License Plate bracket falling off

[RED JK WRANGLER]

When they fitted the towbar to my JK 4door Wrangler the local dealer relocated my license plate using a mounting kit with spacers. With the corrugated roads up here in the top end the bracket fell off on the first trip I did towing my boat. Dealer put it back on, just self tappers into plastic bumper. Next corrugated road fell off again has any one had this problem or worked out a solution? I don't think I will bother taking it back to dealer.

ps. I also payed for a ARB snorkel when I bought the Jeep, obviously I will be waiting for a while.

[WHHEMI]

I haven't had any trouble with mine but i remember reading something about putting bolts and locknuts in or maybe you could try rivets yous search and you should find the post

[rolli]

re jk - I had EXACTLY that problem...

I removed the plate from the bracket and the bracket from the bumper, last but not least the bumper from the car!

Sounds like a bit of work - but the rear bumper was too difficult to get off - give yourself about 2 hours tho to get through it... or in my case it was a '3 beer job'.

Added bolts with nylon lock nuts where the self tapping screws were. "Problem solvered" about $20 worth at bunnings

[RED JK WRANGLER]

Thanks for the replies feedback. rolli did you have to go right through the bumper to fit nuts or did you drill a hole in the back to get nut in? Bit hard when its all plastic.

[davidd]

mate the bumper is hollow. if you go to bunnings and look in the fasteeners section you will find fasteners to attach things to hollow walls,. there is a bolt with two spring loaded wings on the end. you push the spring loaded wings through a hole in the bumper and they spring open preventing you from pulling the bolt out. put you plate over the protuding bolt with a washer and nut and tighten it up. use two or four which ever you like. easy quick and permanent. they cost about a buck each. cheers.

[rolli]

red - my plate has been relocated to the right hand side of the bumper.... There is a plate with the lighting, and 4 differing sized spacers (to hold the plate parallel) due to the contour of the bumper. Is that the same as yours??

I took the number plate and holder off and seperated them. While only my plate went MIA off road, I figured the scummy self tappers holding the plate holder and lights on we doomed for failure too. So i continued to take the bumper off too.

TIP: replace the screws (for lock nuts and bolts) on the plate holder FIRST! the number plate covers the bottom two holes in the holder!! I then put the number plate back on with the same sort of lock nuts and then put the bumper back on.

It helps to have someone there to hold the bumper while your putting it all together as it can get fiddly due to the length of the bumper - but I did it myself - its just the size of the bumper that makes it painful.

Measure up the bolt lengths first. You will need 2 bolts for the number plate which wont need to be any longer than about 20mm. THe holder will need two different sizes, about 50mm and 70mm respectively. Pay attention to the gauge bolt for the holder as the sleeves that are behind the holder are about 4g or so. (2 or 3 mm). There is plenty of room behind the bumper for the end of the bolt, just dont go nuts with 150mm bolts or anything!!

If you get stuck let me know and I will try to take some pics when I am back home (late next week) which may help you a bit.

Dave - that might work, probably pay to add a drop of lock tight on too just to be sure. I am not sure if you will find one small enough in gauge and long enough tho. Couldnt hurt looking - it would be easier than taking the bumper off!!

[WranglerDan]

ARB make a relocation bracket to the spare tire. Its about $80 I think. Wouldn't be hard to knock one up yourself though. You could also try and source a US-style bracket for the LHR panel. Both of these options would look tons better with slimline plates.