Tailgate chain hook damaging paint

[jhamelton]

Hi guys. I have a 58 stepside that I am doing some work on for a guy. His tailgate chains are brand new with clear covers with the drain hole. they look to be actual replacement chains for this truck. The chain covers do their job, but that actual hook part that goes through the latch is actually damaging the paint. right now he has a bunch of masking tape covering around the hooks and also around the last couple of links and the eyelet on the bed side of the chain. are these covers to short? or is there some way to keep the hooks from damaging the paint? there is no way the chain covers can cover the hook, so how do you stop it from doing damage? thanks.

[mr48chev]

Outside of a thin coating of that plastic dip it stuff to cover the hooks I can't think of any way to prevent some paint boogering.

That's the main reason I'll never run tailgate chains on my truck again.

[Foot Stomper]

Look around for some "paint protection film" that you'd put on the gate. It's the product dealerships are putting on the front of of new cars. This may help... Chains aren't a part of the future for my '59 for this reason also.

[mongocanfly]

I'm with mr48 on the no chain rule..3m makes a nice paint protection film that is easily replaced when damaged..you might check with some body shops ..they may have some small pieces you could use..

[Daze57]

you may want to try surgical tubeing or even heat shrink -----the surgical tubeing -you would prolly need wd-40 to slip it on... or go to the junk yard and look for either vacuum line or tubeing from the wiper bottle . there is all sorts of hose to use there .
good luck !

[1project2many]

I accepted long ago that the paint wouldn't stay perfect on my truck. I enjoy driving it and some parts of the truck show its status as an 18 year old restoration that doesn't stay parked every year. I feel the spots on my tailgate are small and do not detract from the overall appearance. The chain protectors, straight from GM, leave black marks on the bed. This is also part of the nature of the original truck. The marks can be removed easily.

I wonder if plastic hooks would do a better job of protecting the paint.

[MARTINSR]

The clear "rock guard" style tape should make a big difference.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Trimb...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

I am amazed at how much of this I will see on cars these days at work.

They will put it in many pieces over the entire front end. Into the door handle recesses, along the rockers, it can be put anywhere. It's not easy to capture one in a photo so don't think it jumps out at you like this photo, it's really a good idea.



I hadn't even thought about it as I read this thread until Footstomper brought it up, great idea!

Brian

[CMACDONALD1]

what I have done in the past is just give the chains a couple twists before you put it in the eyelet and that stops the chains from being really loose and damaging the paint. I also use this method to shorten safety chains for trailers. works really well.

[Russell Ashley]

Be sure to notice that there is an "R" and an "L" stamped into the hook. I'm only posting because I'm not the only one who has missed this and had to go back and change them. It's an easy thing to miss.

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Be sure to notice that there is an "R" and an "L" stamped into the hook. I'm only posting because I'm not the only one who has missed this and had to go back and change them. It's an easy thing to miss.

This is true they are stamped L and R and what i did on my stepside is
reversed the handings and instead of hooking the chain going threw the top of the hole, i inserted (with the handings reversed) the hook going threw the bottom of the hole and this seamed to help keep the hook away from the painted area of the bed, give it a try! fwiw,
Allen

[jhamelton]

Awesome. Thanks for the help guys!!
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 58CameoAZ

This is true they are stamped L and R and what i did on my stepside is
reversed the handings and instead of hooking the chain going threw the top of the hole, i inserted (with the handings reversed) the hook going threw the bottom of the hole and this seamed to help keep the hook away from the painted area of the bed, give it a try! fwiw,
Allen

I never knew until this minute that the chains are stamped left and right - you learn something new everyday!

My dad taught me to insert the hook from the bottom-up on his '59 Fleetside and I've always considered it the "right" way to do it. That said, I don't think this would keep the paint from chipping on the tab the hook goes through or where an unprotected chain bumps on the paint. That's always going to be easy to chip.

I considered doing away with my tailgate chains but decided they're part of the charm of a 60 year old truck. On mine I HAVE used piece of "roadie" bicycle inner tubes as they fit tightly on the chain (YOur local bike shop will GIVE you all you can carry out of their trash) Problem is they don't last. They tear after awhile and of course they don't show the polished chain. But clear hoses turn dull or yellow - ugh.

Maybe putting the 3M film on the tab would minimize chipping, I don't know.

How difficult is it to install for the DIY'er?

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Maybe putting the 3M film on the tab would minimize chipping, I don't know.

How difficult is it to install for the DIY'er?

It's very easy with a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water with a drop of dish soap in it.
Soak, soak, and soak some more both sides of the film and the surface you're applying it to with a trigger bottle spritzer. This allows you to place it and move it. When you have it positioned put a finger on a corner and press to secure it. If it's still not right you can lift, soak and try again. Once you've positioned it you can squeegee out the solution from under it.

The more flat the surface the easier it is. Curved surfaces take much training and experience.

Yup...it's very easy...lol

[greg_h]

The hook from the bottom up makes the chains hang prettier as well as keeping the hook from doing it's damage. As mentioned, start the hook from the bottom and rotate it until the long part of the hook is vertical. Works great!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Foot Stomper

It's very easy with a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water with a drop of dish soap in it.
Soak, soak, and soak some more both sides of the film and the surface you're applying it to with a trigger bottle spritzer. This allows you to place it and move it. When you have it positioned put a finger on a corner and press to secure it. If it's still not right you can lift, soak and try again. Once you've positioned it you can squeegee out the solution from under it.

The more flat the surface the easier it is. Curved surfaces take much training and experience.

Yup...it's very easy...lol

Excellent, thanks.

On the tailgate chain hook "tabs" I'm guessing you'd do it approximate size then razor off the excess and cut the hole out after it dried?

[jhamelton]

Thanks guys. I just looked and he does have them on the wrong sides. So that will help. I'm gonna switch those and I have some clear heat shrink tubing I'm gonna try, and if that doesn't look right I'm gonna try the clear film. He's not concerned with the tab chipping. I don't think there is any way to prevent that. It's actually chipping away the edge of the tailgate down the side. I think being on the correct side will correct a lot of that.
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