License Plate Frames

[Tcape]

When I pickup up my '08 RTL about 7 weeks ago, the dealer gave me one of their black plastic advertising frames. (Has the dealership name on the bottom of the frame.) I used my bench grinder to grind off the backside ridge along the bottom, and it now fits fine on the RL. The frame is black, so it works OK with my black RL. The frame wouldn't have fit down in the hole in the bumper if I hadn't ground off the ridge on the bottom of the back of it. Seems like you could take any frame and do the same with it...just grind off the ridge as far as you need to so it fits down in the hole in the bumper. The part you grind off won't show.
Tom

[glassdriver72]

I bought a black powdercoated frame and cut off the bottom of it. I filed it and painted the edges. You only have the black on three sides, but nothing is blocked, and the plate slides in the slot on the bumper as intended. It looks like it was designed for it.

The same hill-billy modification would work for any other style frame.

[Terry Nash]

Hey Dude,

Just put a nice frame on my ridgeline yesterday. As the bumper is plastic, just raise the plate with frame over it to see where it clears the lower slot for the plate and drill 2 new holes above the original factory mounting nuts, then use the supplied sheetmetal screws that came with the frame and screw them right into the new holes. You can also use a machine screw with a nut on the back as there is room to do that as well. Don't faint, it won't hurt your truck at all and you will be really happy to have a frame around your plate. P.S. It doesn't interfere with the operation of the tailgate either.

[BigDaddyStone]

Cool Ideas. I just bought a thin frame from Wal-Mart and slid the bootom in first and then fastened the top. Looks Great. But I do like the idea of cutting the bottom out.

[RustyH]

Originally Posted by Terry Nash

Hey Dude,

Just put a nice frame on my ridgeline yesterday. As the bumper is plastic, just raise the plate with frame over it to see where it clears the lower slot for the plate and drill 2 new holes above the original factory mounting nuts, then use the supplied sheetmetal screws that came with the frame and screw them right into the new holes. You can also use a machine screw with a nut on the back as there is room to do that as well. Don't faint, it won't hurt your truck at all and you will be really happy to have a frame around your plate. P.S. It doesn't interfere with the operation of the tailgate either.

I considered that, but wound up getting a plate relocator. It allowed me to use the stock holes, while moving the plate up and out about a half an inch and then installed a Billet grille edged frame. It looks great and continues the billet theme from the front grilles. I also couldn't help myself and added some nice little detail bling for the screw covers. Photos to follow

[RustyH]

Heres what I ended up with....

[VoicesInMyHead]

Originally Posted by RustyH

Heres what I ended up with....

Hey, that looks good! Nice going!

[RustyH]

Originally Posted by VoicesInMyHead

Hey, that looks good! Nice going!

Thanks....I got matching License plate bolt covers and anti theft valve stem caps. The caps are cool, because they have a plastic insert that won't rust out on the valve stem like I've heard from other owners.

[LakeWinniRTL]

Rusty, where did you get the license plate relocator? Mfg/part # would be great. Did a quick search online and saw lots of different styles.
Nice mod!

Thanks, LakeWinniRTL

[Tcape]

Originally Posted by RustyH

I considered that, but wound up getting a plate relocator. It allowed me to use the stock holes, while moving the plate up and out about a half an inch and then installed a Billet grille edged frame.

Where did you find a plate relocator? Never heard of that, but it sure turned out great on your RL. Nice work!
Tom