/using tailgate, and then have a quick way to close it. I like the look of the stock chains, despite the risk. I haven’t decided how to do this yet, but will have something flanged up when the time comes. I might even bolt it shut.

If you are trying to decide on different contrivances for tailgate chains, you might consider black chain covers or clear chain covers.

Or, consider some of the other contrivances shown on this page.

Dendo, Four years ago on this site I floated an idea and made the attached YouTube video. Watch it, it speaks for itself. I called it the Tailgate Chain Eliminator and as an experiment made 6 of them for the 48-53 tailgate (49.75” wide) and 6 of them for the 54-87 tailgate (50.75” wide). From the YouTube video I found there was a market for the idea but not at a price-point at which I could make a reasonable profit. I contacted some vendors about the idea but they didn’t have any interest. I have 3 units left for the 48-53 tailgate.



Good luck, Dave

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.

ps...please don't waste your time with the spray-on Plasti-Dip. It is thinned down to the point where you won't get enough rubber even if you apply lots of coats and it doesn't seem to hold up as well in sun and weather...

Black chain covers = A chunk of narrow bicycle innertube. Mine is +15 years old.

Yes

I remember seeing here or somewhere else where they used seat belt latches and they seemed to work well. Maybe if it was on here someone else will remember.
I kinda like the rattling chains sound as it reminds me of my father coming down the dirt road when I was a kid road however I know people now don't want that noise or damage to their trucks
I'm gonna put clear plastic covers on mine when I get to that point. Have fun and good luck
Dan

One suggestion from a lesson learned in high school...if you use plastic covers and if you live in an area where it rains a lot (New Hartford qualifies) and your truck sits outside or is driven in the rain, cut or drill a little hole in the very bottom (where it crooks). Otherwise water will collect and there's no way to get it out unless you remove the hook and let it drain. Not just because of the rust, but in the winter when it freezes, if water is inside it will split the plastic and nature will make the hole for you. Years ago a company made chain covers out of a heavy canvas-like cloth...black and I suspect it was a synthetic material. Those were ideal. They wouldn't harbor water and they followed the bend of the chain nicely.

Both the clear and the black plastic/vinyl chain covers in my post above have drain holes.

A couple shots of a seat belt latch conversion done 20 years ago. The ends of the inner flange of the tailgate are notched so limiter cable has a place to disappear when closed.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Rq03QfKH/dan-s-49-008.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/hQJtFL1Z/dan-s-49-006.jpg[/img]

Lovely truck
And I like the orange
I can’t unsee a front bumper used on the rear, to much curve
-s

I remember watching one of the "Iron Resurrection" episodes on Motor Trend where they use seat belt latches on the tailgate of a truck. Looked nice.

My truck came with stitched leather chain protectors. One of them fell apart so I’m going to replace both with leather. I really like the way they look and is different.

Love that idea, and great execution!

Bolting it shut was my solution and I never regretted it.....

Cheers,

John