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License plate on the tailgate... need ideas

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 45acp, Jul 23, 2011.

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  1. Jul 23, 2011 at 3:36 PM
    #1
    45acp

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    45acp [OP] Paint me back in Wyoming again...

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    I'm getting an aftermarket rear bumper so I'm wanting to move the license plate to the tailgate.
    However, we're required to have the lights. Would the stock lights still work since they'd be facing the plate at a different angle?
    Anyone have other suggestions on how to illuminate the license plate?
     
    45acp, Jul 23, 2011
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  2. Jul 23, 2011 at 4:06 PM
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    UndefinedTaco

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    UndefinedTaco I'll eat all your food.

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    UndefinedTaco, Jul 23, 2011
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  3. Jul 23, 2011 at 5:55 PM
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    twfsa

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    twfsa Well-Known Member

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    Why screw up the gate and just re mount the plate to the bumper with the lights?
     
    twfsa, Jul 23, 2011
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  4. Jul 23, 2011 at 6:18 PM
    #4
    45acp

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    45acp [OP] Paint me back in Wyoming again...

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    Looks like a good idea, better than what I had in mind haha


    There's not much room to work with, the plate would hang down below the bottom of the bumper. I'm trying to maximize the departure angle without modifying the bed.
     
    45acp, Jul 23, 2011
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  5. Jul 23, 2011 at 6:23 PM
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    Teniente

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    Teniente Well-Known Member

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    Carson City, NV/Ensenada, Baja California, MX
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    With your local law enforcement agency.

    Some states have minimum/maximum height requirements on license plate placement
     
    Teniente, Jul 23, 2011
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  6. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:10 AM
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    twfsa

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    twfsa Well-Known Member

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    Got a pic of this bumper?
     
    twfsa, Jul 24, 2011
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  7. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:18 AM
    #7
    45acp

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    45acp [OP] Paint me back in Wyoming again...

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    45acp, Jul 24, 2011
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  8. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:19 AM
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    Rebel Taco 22

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    Rebel Taco 22 mall crawler

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    This is how i did mine. It has a small black light above it.

    DSC_0207_0099_5f4ba0bd8d4f92933d2592579a72891235d5a77a.jpg

    DSC_1002_48b6ecd1b5157e7e5ade2a9370d6d5e1ca1c57d2.jpg
     
    Rebel Taco 22, Jul 24, 2011
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  9. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:23 AM
    #9
    JimBeam

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    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    I did the same

    drilled 3 holes in the tailgate

    1 for the wiring and 2 for the bolts

    ran the wires from one of the stock lights up thru the tailgate and bought one of them $15 LED strips designed for the license plate...took like 30 min MAX to do the whole thing
     
    JimBeam, Jul 24, 2011
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  10. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:32 AM
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    twfsa

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    twfsa Well-Known Member

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    I would mount it on the lower right side of the bumper similar to what I seen in the link there was a Colorado trk pictured, run the wires and save the gate.
     
    twfsa, Jul 24, 2011
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  11. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:42 AM
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    JimBeam

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    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    sometimes thats not an option...as is the case with mine


    i initially tried it on the bumper...but when i was offroad...the plate would get bent or ripped off


    i moved to the tailgate and havent looked back
     
    JimBeam, Jul 24, 2011
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  12. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:44 AM
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    Rebel Taco 22

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    Rebel Taco 22 mall crawler

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    ^^ this

    If I mounted it on my bumper, it would have got ripped off the very first time I used it. Another option to "save the tailgate" would be to get a hitch with a license plate holder thing on it. I do not know exactly how it works, but you can take the hitch out when you go offroad so you dont mess up the license plate. A guy I went wheeling with on ttora had this set up.
     
    Rebel Taco 22, Jul 24, 2011
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  13. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:44 AM
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    JimBeam

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    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    DSC02773_107da640d8afdd604546a6ffa78bf8ac6a438422.jpg
     
    JimBeam, Jul 24, 2011
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  14. Jul 24, 2011 at 6:41 PM
    #14
    45acp

    #14
    45acp [OP] Paint me back in Wyoming again...

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    Ordered one off of Amazon. Thanks for the help!
     
    45acp, Jul 24, 2011
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  15. Jul 24, 2011 at 6:46 PM
    #15
    MrGrimm

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    MrGrimm Mall Crawler

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    Here's mine

    _DSC0457_866c2a4866fbf133a93a773d8681d0293a14985e.jpg

    using these for lights

    [​IMG]
     
    MrGrimm, Jul 24, 2011
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  16. Jul 24, 2011 at 6:49 PM
    #16
    JimBeam

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    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    It's super easy to do

    I just marked where I wanted the hole for the wire, drilled it out just big enough for fish the wires etc (theres holes in the bottom of the tailgate already that you can utilize)

    once the wire is fished thru and hooked up just use self tapping screws to mount the plate and light where you want it
     
    JimBeam, Jul 24, 2011
    #16
  17. Jul 24, 2011 at 6:53 PM
    #17
    JimBeam

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    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    umm

    all states require rear tags i think
     
    JimBeam, Jul 24, 2011
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  18. Jul 24, 2011 at 7:01 PM
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    babytruck

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    babytruck Babytruck, babytruck...I've got a babytruck :)

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    Ghetto idea but it works for car shows. They always take the front plate off for shows, they are zip tied to grille.

    Zip tie it on, use stock lights for night, cut zip ties to go off road. Not the prettiest thing but it works - and no drilling of the tail gate!
     
    babytruck, Jul 24, 2011
    #18
  19. Jul 24, 2011 at 8:03 PM
    #19
    45acp

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    45acp [OP] Paint me back in Wyoming again...

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    The previous owner already screwed up the tailgate, so I don't feel bad about drilling a few more holes. He worked in construction and I'm assuming he used the tailgate as workbench because the holes are completely random.:rolleyes:

    P1080762_740428e9757aca6c06aec32966f1bf369b57ea72.jpg
     
    45acp, Jul 24, 2011
    #19
  20. Dec 14, 2012 at 3:21 PM
    #20
    DHwreckage

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    DHwreckage Well-Known Member

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    45acp you wouldnt happen to remember what license plate holder you got? im trying to find a clean solution to mount my license plate to my tailgate without making 4 holes!
     
    DHwreckage, Dec 14, 2012
    #20
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