rear bumper fab: blank slate

[dustboy]

Okay, so I've gotten this far with my rear bumper project. First issues:

1: what do I do with that darn license plate? How do I light it to avoid police harassment?

2: the bumper is pretty bland at this point. current ideas inculde an inset reverse light on the left side, a couple shackle tabs, and maybe someday a 2" receiver (not that I ever needed one).

3: I'm thinking I don't want to do a swingout at this point. The current spare tire location is pretty functional as is, and I don't really want to have to swing it out every time I open my tailgate which is often. The only things I would put on a swing-out is a shovel and hi-lift (which can go elsewhere), and maybe a flip-down countertop for tailgate cooking.

 

[rickc]

If your current spare is under the truck it's not functional! if it's loose in the bed it's not safe.

If your going to stick with basic looks, I'd get some thin, flat steel strip from your local hardware store and make a license plate holder with a simple light bracket above the plate. Alternatively, mount it to your tailgate.

What's the black thing hanging off the plate?

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

Add a couple of shackle mount points and mount the plate to the left side of the tailgate (in case you add a tire carrier later).

You could also consider adding some material to the sides to protect the tail lights and the body??

 

[ntsqd]

To avoid a swing-mount I built a spare tire mount in the bed. I stood it nearly upright (follows the taper of the shell) in the left rear corner of the bed. Care is needed to distribute the load if you go this route, sheet metal doesn't like point loads very much. I have structure bolted on under the bed to spread out the load.

If you're happy with the spare under the truck then I'd leave it there. I pulled mine out because I was hitting it when dropping off stair-step features. Now I ********** the bumper instead. :doh:

The law will be happy with a plate that is permanently mounted and has a light on it. So long as it is readable directly from the rear I don't think they care where it is. Mine is bolted to the tailgate, but Patch has a bed with rails on it so that makes it easy to do.
Early Broncos and Scout II's have a handy lit plate holder with a hinge and over-center spring in them. You can pull the plate down when the tailgate is open to make the plate readable like that.

 

[jeepmedic46]

Is that black thing what used to be the light for the plate.:smiley_drive:

 

[pray4surf]

You may want to look at
http://www.truckcustomizers.com/products/K9PIL704.44.html

or check at some local motorcycle shops for license plate bolts that contain an LED light...

 

[dustboy]

Yeah, the black dangly bit is the light from the factory bumper, I thought I should stick it on there to avoid a hassle during my morning commute. I'm mud-flapless as well so I don't want to give them too many reasons to pull me over.

I'd really hate to drill holes in my tailgate..But I just remembered I have an old dented tailgate that might cover up nicely with something the size of a license plate!

BTW nothing can extend upwards from the bumper because it would hit the open tailgate.

 

[dustboy]

Bumper build pics

Okay, got the bumper done, build pics are posted on my picasa account:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dustboy/BumperBuild?feat=directlink

You can see I swapped out my clean tailgate for the original one that was dented several years ago. Sure enough, the license plate covers the dent nicely, and it didn't bother me to drive self-tapping screws into it!

Now the only thing I need is some kind of light for the plate, I should be able to find some kind of small, right angle LED or something.

 

[Kilroy]

While the law says your plate has to be lighted, I bet that as visible as you have it you wouldn't have a problem(except you do live in CA). I don't know about there, but in WI if you were pulled over for something like that you have a period of time (10 days?) to get it fixed. We're required to have a front plate here. I've run without one for 25 years and have only had a problem once. Still had 10 days to put it on. I do see cops looking in their rear view mirror as they go by to check if the rear plate is on. :smiley_drive:

 

[dustboy]

Kilroy, I would guess you're right, the CHP has bigger fish to fry, and Oakland PD is a little pre-occupied with the homicide rate. I did get pulled over once for having a burned-out license light, but that was in my beat up old Volvo, in my NIMBY hometown with 2 bored cops per citizen, at 2:30 AM. I had been drinking...coffee, of course.
Fix-it tickets are $10 and a hassle, but not a big deal. Maybe I just won't worry too much about and avoid driving in Pleasanton.

 

[cyclic]

If you were closer, I'd ********** you in the head and say "bad human". Get yourself some riv-nuts and place them in the holes you drilled in the tailgate. And just about any autoparts store will have a decent selection of plate lights, including some LED ones. You don't need to be too creative, just a little bit will go a long way.

Oh yeah, it does look really good in that spot! :wings:

 

[DenCo40]

Get an LED strip light from http://www.theledlight.com/index.html
I have one on mine and it works great. It's been on now for well over a year and no hassles from the cops.

 

[dustboy]

Add a couple of shackle mount points and mount the plate to the left side of the tailgate (in case you add a tire carrier later).

Just out of curiosity, why is it that swingouts always seem to hinge on the right side?

 

[98dango]

Well most jeeps with a swing tailgat swing to the right. Also the majoirty of prpole are right handed so you can un latch whill standing to the side with your domnate hand.

 

[jh504]

I like your bumper build. It is simple, strong, and functional. I am planning on doing something similar with my 4runner.