3rd Generation Stock License Plate Bracket Replacement

The finished product is now available. Please visit the link below for all the details:

Flush Mount Plate Bracket To Replace Big Ugly Stock Bracket

I am looking for some help from a 3rd Generation owner who has the stock Toyota big, bulky, license plate bracket that holds the front plate on the front bumper. I am looking to create a slimmer bracket that will take the place of the bulky bracket to tuck the plate into the bumper. Help me with some pictures and measurements and I will send you a prototype for free to make sure the design works.

Anyone interested?

 

Reserved

 

Reserved again

 

of course...I am a bit south of you.
Would def help out if I can

 

No worries about distance. It should be easy enough to accomplish what I need via pictures. Starting a conversation....Thanks!

 

Still needing pics? Or an actual bracket?

And I am interested.

 

Here's what I got for pictures and dimensions.

Top depth is 2.5"; Bottom depth is 3.75" (Depth meaning front to back)
Width (left to right) is 12.5"
Height (top to bottom) is 6.5"

 

I have pretty much figured out what I need to figure out. What I didn't know is that the bracket Toyota puts on is just stuck through the bumper cover. There is no captive nut or anything behind it. I have spoke to several people and am still not sure how easy it is to get access behind the bumper cover. I would want to use a stainless steel screw and nyloc nut to hold the mounting plate on but I am concerned about how much work it would take to get to the back of the cover. Any idea?

 

I think you would have to remove the bumper cap to get access back there.

 

That is what I thought but someone posted in another thread that they were just able to fit their hand up behind.

 

I'll check it out later and take more pictures.

 

Sounds good. Thanks!

 

Got underneath the front end. On my 2018 Sport you might be able to get behind the front bumper if you take the stock skid plate off. The holes directly underneath the bumper are too small to fit a normal arm. Maybe a baby arm, but it would have to be really long.

From the engine bay you could reach down and access it without removing the front bumpers. Longer arms would help or remove the front grill for better access.

 

It looks like mine is just held in with self tapping screws.

 

If a new bracket was to be mounted with nuts, bolts & washers, it might be easier to pull out the grille to get behind the bumper. It something that would only need to be done once, and it a pretty quick and easy.

 

That is good information to have. Thank you. I think the next step is to make a prototype and send it out to a few people for testing purposes. I like the idea of using a bolt, loc nut and washer to hold the bracket on. I was thinking of a toggle bolt but I am not thrilled by that idea either.

 

I have an brand new one if you want to play with it, can drop it in a box for ya if you want?

 

Thanks for the offer, it is very generous of you. The holder itself is not what I need. I am trying to produce an aluminum flat bar that will take the place of the Toyota plate holder so the plate is mounted close to the bumper eliminating the big, bulky plate holder. I already offer a no drill plate bracket for those people who have not had their bumper cover drilled and do not want to put holes in the bumper cover. This will replace the plate holder completely (like the one you are offering) with something that hopefully looks much better.

 

Any updates on this for the 3rd gen,
or do you need any more photos or measurements off the front bumper @ACEkraut ?

 

Life has been getting in the way of fabricating fun. I will find a way to develop a prototype this weekend to get this little project moving.