Does the 2011 Toyota 4Runner Trail come with front license plate holes?

[garlic4runner]

I will admit I did not get my grill right up in the 4Runners grill but did take a look and at a glance I can see no front license plate spot. Am i wrong? :nerd:

p.s. Have any of you placed your E-ZPass bumper antenna on your 4Runner? Any ideas on how far up it should go?

 

[jhawk]

I thought mine had dimples off the truck? No holes. The dealer stuck a plate/holes in it almost right after signing the papers

 

[StRanger7032]

Don't worry about it...or maybe do. The dealership will be sure to have the lowest paid peion on their staff drill the front license plate into the bumper cover. You might want to ask them to do it yourself, unless you want it to be uneven, crooked, and otherwise ugly.

 

[garlic4runner]

Don't worry about it...or maybe do. The dealership will be sure to have the lowest paid peion on their staff drill the front license plate into the bumper cover. You might want to ask them to do it yourself, unless you want it to be uneven, crooked, and otherwise ugly.

so what you are saying is that T4R does not come with a front bumper spot for a license plate? New York State will ticket me for not having two plates, I need to figure something out haha

 

[PracticalFJ]

I thought mine had dimples off the truck? No holes. The dealer stuck a plate/holes in it almost right after signing the papers

Jhawk is correct, there should be two dimples on the front. They are already measured out and lined up....just screw her in!!!

 

[StRanger7032]

From my experience with two Toyota purchases, just ask them to do it yourself. There may be something to guide the front plate installation, but minimum-wage Junior isn't working for perfection and probably doesn't know how a drill works. Mine have both looked like ass!

 

[garlic4runner]

thank you very much :banana:

 

[offroadingatc]

I asked them not to install it. They use huge self tapping plastic screws, which I'm not a fan of, drill a couple holes first and it'll go a lot smoother.

 

[1000MPH]

A pretty weak setup IMO.
From Toyota's pre-delivery procedures...

"Installation Procedure
Front License Plate
1. Align the holes on the license plate to the dimples
on the front bumper.
Figure 1..
2. Install two (2) self-tapping screws through the
license plate and into the front bumper at the
dimples.
NOTE
• Do NOT drill holes into the bumper.
• Do NOT overtighten the screws.
Use non-corroding self-tapping screws with the
following dimensions:
Nominal Length: 16.5 mm (0.65 in.) –
20.0 mm (0.79 in.)
Diameter: 6.0 mm (0.24 in.)"

 

[offroadingatc]

Haha, so they don't trust their techs to drill a correctly sized hole? Fantastic

 

[Foques]

there is no need to drill a hole.. the screws they are using cut their own thread to ensure that it hold better.

and, no, there aren't holes.. and I am still pissed that they drilled my bumper without checking in with me..

 

[offroadingatc]

pre drilling isn't really nescessary, i agree, but in my expereince self tapping screws dont so much 'pre-drill' as 'chew' their way through plastic. The plastic ends up stretched and mangled, which which makes it a lot weaker, not stronger. If you are properly sizing the hole, and a nice coarse plastic screw it will cut its own threads, but should do so neatly. I saw what self tapping screws did to the bumper on my wife's Matrix, I wouldnt let them do that to my 4runner. IMO predrilling is a lot better, but as worst it is atleast as good.

On the back of the bumper you will see that the plastic is thicker behind the dimples to give it adequate material to bite into.

 

[libido]

Here in CA, we are obligated to have front plates. They mounted the front plate on my bumper as suggested and it does look a little crooked. My solution?

.......I immediately ordered a Shrockworks bumper. Actually, that wasn't the only reason, but it does correct the crooked plate problem. Since I don't recall if the SW bumper is drilled for plates, I will have the opportunity to deal with that myself. According to the shipper, supposedly it will be delivered today!

 

[garlic4runner]

took a closer look and I can see the dimples for the license plate and boy is it going to look ugly haha. But! at $130 per violation I guess I will have to stomach the front plate :dammit:

thanks to everyone that posted in the thread

 

[jhawk]

Why not use some 3m strips? I promised I would never put holes in the front of another car again. I guess I kept my promise, as the dealer did it not me! grr.

The tape would definitely hold the plate - easy to remove too.

 

[garlic4runner]

Why not use some 3m strips? I promised I would never put holes in the front of another car again. I guess I kept my promise, as the dealer did it not me! grr.

The tape would definitely hold the plate - easy to remove too.

that's a great idea, jhawk :banana:


Do you think the 3m strips would support the license plate frame as well as one of those EZ-Pass bumper sensors?

 

[philsey]

The plate screwed to the bumper looks awful imo.

This was not my original idea, but here's what I did.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/76398-fixed-my-cheesy-looking-license-plate.html