License plate mounting issue

WestCoastDan

WestCoastDan

JK Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 28, 2022
Messages
615
Location
SoCal
Our jeep only came w/ a front plate. Here in CA we need to have both to keep the man off our ass.

I have personalized plates that i can transfer to this vehicle, or I can just get a new pair from the DMV & that will be resolved. The issue is that there is no front bracket and the plate is slightly wider than the space between the fog lights.
What is missing?

For the rear plate, the one we have appears to have been mounted by whatever random hardware a blind guy could find in a dumpster,
Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the 4 screws can't all be the same.
What the hell?

So, what's the trick here? I thought briefly about removing the bracket and installing bolts from the backside, but it appears that the rear bumper needs to be removed to access the last bolt on the bracket.

Is there an easy trick that I'm missing? I have NO interest in relocating the plate, just trying to secure it w/ 4 screws and maybe a frame that cleans it up a bit that will fit with the factory light housing.
 
I can't help with the front plate. In Pa we don't need them. Did you remove the driverside taillight to get to the license plate bracket?
 
Well you are a good man, haven’t put the front LP on two of our JK’s here in Nor Cal.
 
Danarch said:
Well you are a good man, haven’t put the front LP on two of our JK’s here in Nor Cal.
Click to expand...
Don’t get carried away with the praise just yet; I haven’t found a decent bracket or frame that fits how I want it, and I haven’t transferred the vanity plates to the JK yet anyway so we still only have the rear plate.
Hopefully I can stay away from the watchful eye of the man long enough to get it all handled.
I despise the thought of getting a ticket for it, but I’m not going to do what I consider to be a half-assed job either.
 
I went thru a Calif. check station a couple of weeks ago and the first thing the lady said was " You don't have a front license plate where are you from" I told her Nevada she just shook her head and asked about the fruit and wood and said I might consider putting a front plate on I smiled and said thank you have a nice day and drove on. F#ck the front plate I don't have one on any of my vehicles.
 
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My '14 had a front LP frame screwed into the bumper snugly between the fog lights. The PO used self-tapping screws and they left a couple decent holes in the bumper. I just left it alone and put a "USN Retired" plate in the frame.
The frame was a heavy rubber after market, called something like a Bump Frame or whatever. I don't remember. But it did fit edge to edge between the fog lights.

(Note: that was with the stock bumper, not the one in the photo. I actually sold the stock bumper with the silver plastic piece in the middle for $50.)

You can see where the holes are on the center trim, which I ultimately took off to go with an all black look.
1655910479109.png
 
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I actually like the look of the center piece. Any clue what it's called, besides bumper cover or fog light cover?
 
WestCoastDan said:
I actually like the look of the center piece. Any clue what it's called, besides bumper cover or fog light cover?
Click to expand...
No clue what the factory calls it. Just noticed the holes under the lip at the top. I was wondering where to put a front plate and did not want to drill into the bumper. This has worked out fine. Has held for almost 2years now. Thing the plate bracket was under $10 at the time. Edit: checked the link I posted , hell it’s under $6. Lol
 
WestCoastDan said:
I actually like the look of the center piece. Any clue what it's called, besides bumper cover or fog light cover?
Click to expand...
1655994426495.png


Go find a used one for a few bucks. Or go to one of those places you can pull the parts yourself. The piece is attached with 4-6 little phillips screws on the bottom edge (facing the ground) and the ones on top are facing the grille, so you have to pop the grill off or use a stubby phillips screwdriver.

These examples of what I googled are stupid money for a piece of plastic trim. Check eBay or craigslist. Hell, the one description actually calls it an "applique" and has the balls to want $166 for it.
 
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I saw those prices too. I can't believe what some simple parts cost...
Guess I'll stick to finding a bracket that I like the placement of.
 
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