license plate lights
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 823
Likes: 4
From: Calais, Vermont
license plate lights
Here in Vermont, I cannot get my truck inspected if the rear bumper is on because it obscures the license plate. The license plate right now hangs from the driver side tail light bracket and is mounted at the stock location. Likewise, my bumper is stock and mounted in the correct location. I was told that bumpers were optional back in 1953. Anyway, if I take the bumper off, it will pass inspection just fine, because no bumper is required on a stock 1953 truck. But, now I've decided to stray from stock and put the license plate on the bumper. But, I will need to have it illuminated. So, I'm looking for a couple of 6-volt license plate lights. I've not found any yet. I was wondering if a small 12 volt LED license plate light will work running on six volts. Even if it's dim, maybe it won't be any dimmer than any of the other 6-volt lighting that's on the truck now.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,995
Likes: 422
From: u-rah-rah Wisconsin
Most LEDs care about voltage so the 12V will not work in your 6V system unless they are specifically labeled as such. On the other hand, any incandescent socket will work. Just install the correct bulb.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 5,401
From: Central PA
I can't believe that they won't inspect it for that reason. What if you showed them actual dealer catalogs and pictures of the bumper and license plate both in the stock location?
I once had a young University police pull me over in my 54 F100 for having a missing headlight, just after I got it out of the body shop. He gave me a warning. I had to fix it in 3 days and report to his superior on campus!
He then told me he could have cited me for an instructed license plate. I told him, " This truck is a stock, unmolested truck. That bumper is in the stock location. The license plate holder is in the stock location. If you have a problem with that, call the Ford Motor Company!"
I once had a young University police pull me over in my 54 F100 for having a missing headlight, just after I got it out of the body shop. He gave me a warning. I had to fix it in 3 days and report to his superior on campus!
He then told me he could have cited me for an instructed license plate. I told him, " This truck is a stock, unmolested truck. That bumper is in the stock location. The license plate holder is in the stock location. If you have a problem with that, call the Ford Motor Company!"
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 823
Likes: 4
From: Calais, Vermont
I can't believe that they won't inspect it for that reason. What if you showed them actual dealer catalogs and pictures of the bumper and license plate both in the stock location?
I once had a young University police pull me over in my 54 F100 for having a missing headlight, just after I got it out of the body shop. He gave me a warning. I had to fix it in 3 days and report to his superior on campus!
He then told me he could have cited me for an instructed license plate. I told him, " This truck is a stock, unmolested truck. That bumper is in the stock location. The license plate holder is in the stock location. If you have a problem with that, call the Ford Motor Company!"
I once had a young University police pull me over in my 54 F100 for having a missing headlight, just after I got it out of the body shop. He gave me a warning. I had to fix it in 3 days and report to his superior on campus!
He then told me he could have cited me for an instructed license plate. I told him, " This truck is a stock, unmolested truck. That bumper is in the stock location. The license plate holder is in the stock location. If you have a problem with that, call the Ford Motor Company!"
The whole inspection thing in Vermont is totally screwed up. It seems like the current inspections standards were successfully lobbied for and put it place by the National Auto Dealer Association lobby just to boost the sale of new cars. Because resistance to the tighter standards from garages doing inspections was anticipated, the state requires that all inspections include video and / or photographic documentation of inspections. And, if one garage says "no" to an inspection, the vehicle is blacklisted on a state database. At least the garage that I go to will pass my truck if I remove the bumper. That's not a huge deal. Just a minor pain-in-the-butt. Most of all, it just seems so stupid. Abe: my setup is exactly like yours for your '54. I've thought about challenging the state regarding this whole thing, but I get a knot in my stomach just thinking about dealing with a bureaucracy that clings to their rules and has no capacity to use logic in their reasoning.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 114
Likes: 3
From: Portage Oh
Here in Vermont, I cannot get my truck inspected if the rear bumper is on because it obscures the license plate. The license plate right now hangs from the driver side tail light bracket and is mounted at the stock location. Likewise, my bumper is stock and mounted in the correct location. I was told that bumpers were optional back in 1953. Anyway, if I take the bumper off, it will pass inspection just fine, because no bumper is required on a stock 1953 truck. But, now I've decided to stray from stock and put the license plate on the bumper. But, I will need to have it illuminated. So, I'm looking for a couple of 6-volt license plate lights. I've not found any yet. I was wondering if a small 12 volt LED license plate light will work running on six volts. Even if it's dim, maybe it won't be any dimmer than any of the other 6-volt lighting that's on the truck now.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 114
Likes: 3
From: Portage Oh
Here in Vermont, I cannot get my truck inspected if the rear bumper is on because it obscures the license plate. The license plate right now hangs from the driver side tail light bracket and is mounted at the stock location. Likewise, my bumper is stock and mounted in the correct location. I was told that bumpers were optional back in 1953. Anyway, if I take the bumper off, it will pass inspection just fine, because no bumper is required on a stock 1953 truck. But, now I've decided to stray from stock and put the license plate on the bumper. But, I will need to have it illuminated. So, I'm looking for a couple of 6-volt license plate lights. I've not found any yet. I was wondering if a small 12 volt LED license plate light will work running on six volts. Even if it's dim, maybe it won't be any dimmer than any of the other 6-volt lighting that's on the truck now.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 5,401
From: Central PA
I second that.
So every little garage that does state inspection must video the process and save the images?
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 99
Likes: 11
From: Round Rock, TX
Vermont still requires annual inspections for antique vehicles? Or is yours registered as a regular truck still?
Here in Texas, my '56 is registered as an antique and has Texas 56 plates on it. No inspection, just registration every 5 years.
Is there an alternative for you in Vermont?
Here in Texas, my '56 is registered as an antique and has Texas 56 plates on it. No inspection, just registration every 5 years.
Is there an alternative for you in Vermont?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Huntsville, Al
Here in Vermont, I cannot get my truck inspected if the rear bumper is on because it obscures the license plate. The license plate right now hangs from the driver side tail light bracket and is mounted at the stock location. Likewise, my bumper is stock and mounted in the correct location. I was told that bumpers were optional back in 1953. Anyway, if I take the bumper off, it will pass inspection just fine, because no bumper is required on a stock 1953 truck. But, now I've decided to stray from stock and put the license plate on the bumper. But, I will need to have it illuminated. So, I'm looking for a couple of 6-volt license plate lights. I've not found any yet. I was wondering if a small 12 volt LED license plate light will work running on six volts. Even if it's dim, maybe it won't be any dimmer than any of the other 6-volt lighting that's on the truck now.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 5,401
From: Central PA
How does this ordnance apply to vehicles classified as Antique? Many Antique vehicles manufactured before this ordinance didn't have But one Stop light on the divers side, No turn signals and many vehicle makes with obscure License plates. I would file for an exclusion sighting the original provisions provided by the manufacture at the time of Production !
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,912
Likes: 1,195
From: Deerbrook, WI
Here in Wisconsin we are apparently very lax about registering collector vehicles. I should count my blessings! All it took was some paperwork and $$$. No inspection was required. I now have a WI collector plate that never needs to be renewed. There are no annual registration fees either. My plate can stay with the truck as it gets passed down in the family, or I may even be able to transfer it to another vehicle. There may be some towing or load restrictions for collector vehicles, but otherwise running an old truck in WI is surprisingly hassle free.
Jim
P.S.
No one asked about a plate light, and I didn't have one until just last week.
Jim
P.S.
No one asked about a plate light, and I didn't have one until just last week.