Rear License Plate Attachment

[oilteq]

I do not carry a spare tire, giving me a bolt hole that used to secure the spare tire bracket.  I used it to secure the license plate bracket.  I drilled a hole through a bolt for the wire for the license plate lights.  Thinking about how Chapman wanted to use one part to replace three, I used bolts with lights in them.  A plastic spacer keeps the plate clear of the body paint.  I had a picture of it lit up at night, but I cannot seem to find it.

trunk.pdf

[das76]

 

just came across these. Might be helpful. Worth a try for $12!

https://amzn.to/3FUu4b6

 

 

[Stevensonjr]

I bent an aluminum sheet 180 degrees and bolted it to the spare tire tubing, then bolted the license plate to the face. Simple, easy, minimum vibration

[JohnCh]

On 3/6/2023 at 10:31 PM, KnifeySpoony said:

I did the super strong velcro stuff. I put small squares of ppf under the velcro squares in case the adhesive is strong enough to damage the paint. 

 

I looked at a Caterham yesterday with this installation.  The owner also added thin rubber edge trim around the perimeter of the plate which gave it a more finished appearance.  It looked very good.  I think I will go with this approach when (if?) I get plates.

 

-John

[mdork]

On 3/31/2023 at 3:59 PM, das76 said:

 

just came across these. Might be helpful. Worth a try for $12!

https://amzn.to/3FUu4b6

 

 

This is what I have on mine. Secured using command strips (I cut the silicone backing so the plate sits flush against the body. Looks clean. Seems solid. 

[empti]

On 3/7/2023 at 3:03 PM, JohnCh said:

I'm playing around with something like this that attaches via the reverse light mounting bolts.  My 3D printer will only do 10" wide vs. the 12" width of a license plate, but it is wide enough.   

 

  

 

-John

Do you mind sharing the stl & stp file for 3d printing? Thanks! 

[JohnCh]

9 hours ago, empti said:

Do you mind sharing the stl & stp file for 3d printing? Thanks! 

I ended up going with velcro; simple, very light, and works great. I never got to the testing stage with the 3D printed plate. I fully expected I would need to go through a few versions to improve rigidity in certain areas, and needed to ensure that with a plate installed and travelling at high speeds, the air flow wasn't creating so much back and forth movement that a failure would happen over time, or that the spacing to the body (and paint) needed to be increased. If you're prepared to do the testing and go through iterations in CAD to make the appropriate changes until it's working effectively, I can send it to you, but as this was the first, and untested, prototype, I would not use it as a final solution.

[pethier]

On 3/11/2023 at 10:51 AM, oilteq said:

I do not carry a spare tire, giving me a bolt hole that used to secure the spare tire bracket.  I used it to secure the license plate bracket.  I drilled a hole through a bolt for the wire for the license plate lights.  Thinking about how Chapman wanted to use one part to replace three, I used bolts with lights in them.  A plastic spacer keeps the plate clear of the body paint.  I had a picture of it lit up at night, but I cannot seem to find it.

 

trunk.pdf 408.39 kB · 15 downloads

I used those lighted license-plate bolts on a trailer once.

[CBuff]

I got the license plate holder from Josh at rmc.  Works great. Also put a silicone surround in the plate to make it a bit neater.