Relocating rear license plate

[autumn walker]

Thinking about switching from external rear tire carrier to internal.

Question is how do I relocate my license plate? I'd like to put it in the "pocket", where it looks like it should go, on the rear gate. Is there a part or kit available to switch the location?

 

[seventwozero]

I would think the only difference is the holes for the plate to go, and of course, the light that would be above.

EDIT: I would think you should be able to drill a pair of holes in that black trim piece on the rear deck and mount the plate right to it. To light it, I would personally use some LED 'bolts' to get the job done. I used some that I found on ebay for ~$7 a pair and they do a great job, clean look to them, nice bright white light.

I recently did the opposite (internal to external) and have everything you would need to put the spare inside. Internal carrier mount, interior panel with cutouts, if you need the parts, I would be interested in working something out for your interior panel that doesn't have the mount cutouts. Not looking to profit, just looking to get what I want :giggle:

Is there a particular reason why you want to? IMHO, if you haul anything at all, the spare takes up tons of what is already limited cargo space. I couldn't even lay my set of golf clubs down in the back of my truck when the spare was inside. We tried to use the truck last summer for a family reunion and golf outing, 4 people and 4 sets of clubs, plus luggage and a cooler, HA! We were dreaming.

 

[autumn walker]

I found the spare to be in the way when hauling my camper trailer - if I don't back up perfectly straight the jack handle hits the spare. Also, I'm thinking about getting a rear hitch-mounted bike carrier to take our bikes when we want to go hit some trails. I'm tired of cramming them into the H2.

If you're interested in working out something with someone who lives in Canada I might be interested too

 

[seventwozero]

I found the spare to be in the way when hauling my camper trailer - if I don't back up perfectly straight the jack handle hits the spare. Also, I'm thinking about getting a rear hitch-mounted bike carrier to take our bikes when we want to go hit some trails. I'm tired of cramming them into the H2.

If you're interested in working out something with someone who lives in Canada I might be interested too

Ahh.. hrm. Canada could get expensive.

I had a similar problem when hooking up trailers with my rear spare. I had the carrier modified so that the tire sat ~8" higher than the stock position, plenty of room for hooking up trailers now. The metal work cost about $125, and about $90 to have the carrier blasted and powder coated. There was a forum member on another forum who modified his rear bike rack to attach over the tire, instead of in the receiver.

Just throwing some ideas out there!

 

[autumn walker]

Just throwing some ideas out there!

Appreciate it, thanks!

I'm thinking I might try and fab my own internal tire carrier - I have never welded anything before and I figure that is a good, non-essential piece to try with. I would also like to build a custom carrier to mount my VIAIR kit / toolbox onto; tire on one side, toolbox / VIAIR on the other side by the side window.

 

[twinmill28]

When we bought our travel trailer, the dealer provided a ball receiver built for the HUMMER that put's the ball further out from the back of the truck to accomodate the spare tire. It's a solid chunk of metal that weighs a ton, but gives the needed clearance with no issues of the jack hitting; works just like a hitch with no spare.
I'd thought about the additional leverage sticking the ball receiver that far out behind the truck, but we've driven our trailer all over the country and into Canada and back and across all of the lower United States with no issues, so I'd say it works.
As for putting the spare tire in the cargo hold, not a bad idea, but we randomly carry stuff like groceries and other junk while my daughter rides in that far back seat, so it wouldn't work so sell for us.
I would like to get that damn carrier off the back as it's getting rusty and looking rough. The advantage to having it though is that I built a cargo carrier that mounts on the spare tire swing and sits over the spare. It works really well for carrying alot of stuff I can't or don't want to carry in the truck.

 

[seventwozero]

Appreciate it, thanks!

I'm thinking I might try and fab my own internal tire carrier - I have never welded anything before and I figure that is a good, non-essential piece to try with. I would also like to build a custom carrier to mount my VIAIR kit / toolbox onto; tire on one side, toolbox / VIAIR on the other side by the side window.

I'd like photos of the build (if you get there). I've been throwing around an idea to hack up my internal carrier and turn it into a shelf for a tool bag that is currently taking up floor space in the cargo area.

 

[alrock]

Be careful with your design and welding as those tires and wheels have a lot of weight and greatly stress their mounts.

 

[autumn walker]

Be careful with your design and welding as those tires and wheels have a lot of weight and greatly stress their mounts.

agreed - I won't be doing it alone. I have several friends who are seasoned welders who can provide guidance and verify the strength of my welds and design.

 

[autumn walker]

I'd like photos of the build (if you get there). I've been throwing around an idea to hack up my internal carrier and turn it into a shelf for a tool bag that is currently taking up floor space in the cargo area.

I'm just tossing the idea around right now, but if I ever do get to the build stage I'll post pics for sure.

I find there is a lot of wasted space over the wheel wells in the back of the H2 - I don't want to drill into the panel itself and I'd rather have something more solid to mount a tool box / onboard air system to than plastic.