Newbie ? about the license plate holder

[NCSU TL]

I'm got a 08 4Runner at the end of November and I noticed the license plate goes right on the paint on the back door. This might be a stupid question but I have never had a car like this before and worry that with it flapping in the wind or over bumps it might take off the paint and cause rust.

I have also never seen a license plate holder that keeps it from rubbing against the paint. My other cars have always had the license plate on a plastic part so I never really cared about it.

I know this is prob a really stupid question but I would like to try to prevent any rust or scratches before it gets to bad. Thanks for any help..

 

[Conspearasea]

You can always, put some of those little stickies you can get at home improvement stores on the back at each corner of the plate.

Get the kind that go under things like glass on a coffee table.

I have those on mine and it keeps the plate off the paint HTH

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

I put the clear rubber bumpers on the back of mine, easily found at Lowes.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

I stuck a peice of weather stripping on mine

 

[p nut]

Don't put the rubber pieces on the plate, put it on the body. If you put it on the plate, it will eventually rub the paint off.

But I'd suggest something like a 3M clearcoat type of a thing to cover the area where the plate mounts. That should be more than adequate.

Side note: I went to NCSU for a semester back in the day before transferring to another school (not because I didn't like the school). Go Pack!

 

[Mtn.Rush]

I stuck a peice of weather stripping on mine

Same

 

[smokey7722]

I put some black electrical tape and had planned to remove it at some point and put some of those rubber bumpers on but to be honest this has worked great. My runner is dark blue and behind the plate you barely notice it. Its been around 2 year now and still has the same strip of black electrical tape!

 

[J.A.]

clear bumpers here as well.

 

[K.C.]

+4

for clear vinyl bumpers.

 

[K.C.]

My License Plate Tweak
*I used clear vinyl bumpers...they were put on straight. I guess they didn't adhere all the way. Should have kept them on longer.*

Front Bumper

Side Shot

 

[K.C.]

I also used clear vinyl bumpers for the rear.

Rear Hatch

Side Shot

 

[Kevin G.]

I replaced the dealer license frames(note: "I" am their advertising.......not my yota) with simple flat black plastic frames.

To keep any contact or rubbing to a minimum, I "capped" the lower plastic screws with vacuum hose caps, that I found in the "Help" section at O'Reillys.

But.....the clear bumpers sounds good too.

My 2 cents.

Kevin

 

[NCSU TL]

Thanks for all the input, I had never even thought about the bumpers or pads, that was a great idea.

Go Pack!

 

[ALLEGRO]

Though I dumped the OE frame for a smoked cover, I noticed the very same thing. All I did was to GENTLEY bend the holder away from the body. I don't want it hitting at all.

You may can tell what I did in the pics.