License Plate Braket

[BayouBoys]

My RV came with one of those brake lights with the tabs to mount the license place. Now 4 years later, I found the license plate in the yard. Apparently the plastic tabs broke off. Looking for thoughts and ideas on how to remount the license plate, other than just screwing into the backwall under the brake light. DW doesn't like that idea due to potential leak issues. We already have a leak on the back wall that we are trying to remedy.

Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Various grades of VELCRO. The really junkyard dog grade grips tighter than a beggar to a hundred dollar bill.

GOOP (here we go again) the Velcro to the rig and the complimentary other half to the license plate. Let dry 12 hours.

Then take a utility knife and score an "X" across the license plate color decal. This keeps otherwise "honest" people from "listnin' to da debble" and peeling off your decal. Dont'cha love some of those excuses for thieving --------?

[suprz]

3M automotive grade 2 way tape for auto trim. Relatively cheap and sticks extremely well

[mikegt4]

After losing a couple of plates on my flatbed and boat trailers I now have wire backup links between the light mounting studs and the plate fasteners. I make them up out of 10-12 ga. stranded wire with crimped on 1/4" eye lugs on each end. I use 1/4" bolts with nyloc nuts at the plate. The plastic "T" shaped plate brackets fail with alarming regularity but the wire links don't yet still allow the plate to move in the wind or when scrapping the ground. They are a good "belt and suspenders" backup system. The last time I lost a plate (plastic bracket broke) the DMV kept asking me where I lost the plate!!! If I knew that I would have gone back for it.

Again, this is on open trailers but a camper could still use the same system.

[Wadcutter]

drsteve wrote:

Wadcutter wrote:
No need to buy a new light. That's like buying a new car because you have a flat tire.
Walmart, and almost any auto store, carry replacement license plate brackets. Price starts about $2. Simple to install. Remove the lense cover and the light will be held on to the camper with probably 4 screws. Remove 2 lower screws, slide the new bracket between the light and the camper body, replace screws.
Or you can go low tech and use strapping from any hardware store. Galvanized thin metal strap about 1" wide with holes placed every 1" or so. Cut it to whatever length you want and place one end under the screws holding the light bracket to the camper.

A new tail light can be had for roughly the same cost as a separate bracket, and it's easier to replace.

I'd like to know where you're buying a new tail light for 'roughly the same cost' as a bit of strapping or for Walmart's price of license plate bracket for $2.
No need to buy a new tail light just to add license plate hangers.
If you buy a cheap tail light it's going to have the plastic license plate holes and they'll last as long as the last ones did and you'll be back to buying another new tail light.
That's a simple fix. You're buying a new car when you have a flat tire.

[valhalla360]

DutchmenSport wrote:

Dave H M wrote:
When that happened to me i used zip ties and zipped it to the rear bumper.

Still there.

OK for a quick fix, but hope you did not keep it there permanently. No problem in daylight, but if driving after dark, I'm pretty sure, every State in the USA has a requirement that the license plate be lighted after dark.

We don't typically travel at night and our old trailer just had squared off U-bolts that looped around the bumper. Not the prettiest option but if you don't have a camping store handy any hardware store should have them.

[drsteve]

Wadcutter wrote:
No need to buy a new light. That's like buying a new car because you have a flat tire.
Walmart, and almost any auto store, carry replacement license plate brackets. Price starts about $2. Simple to install. Remove the lense cover and the light will be held on to the camper with probably 4 screws. Remove 2 lower screws, slide the new bracket between the light and the camper body, replace screws.
Or you can go low tech and use strapping from any hardware store. Galvanized thin metal strap about 1" wide with holes placed every 1" or so. Cut it to whatever length you want and place one end under the screws holding the light bracket to the camper.

A new tail light can be had for roughly the same cost as a separate bracket, and it's easier to replace.

[dougrainer]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
This looks like a simple solution at low cost:

Cruiser Accessories 79050 License Plate Bracket

This is the one I use because the mount plate can be hidden behind the original taillight and sealed. Doug

https://www.amazon.com/Wesbar-003211-Plastic-Bracket-License/dp/B0000AZ6DA/ref=pd_sbs_263_8?_encodin...

[DutchmenSport]

Dave H M wrote:
When that happened to me i used zip ties and zipped it to the rear bumper.

Still there.

OK for a quick fix, but hope you did not keep it there permanently. No problem in daylight, but if driving after dark, I'm pretty sure, every State in the USA has a requirement that the license plate be lighted after dark.

[Dave_H_M]

When that happened to me i used zip ties and zipped it to the rear bumper.

Still there.

[Wadcutter]

No need to buy a new light. That's like buying a new car because you have a flat tire.
Walmart, and almost any auto store, carry replacement license plate brackets. Price starts about $2. Simple to install. Remove the lense cover and the light will be held on to the camper with probably 4 screws. Remove 2 lower screws, slide the new bracket between the light and the camper body, replace screws.
Or you can go low tech and use strapping from any hardware store. Galvanized thin metal strap about 1" wide with holes placed every 1" or so. Cut it to whatever length you want and place one end under the screws holding the light bracket to the camper.

[BarneyS]

Moved to Tech Issues forum from DIY.

[sonora]

If you go with just the plate mount then use 3M tape to install it. Remove any wax from the surface first. This way you don't have more holes to leak.

[drsteve]

What he said. Just get a new tail light assembly.

[DutchmenSport]

You are best to just replace the entire tail light assembly for a new one. They cost about $6 - $10 at your local RV dealership parts shop.



Here's a video how to replace one. No drilling new holes, you use the existing. The video demonstrates with a pop-up, but those tail lights are pretty much all the same, identical on almost every trailer, 5er, pop-up, everything. Click here.


Edit:
I just noticed your camper is a Keystone Passport. You'll have NO problem getting a new replacement tail light fixture with the tabs. Keystone uses the same one on everything, and pretty much, so does every other brand too.