License plates from truck to TC and back again, and again.

[MN_Ben]

I like to unload my camper at the CG and go for what ever reason. I will need to remove the rear plate from the camper and mount it back onto the truck. I called my local DMV and asked if I could get a third license plate for my camper. The lady said "nope, they only come in pairs".

I was wontering what may be an easy fix, if any, for when I drop my camper and want to go. Maybe unscrewing the the two screws is no big deal and I am getting overly anal about making things easy. I was thinking of using my front plate (we have two here in Minnesota)but would like to hear from other to see if they have found a clever way of doing this.

[69_Avion]

When I had a large camper on the truck, it stayed there for an entire trip. I never took the camper off when I was away from home. Therefore, I never had a reason to move the plate.

[F350mule]

I have made several trips through the years out west and east to Maine and returned from Texas the past weekend and leave my plate on the truck. After all it's the TRUCK plate , not the camper. I have never been stopped or questioned on it.

[Jfet]

What about rare earth magnets embedded in the plate frame holder? If a plastic bumper, perhaps matching magnets somehow inside the wall of the bumper.

The ones I am using to hold the siding to my camper while the glue dries have a 55 pound pull each.

Yeah yeah, theft and all that. But if they didn't know you were using magnets, they would probably think the plate was welded on when they tried to pull on it.

[MN_Ben]

My cousin is an Edina cop. I'll shoot him an email and see what he says.

[Jamm3r]

MN Ben wrote:
I was wontering what may be an easy fix, if any, for when I drop my camper and want to go. Maybe unscrewing the the two screws is no big deal and I am getting overly anal about making things easy. I was thinking of using my front plate (we have two here in Minnesota)but would like to hear from other to see if they have found a clever way of doing this.

Hi Ben. I'm from Minnesota as well and have to deal with the same DMV and enforcement environment.

If you're driving/parking someplace that is full of cops looking for an excuse to hassle you then there isn't much of any substitute for moving the plate. The main problem is that it is easy to forget and easy to lose the screws, and if you load up the camper and realize once you're done that you've buried the plate well now you have to unload and start all over.

If you are outstate and are not driving around late on Friday and Saturday nights you can get away with more. I had a winch on my truck for 5 years that obscured the front license plate and only had a problem once, when an Edina cop hassled me while I was pumping gas. They never hassle me when the snow plow covers the front plate. Rear plate of course they're going to be more picky.

A fact to consider is that displaying plates the wrong way is not a moving violation so if you do get ticketed you just pay your $120 and go on your way, no effect on insurance or drivers license.

[HMS_Beagle]

I have never moved it from the truck, and never been questioned about it. Has anyone actually been pulled over solely because they hadn't moved the plate? Now, if you get pulled for speeding or something else, then it would be expected they would look around for other things. But I would like to hear from anyone that got pulled over and the only reason was their plate was obscured. I'm thinking it is about as common as getting pulled over for exceeding GVWR - and we know how often that happens!

[iwon415]

It is on my prep list. Only takes a second. One time I forgot it (before making the list), I got stopped and moved it then. Didn't get a ticket fortunately.

[fatmanobx]

Jaxom wrote:
What I did...

I can't imagine anyone with any sense would think this is a photocopied license plate.

Now that's cool..

[msiminoff]

I have had a laminated color photocopy of my license plate on the back of my TC for the past 7 years. The original plate (visible, but obstructed) has been fastened to the rear bumper that whole time.

I have been tail'ed by police, highway patrol, and national park rangers in many states across the west... I never ever been stopped or questioned about my license plate(s).

-Mark

[monkey44]

ecoast wrote:

monkey44 wrote:
I've never (eleven years) taken my plate off the truck and put it on the camper. It stays on the truck, and it's traveled across country (USA and Canada) at least six or seven times in it's life, and on some many shorter trips I can't count them all.

I've never been stopped, never been asked, and numerous times had conversations with sheriffs or troopers standing in rest stops or other parking areas. And in fact, have once a flat and once out of gas and been helped out with calls for service - no comment ever by LEOs.

does your camper overhang in rear?


mine does, and here in NJ, they can/may ticket for 'obstructed plate'

--which I was advised they cam also ticket if I have a clear plate protector over it as well!!!

Reason for law against clear plate protector is the photo 'enforcer' cameras can't take a photo of the plate, it reflects and can't read the number.

And, yes, has an overhang, but if you stand behind it or ride in a car behind it, you can read the plate if you try.

[ecoast]

monkey44 wrote:
I've never (eleven years) taken my plate off the truck and put it on the camper. It stays on the truck, and it's traveled across country (USA and Canada) at least six or seven times in it's life, and on some many shorter trips I can't count them all.

I've never been stopped, never been asked, and numerous times had conversations with sheriffs or troopers standing in rest stops or other parking areas. And in fact, have once a flat and once out of gas and been helped out with calls for service - no comment ever by LEOs.

does your camper overhang in rear?


mine does, and here in NJ, they can/may ticket for 'obstructed plate'

--which I was advised they cam also ticket if I have a clear plate protector over it as well!!!

[mooring_product]

If Im going for more then three days I swap it, otherwise I take my chances.

[K_Mac]

As all-ready stated, my DW has a great copier at work and did the same,copied & laminated our plate also. Didn't know it was illegal to do so, had mine on the old Lance for 5 years now on our new NL and have never been stopped so far.I also put it in a clear L P holder you can pick-up at your local parts store. Forgetting to return my plate to my truck after a trip & getting stopped on my way to work,my DW came up with the idea,and have been told by many other campers, why didn't I think of that.I also didn't like the switching back & forth,such a simple fix.

[monkey44]

I've never (eleven years) taken my plate off the truck and put it on the camper. It stays on the truck, and it's traveled across country (USA and Canada) at least six or seven times in it's life, and on some many shorter trips I can't count them all.

I've never been stopped, never been asked, and numerous times had conversations with sheriffs or troopers standing in rest stops or other parking areas. And in fact, have once a flat and once out of gas and been helped out with calls for service - no comment ever by LEOs.

[ralphnjoann]

JumboJet wrote:
Call me crazy, but I had a copy made by a custom plate maker and have used it for thousands of miles across many states.

The TRUCK is licensed with accompanying paperwork. The camper does not require a license.

First of all, I would have to be doing something wrong to be stopped. I could crawl under truck to grab the real plate and install it for the 'offended' officer.

What are the odds? I think they are very low.

Many states have laws against obscuring part or all a license plate. I can see where a truck camper could cause a problem.