Relocated Number Plate - 08/07/05

Although the rear approach angle on my truck is pretty damn good I do still manage to hit the rear end when dropping off big steep edges. The tow ball currently takes most of the abuse (though I'm planning to move it) but the number plate mounted just above it was always getting bent and broken. I wanted to stop the number plate getting hit and I'm planning to replace the rear bumper soon with something much stronger so I decided to relocate the number plate.

Along with moving the number plate I also had to move it's lights of course. Looking at the light brackets and the way they also hold the number plate I found that if I cut them off from the body then I could move the whole lot as one. I got to work with the tin snips and very soon had four stumps of metal! I've since cut these back further to clean things up.

I could have changed to using a square number plate on the rear door but if I get bigger tyres then there probably won't be room for it next to the spare and I wanted to use what I already had. I'm really happy with the solution I came up with! I welded up a whole new bracket incorporating the original light brackets so that the number plate can mount onto the spare wheel. The plate is well out of the way of damage and mud there and I think it looks good. Once the bracket was finished I gave it a good coat of smooth black hammerite.

Here you can see how the new bracket mounts onto the top two spare wheel studs.

Here's the nearly finished article! All that remains to do is to wire up the lights and replace the cracked number plate some time. All in all a good simple mod I think!