spare tire - dangling chain

walking back to the truck last night I noticed that the slack of chain used for raising/lowering the spare was dangling below the wheel... not sure where it was before last night but I just tucked it up into the spare's rim for now.

is it meant to be just hanging out back there, or should it be wrapped around something?
seems odd that it could just fall down and dangle free...

 

Normal.

If it bothers you a bungee cord will prevent it from falling back down again.

 

Hang a pair of bull balls on it and you fit right in with some of the rednecks around here

 

oh lordy... truck nutz? hahaa so bad!

 

If it bothers you that much, try this. I've done it and it works. I hear that thing dangling and smacking the rim hub everyday on the road I drive to work.

I took some 2mm aluminum welding rod and bent in a shape similar to an S hook and just hung the slack portion of it up to the inside portion of the chain. I recommend that you use aluminum because it will yield and give way to the unloading of the spare when the weight pulls on it. If you use anything else, it'll either shoot off or won't unload the chain slack at all allowing full droop of the spare when you need to access it. I've tested this and it works. The alum welding rod is very soft and will "unfold" allowing everything to operate when you need it to.

I'll post a pic in a bit of what I'm talking about if you don't quite understand what I'm talking about.

 

Makes sense, thanks.

It's not really bothersome, just never noticed it before and at first glance seemed either broken or a half-ass job on their part (cue, transmission posts)

If that's how they all are I'll just keep tucking it up or use a short bungee to hold the slack...

Thanks all!

 

Funny- I just noticed my truck has a prolapse last night as well!
I just may bungee that damn think up there.

 

I don't mind the dangling, but the slapping of it on the rim hub over bumps gets annoying.

Updated my first response with pics.

 

I just tucked it back on top of the retainer and used a couple of twist ties (from grocery store) through holes to keep in place.

 

Tuck it up and zip tie it. easy to cut with whatever multi-tool you keep in your truck. Did that when I oiled the frame and was sick of hitting my head on it. If you are going to do it though, lower it first to get some oil/fluid film/bar N chain etc on the parts holding it up.