Maintenance & Restoration

James in NJ · 05-15-2021, 06:28 AM

Hey all,

The license plate holder on my Scamp has broken. I looked on the Scamp parts website and couldn't find anything. I also saw some on Amazon, but not sure if they are the correct size.

Does anyone know where to get a replacement that will definitely fit?

Wayne Collins · 05-15-2021, 09:10 AM

Any Auto Parts store should have one.
Best if it hold the plate at 4 points to prevent vibration.

MJo · 05-15-2021, 01:52 PM

Glad you asked about that. I’m putting a new license plate on a new Scamp and the tabs to attach the plate look like they’d break off pretty easily. They’re attached to the bottom of a taillight. How do you put an attachment with 4 connection points for a license plate? How do you remove the cover of a rear tail light to put the bracket on without breaking the red plastic light cover?

Kardon · 05-15-2021, 02:56 PM

We were in Ohio when our license plate holder broke. We phoned Scamp and ordered a new one, and then taped it up and headed over to Backus to pick it up. When we got there I realized that it was part of the tail light unit and needed to be wired in. We went back on Monday morning and they replaced it and only charged us for 15 minutes of time. I think the tail light unit was under $20.00. Karin

Wayne Collins · 05-15-2021, 02:58 PM

You can either drill 4 holes in the fiberglass shell and use sheet metal screws, with a dab of silicone calk,
Or, mount the plate holder bracket to the rear bumper by drilling holes as needed.

MJo · 05-15-2021, 03:05 PM

Hey Karin !!!!! I had to cancel coming to the rally, problems with the covid shots, so I postponed until June. How is it going? What a beautiful weekend !!!! thanks for your license plate reply. I don’t think my Scamp has a rear bumper so I’ll look and see. Thanks again, hope to see you one of these days. MJo

crowwing · 05-15-2021, 06:09 PM

My license plate holder was precarious for years. After coming home from storage, getting my new tabs to apply, no plate. I called my storage place on the outside chance it was there, nothing. I am sure the plate is nestled in some ditch waiting for the adopt a highway crew. Good news is a new plate was less than twenty dollars. Bought a holder at auto zone, four new screws in the Scamp. Deluxe version with plexi cover!
John

Jon in AZ · 05-15-2021, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJo

Glad you asked about that. I’m putting a new license plate on a new Scamp and the tabs to attach the plate look like they’d break off pretty easily. They’re attached to the bottom of a taillight. How do you put an attachment with 4 connection points for a license plate? How do you remove the cover of a rear tail light to put the bracket on without breaking the red plastic light cover?

As far as I've seen, all the license plate holders that attach to the taillight housing have only two attachment points. Use nylock nuts to ensure they don't vibrate loose.

The red cover just pops off. Use a knife to gently work around the edges to separate it from the housing. The older it is, the more brittle and easier to break. Good news is if you have the rectangular style, the cover is very common and inexpensively replaced at many auto parts stores.

I only put holes in my shell for VIPs (very important parts), and the license plate holder doesn't make that list!

MJo · 05-15-2021, 08:26 PM

Thanks for commenting. I was hoping you would. I didn’t like the idea of putting screws into the fiberglas but I do prefer attaching with 4 screws. the bolts I have have that rubber or whatever which is supposed to keep them on, I’ll use lock washers also. Those tabs hanging from the light seem destined to bend and come loose. Wish there was a sturdier alternative. I even considered just putting the license plate in the rear window of the Scamp. thanks again for commenting.

Jon in AZ · 05-15-2021, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJo

Thanks for commenting. I was hoping you would. I didn’t like the idea of putting screws into the fiberglas but I do prefer attaching with 4 screws. the bolts I have have that rubber or whatever which is supposed to keep them on, I’ll use lock washers also. Those tabs hanging from the light seem destined to bend and come loose. Wish there was a sturdier alternative. I even considered just putting the license plate in the rear window of the Scamp. thanks again for commenting.

Late thought... I think they changed to a different LED taillight recently. Does your have the old-style surface-mount rectangular housing or something different?

MJo · 05-16-2021, 05:10 AM

I don't know, I picked up my Scamp just before they changed the door, so I don't know what version anything is. The tail lights are rectangular, surface mounted, about 6x4x3inches deep. I'll hook up to the license plate bracket, it just looks like it won't last long. Do you have solar? If so, have you mounted it to the roof of your Scamp?

Jon in AZ · 05-16-2021, 06:30 AM

Sounds like you have the same very common taillight unit as mine, which has lasted 13 years and counting.

No solar yet, but it’s in the plans for a coming 12V upgrade. I will use a portable suitcase style for more flexibility in where I place it and the ability to use it with either of our two RVs. In any case I prefer to keep the shell as clean as possible.

Part of the upgrade includes LED running lights. Most of the LED taillights I’ve seen do not include a license mount, so I may be forced to do something different then.

MJo · 05-16-2021, 10:17 AM

I got the Renogy 100 Watt 12volt monocrystalline compact design, it looks like it folds (I havent taken it out of the box yet) from Home Depot $103.44 with the Adventurer controller from Amazon. Its a small investment because I have no idea what I’m doing, but I expect I’ll learn, with all the free advice I get, that is. I thought I may get somewhere I want to stay and not have power for Scamp lights and want to keep the battery charged without running the car.

Bing M. · 05-16-2021, 04:16 PM

Just to let you know in MN clear covers over plates are illegal.

mary and bob · 05-16-2021, 04:53 PM

Most, if not all, states require the license plate to be lighted. And generally one tail light will have a clear "window" on the bottom to do that if the plate mounts there. Or there are different options available for separate license plate lights. When I worked in a truck shop we mounted license plates on a piece of rubber mud flap because the plates tended to vibrate and break off.

Kardon · 05-17-2021, 06:43 AM

Our 2012 Scamp has what is called the old style driver side tail light cover. It has two tabs that extend down from the tail light unit which hold the license plate. These broke and our choice seemed to be a)drilling holes in the Scamp [not an option] or b) replacing the tail light unit. We try to keep things as original as possible so this was our choice. Karin

Kardon · 05-17-2021, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJo

Do you have solar? If so, have you mounted it to the roof of your Scamp?

We just bought a Rockpals 300 power pack and a folding solar screen. We haven't used it yet but tested it here with lights plugged in and it seems to work well. We won't mount it to the roof. It's very light and portable so you can keep it in the sun. I think this is enough power for most things in our little trailer (no air conditioner and mostly propane for appliances) We'll see. Karin

MJo · 05-17-2021, 09:02 AM

sounds like you will have lots of power. I only got the 100W12v Renegy. I haven't hooked it together with the controller, I have to read up some and then test it. Those license plate tabs which come off of the rear light look to me like once I bend them enough to put the bolts on for the license plate, they'll break off. I have to hook everything up and see what happens. I got a clear plastic cover from Ace Hardware but that might add too much weight to the bracket. How was the rally? looked like there would be lots of people. I'm booked for early June, spot near the dog park.

GlassCastle · 05-20-2021, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James in NJ

Hey all,

The license plate holder on my Scamp has broken. I looked on the Scamp parts website and couldn't find anything. I also saw some on Amazon, but not sure if they are the correct size.

Does anyone know where to get a replacement that will definitely fit?

Got mine online at E-Trailer. Also got my water filler for fresh tank there.

AC0GV · 05-20-2021, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James in NJ

Hey all,

The license plate holder on my Scamp has broken. I looked on the Scamp parts website and couldn't find anything. I also saw some on Amazon, but not sure if they are the correct size.

Does anyone know where to get a replacement that will definitely fit?

This is a common part at trailer dealers. I had to re-bend it to get it "sandwiched" between the stabilizer and the bumper.