• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

Where's Your License Plate?

hobie237

New member
486
5
0
Location
Newark, DE
Guys, we're talking about CUCVs, which aren't really recognized in public the same way that Deuces are. I'm sure a deuce would get a *bit* more deference than something that looks like (because it IS) a drab/camo'd K30 or Blazer.
 

Jersey 93 Ty

New member
99
0
0
Location
New Providence, NJ
I'll throw my solution in here... I picked up a plate bracket with a built in light from a local trailer shop and used a couple of self-tapping screws through the left corner of my bumper. I then found the appropriate wire in the trailer harness and tapped into it, tucking the wire neatly behind the bumper. The only downside is that it covers the left rear blackout light, but that doesn't work on either of my M1009's and I have no need to ever bother trying to fix it.

 

Pawnshop

Active member
1,798
23
38
Location
Austin/Cedar Park Texas
CUCVs look like they SHOULD have plates, a Deuce does not. My Deuces are registered Texas Former Military and don't require plates, and I don't worry about driving my Deuces around with no plates and have not been hassled yet, but the M1009 is going to be a daily driver so I have to register it like any other Texas car so it has to have TWO plates (front and an illuminated one in the back). I am worried constantly about getting pulled over while the SF97 is in the works. I have insurance and I only take it out for maintenance runs and will be doing a MVPA club event this weekend so I should be fine, BUT...
 

scrapman

New member
242
1
0
Location
deland florida
For those tactical MV owners in Florida if you enter to your search engine "florida house bill no. 623" you will be able to print out the three pages covering MV exemptions. Keep it in the truck with you and when LEO sez "TAG" Just show your reg, tag, ins,& HB 623 and all is well. It just has to be in the truck whenever they ask for it. The locals around here dont even look twice anymore.
 

Pawnshop

Active member
1,798
23
38
Location
Austin/Cedar Park Texas
My M35A2 and M109A3 have the "plates" painted on the inside of the doors and on the dash respectively, but the M1009 is going to need plates, however I am going to use the door number for the plate number:)
 

Tibby

New member
113
0
0
Location
Riverton,IL
Mine is on the right side of the bumper over the blackout light. No license plate light for the past eight years, but have not been bothered about it.
 
I got pulled over the other night in my duece with my plate in the glovebox. The first thing out of his mouth was, "The reason I pulled you over is because your unit markings aren't displayed on the bumper." I explained it was surplus and he told me his brother-in-law bought two wrecked HMMV's to restore.

The three officers were extremely cool about everything. They ran my info and just gave me a verbal warning to have my tags displayed and lighted.

They even checked the back cargo area for, as they put it, "Al Qaeda". I found out later that someone told my sister they heard the police on the scanner saying something about "Terrorist" and my name being checked out. Oh well, we're probably all on that rightwing extremist watchlist anyways.

So, this is about the third time I've had to produce the plate for an officer without getting a citation. I may be pushing my luck. I think I'm gonna rig up something with magnets and maybe one of those small battery operated LED lights.
 

AJMBLAZER

New member
2,688
8
0
Location
Paducah, KY
I once saw a VERY rusty S10 Blazer with a flash light duct taped to the trailer hitch to illuminate the plate.

Redneck? Yes.
Ingenious? Yes.
 

Ferroequinologist

Resident railroad expert
Steel Soldiers Supporter
4,807
736
113
Location
Liberty Hill, SC
I won't pass a safety inspection without a license plate light, and I will need one of those every year...
That's why I love SC,
It could have no windshield, doors, roof and be rusted out. But as long as it has 4 tires with air, operable brakes, all the lights work, and seatbelts, you can drive it. :driver:

No inspections here!! :wink:

I'm glad this thread came up, I have to figure out where to put the one on my 'new' M1008. I don't think SC has the bumper markings regulations. Anyone know?
 

AJMBLAZER

New member
2,688
8
0
Location
Paducah, KY
Hell, SC is probably like MI. If you want to pay to register a car that's long since rusted into uselessness they will gladly take your money as long as you have the VIN and a title. Friend of mine did that to win a bet.
 

Ironhorse

Member
100
0
16
Location
Central DE
Here's what I did.
I folded over the edges of some sheet metal to stiffen it and bent it into an "L" bracket . Then I attached it through the hole in the bottom of the bumper. The light is mounted on the bracket.

I attached a standard FARM VEHICLE plate but it looked out of place. So, instead I stenciled the bracket itself. Much better!
 

Attachments

snock

Member
39
0
6
Location
Loudonville OH
I've looked at around a half dozen CUCVs now and all of them, including my own, have had the threaded sheet metal inserts stuck in the tail gates. They're the same type they use for the antenna brackets. Granted, there is no light but I'm not too concerned about that. I guess I am curious as to why the military would have a way to mount up a rear license plate.
 

ABN173

Active member
1,842
11
38
Location
FT Bragg, NC
I've looked at around a half dozen CUCVs now and all of them, including my own, have had the threaded sheet metal inserts stuck in the tail gates. They're the same type they use for the antenna brackets. Granted, there is no light but I'm not too concerned about that. I guess I am curious as to why the military would have a way to mount up a rear license plate.
I think it varies, My old 85 M1009 CUCV did not have those inserts, the 85 M1008 pick-up I just bought does have those. It does seem odd that some would have them and some don't though. You have to remember the logic behind the CUCV in the first place, it was meant to save money as a "commercial off the shelf" item, sure there were some military only options on them but not that many, perhaps the bumpers were manufactured in the same plant as the civy ones and the workers just went with what they normally did.....who knows I'm just guessing myself.
 
Last edited:

Pawnshop

Active member
1,798
23
38
Location
Austin/Cedar Park Texas
I've looked at around a half dozen CUCVs now and all of them, including my own, have had the threaded sheet metal inserts stuck in the tail gates. They're the same type they use for the antenna brackets. Granted, there is no light but I'm not too concerned about that. I guess I am curious as to why the military would have a way to mount up a rear license plate.

You have a photo of that?
 
Top