I thought of something else to try out. I ordered samples of a few different sizes of those red tapered disposable plastic hole plugs/caps (Caplugs) . One of them should fit over the outside of the pipe, and one of the other two should fit inside the end. Maybe I'll just leave the pipe as it is, and plug the end if I'm not going to be driving it for a while. The plug should just blow off if I accidentally start the truck without removing it, and one should last for a long time until I accidentally shoot it across the yard. I could hang something like a "remove before flight" streamer off it, but I probably won't bother.
The samples were free... if I want more, they cost a bit over a buck each and come in packs of 50, though. My usual industrial supplier carries them, but not in those larger sizes, so I ordered the samples direct from Caplugs.
I'll let y'all know how they fit once I get the samples. I don't know whether I'll prefer one that pokes inside the pipe like a cork, or covers the end like a cap, so I'll try both ways.