DIY - Rear License Plate Cross Member Relocation Mount Write-Up

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
For those of you who own an EVO Tire Carrier, something like it or are just wanting to relocate your license plate down low and onto your rear cross member like we have, this write-up will show how you can make your own mount and in minutes. This DIY mod uses simple hardware that you can find at any Home Depot and the best part is, it's dirt cheap.

What you will need
• (1) 20-Gauge 1-1/4" x 9" Simpson Strong-Tie
• (2) 1/2" - 1/4" x 20 Bolts
• (2) 1/4" x 20 Nuts
• (2) 1/4" Washers
• (2) 12 x 1.5mm Nuts
• 18mm Wrench
• 7/16" Socket & Wrench
• Ratchet
• Center Punch
• Drill
• Unibit
• Bench Vice
• Ruler or Tape Measure
• Sharpe Marker

This is a shot of most everything you'll need to make your own rear cross member license plate mount.
20180122184320-bb9384bb.jpg


Instructions
1. Take a 20-Gauge 1-1/4" x 9" Simpson Strong-Tie, locate the center of it and then make 2 marks 2-1/2" on either side of it using a Sharpe marker as shown in this pic.
20180122184327-15e8bf32.jpg


2. Using a Sharpe marker, draw a line from the mark you made and then draw a parallel line 3/4" from it as shown here.
20180122184330-4b4199dd.jpg


This is what your Simpson Strong-Tie should look like all drawn up.
20180122184334-523fd5ef.jpg


3. Place your Simpson Strong-Tie into a bench vice with one of the inner lines positioned at the top edge of the vice jaws.
20180122184337-879ec9ca.jpg


4. Bend the Simpson Strong-Tie in your bench vice as shown and then repeat on the other side.
20180122184343-d4785544.jpg


5. Remove your Simpson Strong-Tie from your bench vice and then clamp it back in place, right up to one of the outer lines you drew eariler. Again, use your vice to bend the Strong tie so that it's parallel with the center portion of it.
20180122184350-2d98b839.jpg


6. Locate the small existing hole closest to the outer bend and then measure 7" out from the center of it as shown in the pic below.
20180122184357-c5a057d4.jpg


7. Use a Sharpe marker to locate the center point, 7" across from the other existing hole.
20180122184354-59826612.jpg


8. Use a center punch to mark the point you made in step #7.
20180122184401-95a3f2e8.jpg


9. Use a unibit to drill a 1/4" hole through the point you just center punched as well as the small existing hole on the opposite side.
20180122184404-b0333ce3.jpg


This is a shot of what your new rear cross member license place relocation mount should look like when done.
20180122184407-1c022f53.jpg


10. Place your new rear cross member license place relocation mount onto the 2 center hitch receiver bolts protruding through the nuts.
20180122184410-51e7028a.jpg


11. Secure your new rear cross member license place relocation mount in place using (2) 12 x 1.5mm nuts. I reused a pair of factory nuts that I had left over from a previous mod.
20180122184419-95f0445e.jpg


12. Secure your license plate to your new rear cross member relocation mount using (2) 1/2" - 1/4" x 20 Bolts, (2) 1/4" Washers and (2) 1/4" x 20 nuts. You will need a 7/16" socket and wrench for this job.
20180122184421-10b36e38.jpg


20180122184434-97536efd.jpg


Here are a couple of shots that show what everything looks like once installed. First, from behind.
20180122184307-60e9ab20.jpg


And from the front.
20180122184316-e57d0a8b.jpg


20180121170701-0f74e7cf.jpg


For those of you who'd want to run license plate lights, this is what my friend Tony has been running for years and they've been working out well for him.

Custom Dynamics LED License Plate Tag Bolts with White LEDs
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=wayalifeparts-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0041QGSF0&asins=B0041QGSF0&linkId=baed626ff87a75970fd51f804b4bb5d5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

I hope you found this write-up helpful to you in relocating your rear license plate onto your rear cross member. Please let me know if you have any questions. :cool:
 
Thanks Eddie, looks great. Only question I have is about lighting it, or is that not a thing in Nevada?

I was thinking about grabbing a set of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Rupse-White-...516721155&sr=1-6&keywords=license+plate+light

I've never had lighting be an issue even back when we were still living in California. Got pulled over all the time for not having mud flaps, even at night but never for having our license plate not illuminated. That being said, what you show in the link would do the trick and they'd be just as easy to wire up as the Ridged Lights that I have mounted on the cross member.
 
Don't get those ones! They suck. Been there. I'll post a link of some other ones that function the same but actually work.

Could you please! I wanted to add some to the write-up but didn't know what people were running and with good success.
 
Ben, I had those little black ones. They started flickering about a week after install and then completely went out in about a month or two:

37.jpg



So then I switched to some other cheap ones. They were a different looking design, so I tried them. They've been on probably close to 3 years now. I couldn't find them on Amazon but they are on eBay. The're chrome and are quite different looking up close than those black ones.

s-l225.jpg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-LICENS...m4d41b7b87e:m:mn5yryAfwp1g5oQ_sa8PR8g&vxp=mtr

IMG_20171020_194540_797.jpg
 
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Thanks Eddie, looks great. Only question I have is about lighting it, or is that not a thing in Nevada?

I was thinking about grabbing a set of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Rupse-White-...516721155&sr=1-6&keywords=license+plate+light

I've never had lighting be an issue even back when we were still living in California. Got pulled over all the time for not having mud flaps, even at night but never for having our license plate not illuminated. That being said, what you show in the link would do the trick and they'd be just as easy to wire up as the Ridged Lights that I have mounted on the cross member.

I was wondering the same thing. I have my plate on the carrier but never hooked up any lights. I never wanted to run wires along the carrier tubes so I left the wires kinda dangling a little bit in case I ever got pulled over. Figured I'd try to plead ignorance or say "Dammit, did those wires get stripped off again?" :idontknow:

graff.jpg

I like the lower mount much better. I can run legit lights a whole lot easier there. One less reason to get pulled over for! :thumb:

PS: Eddie - what are your thoughts on running a trailer hitch? Better to leave one on for additional crossmember protection or take off for slightly better clearance? Specifically for wheeling in Moab. I'm leaning towards leaving it on as a skid.
 
Thanks Eddie, looks great. Only question I have is about lighting it, or is that not a thing in Nevada?

Okay, talked to my friend Tony and this is what he's been running for years and they work great.

Custom Dynamics LED License Plate Tag Bolts with White LEDs
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=wayalifeparts-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0041QGSF0&asins=B0041QGSF0&linkId=baed626ff87a75970fd51f804b4bb5d5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
 
Good write up,

In most states a license plate light is required. It was always good PC for stopping drunks. So if you drive drunk get a plate light.
 
I had a tailgate delete prior to installing the EVO carrier, and I used an ORO license plate light. Works awesome[emoji106] I plan on wiring it up on the tire carrier also


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
 
I was wondering the same thing. I have my plate on the carrier but never hooked up any lights. I never wanted to run wires along the carrier tubes so I left the wires kinda dangling a little bit in case I ever got pulled over. Figured I'd try to plead ignorance or say "Dammit, did those wires get stripped off again?" :idontknow:

I like the lower mount much better. I can run legit lights a whole lot easier there. One less reason to get pulled over for! :thumb:

Glad to hear this write-up might be helpful to you :)

PS: Eddie - what are your thoughts on running a trailer hitch? Better to leave one on for additional crossmember protection or take off for slightly better clearance? Specifically for wheeling in Moab. I'm leaning towards leaving it on as a skid.

I still have mine hitch receiver installed. I have a trail vice that mounts to the receiver and I couldn't imagine not being able to use it being that I use it ALL THE TIME. While I do hit it often, I've never had it hold me up on an obstacle before.
 
Good write up,

In most states a license plate light is required. It was always good PC for stopping drunks. So if you drive drunk get a plate light.

LOL!! Good to know :crazyeyes:

I had a tailgate delete prior to installing the EVO carrier, and I used an ORO license plate light. Works awesome[emoji106] I plan on wiring it up on the tire carrier also

I've run the ORO in the past and it worked pretty well.
 
Glad to hear this write-up might be helpful to you :)
I still have mine hitch receiver installed. I have a trail vice that mounts to the receiver and I couldn't imagine not being able to use it being that I use it ALL THE TIME. While I do hit it often, I've never had it hold me up on an obstacle before.

Yeah, great point on the trail vice mount - I do not have one yet but its on the to do list. Thanks!
 
Yeah, great point on the trail vice mount - I do not have one yet but its on the to do list. Thanks!

Here's a shot of mine in use.

main.php


No way I'd hit the trail without it :yup:
Mac's Tie-Downs 797979 Trail D-Vise with Pin and Safety Clip

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=wayalifeparts-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B008PPNG2G&asins=B008PPNG2G&linkId=63cb7a8ce52c554e0c98944db1addb86&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
 
Here's a shot of mine in use.



No way I'd hit the trail without it :yup:

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=wayalifeparts-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B008PPNG2G&asins=B008PPNG2G&linkId=63cb7a8ce52c554e0c98944db1addb86&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

Same one here. Great tool. I have yet to use it on the trail, but around the house, it is still handy. When working on the Jeep, I don't have to walk to the bench as much, it's right there next to the Jeep. By the way, what the fuck happened to that bracket?
 
Same one here. Great tool. I have yet to use it on the trail, but around the house, it is still handy. When working on the Jeep, I don't have to walk to the bench as much, it's right there next to the Jeep. By the way, what the fuck happened to that bracket?

Problem with bolt-on components like a track bar relocation mount is that it can be tough to keep some of the bolts in hard to reach places tightened to torque spec. Hard wheeling caused the ram that was mounted to it to tear it off the bracket from the axle.
 
Here's a shot of mine in use.

main.php


No way I'd hit the trail without it :yup:
Mac's Tie-Downs 797979 Trail D-Vise with Pin and Safety Clip

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=wayalifeparts-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B008PPNG2G&asins=B008PPNG2G&linkId=63cb7a8ce52c554e0c98944db1addb86&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

LOL - you must have anticipated my next question! Thanks for the pic and link - that's gonna be purchased shortly through the WAL portal :thumb:
I really like Macs stuff too. Have their snatch straps in my pack.
 
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