I live in a state that requires a front tag. I bought a Tacoma last
week. I understand that the general practice is to attach the front
plate to the bumper by driving two self-tapping screws through my
beautiful, new, virgin bumper. The plate then eats into the paint and
the plastic over time. I've even read that the plate may stick out at
a 30-degree angle, following the top contour of the bumper.

I have seen pics of trucks whose owners have attached the front plate
to a structure under the engine. One guy said he used existing holes
to do it, but I see none.

Is there anything like a proper bracket out there? Or something
better? Thanks very much for any advice you can give me.

"Dr. Personality" <affable@no.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:190320072329093766%affable@no.com.invalid...
Yeah it's pretty bad
Toyota didn't want to send the $ to put a plate frame
on.
I just brought a black plastic frame and put the plate in that,but it 's
still mounted the same.

In article <bj0003h1c7hfurkai0iutn2egt3mjnt3kq@4ax.com>, Sir F. A. Rien
<jaSPAMc@gbr.online.com> wrote:


Thank you both for your input. I guess I'll just have to put holes in
the bumper. (At least they've indicated where to do that, but it's
pretty surprising that they couldn't throw in a plate holder, too.)

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:29:09 -0400, "Dr. Personality"
<affable@no.com.invalid> wrote:


You might consider using threaded inserts or well nuts to attach your
plate bracket. Make a much neater job and if you move someplace where
the front plate isn't necessary, you can use some color coridinated
push pins to cover the holes.

In article <ai1103l0sonc79dpghdjgolo68a0mor6i6@4ax.com>, Frank
Boettcher <fboettcher@comcast.net> wrote:


I think I'd like that better than using the self-tappers. Thanks.

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 22:42:05 -0400, "Dr. Personality" wrote:
Look at 'RivNuts' - threaded blind-rivet nut inserts. The small
sizes (6/32, 8/32, 10/32, 10/24) install with a regular pop riveter
and a special mandrel, the larger size you want (1/4"-20) usually
requires a dedicated install tool or one of the large pop-rivet guns.
I got mine at an Aircraft Parts house, they're handy little buggers.

You thread the rivet onto the tool mandrel and place the rivet in
the hole, then squeeze the handles to deform the barrel and lock it in
place. Instead of the mandrel popping off, you ease off pressure and
back it out of the gun, and then unthread the mandrel from the insert.

If you use a RivNut and a backup fender washer behind the plastic
bumper cover, it isn't going to pull out of the bumper face till after
the plate and trim ring have been destroyed. And if the plate needs
to come off, it will go back on without a hassle.

--<< Bruce >>--

In article <slc103dn1dg5aav9arci2e2o5moh8el9kr@4ax.com>, Bruce L.
Bergman <blnospambergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote:


Thanks very much. I'd never heard of RivNuts before now. I'll hunt
some down. Thanks again, Bruce.

On Wed, 21 Mar 2007 08:26:00 -0400, "Dr. Personality"
<affable@no.com.invalid> wrote:

Ask at places that do commercial truck accessories like van shelving
and racking..

I live in California, and our Tacoma had a front plate that was mounted to
the bumper. We bought it used, but my recollection is that there was
hardware that was attached to existing holes used to mount the grille, or
something.

In any case, there was no need to drill new holes, nor were there any
unsightly holes that resulted from the previous owner going crazy with his
screw gun.






"Dr. Personality" <affable@no.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:190320072329093766%affable@no.com.invalid...

I'm pretty sure it is a violation of state law to sell or offer for sale any
car or truck that can not have the required number of license plates
affixed. The parts _might_ be available for a fee because there are people
that will remove the front plate, then sell the car or truck through private
channels then disappear. In this instance, the buyer would be burdened with
installing a front plate, and would need to buy the hardware.

But a NEW car or truck must have the necessary hardware to make the vehicle
legal to operate on every street and highway in the country, this would
include a mounting bracket for license plates.

I got a car dealer to install a new windshield in a used car because the one
that was there was broken. I objectd on the grounds that a broken windshield
was a violation of the law, therefore he must repair it before he could
offer the car for sale. I suggest the same is true for a front plate. They
do not provide the plates, DMV does that, but they have to provide the place
to mount the plate.






"rb" <123@Ishotmr.lee> wrote in message
news:45ffeeb0$0$5820$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

On Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:45:17 GMT, "Jeff Strickland"
<crwlr@verizon.net> wrote:

not required to be part of the package.

And many cars/trucks come without them, dealers put them on as the OP
mentioned, by using self tapping screws on a plastic bumper.

Many dealers put them on and put plates that are ads for their
dealership if a registration plate is not required. I've had to get
an agreement, as part of the deal, that if the dealership forgot and
punched holes in my ordered vehicle to put his ad plate on, I would
refuse acceptance and require a loaner vehicle until a new bumper came
in to replace the ruined bumper.

Those plates add just a little more wind resistance to a vehicle, and
I have no desire to run a continuous ad for the dealership.

Frank

"Frank Boettcher" <fboettcher@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:280503pa6fhj675419jektv31ps8ifjvn7@4ax.com...

Okay, but if the plate IS required, then the stealership (manufacturer) is
required to bring the vehicle legal before they can put it on the street.
The automakers provide the means to mount plates without drilling new holes.
If a dealer makes holes, they are doing it because they are
lazy/cheap/ignorant.




Come on Frank, that's absurd. the ad plates are cardboard, and come off
easily. In most states, the license plate is required, and the plate takes
the place of the placard. If there is a placard, you can be sure there is a
bracket to hold the front plate.

Where in the world do some of you folks come up with these wild and inane
comments about "legality"? There is no law that says you cannot sell a
vehicle without a front license plate bracket!!!There is no law that says
you cannot sell a vehicle with a broken windshield!! License plates on the
front bumper are not mandated in all states!! A broken windshield in many
states is perfectly legal , as long as it "does not impair the vision of the
driver"!!.................................

But, I guess it makes for "nice type" to make statements as fact. Any
reputable dealer wouldn't offer a car for sale with a broken windshield. Not
because it was illegal, but for salability. Besides, most dealers have a
facility that does this for a very nominal price due to volume....


"Frank Boettcher" <fboettcher@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:280503pa6fhj675419jektv31ps8ifjvn7@4ax.com...

On Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:36:49 GMT, "Jeff Strickland"
<crwlr@verizon.net> wrote:

Also not true. I've purchased two vehicles brand new in the last ten
years that had no provision (factory) for mounting the plate bracket.
It's up to the dealer how neat he wants to be.


if they come off by themselves, I don't want the plate or the bracket
on the front of my vehicle. Obviously, you can't read, yes there is a
bracket, the one that is installed by the dealer by popping four self
tapping screws through the bumper. The first vehicle he did that to I
got caught, the second I stated what I stated above about ommitting
it. That's a preference and not subject to a right or wrong argument
unless you are just a troll and that's your game.

Bill Hall wrote:
Many people seem to forget you can sell a vehicle in any condition.

The sale of a vehicle has nothing to do with the legality of driving it
on a public road. Heck, you don't HAVE to register it, ever, as long
as you're trailering it home! <G>

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:24:48 -0500, "rb" <123@Ishotmr.lee> wrote:


Stick some thin weather stripping on the back of the license plate and
it won't scratch your bumper.

"Frank Boettcher" <fboettcher@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:cuk503pq95bv1hkglqopt7l3fgfdtp0c7c@4ax.com...
Apparently my state is different. Our cars leave the lot with a capacity for
a front plate. It's the law.

How agressively is the law enforced? Not very ...

"B A R R Y" <beech23pilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:qFAMh.10031$Um6.10002@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...

That's a Private Party Sale. When buyinf from a Dealership, the bvehicle
must be registered to get it off the lot. If it is registered, it must be
legal. If a front plate is a requirement, then it must be provided. If the
vehicle is NEW, then the brackets that may be necessary must be provided.

My ONLY point is, one can use this as leverage to get the mounting brackets
if they are missing and the vehicle was acquired from a dealer. If one buys
a car from ME, they get it in AS IS condition. If one gets a car from a
dealer, they can make a stink that the vehicle does not meet legal
requirements, and get the remedy for free. One ought to make that point
before they leave the dealership ...

"skipfromla" <skipfromla@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:qul50316vk70s5bq57r6sg1l15aksm723j@4ax.com...
You guys are crazy. There is a mounting bracket that uses existing holes,
and provides a clean installation of the front plate.

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:YgGMh.18602$O_5.11368@trnddc03...