Rear Tire License Plate Holder Question!

[H2Swede]

I have a slateblue 05 SUV with a non-original swing away tire carrier. I recently purchased an original rear tire license plate holder to achieve a factory look, but my problem now is that I have no license plate light...

Could I buy a factory light with harness or do I have to fabricate something? I really don't like the way Hummer placed their harness visible on the swing away and through the bumper... Suggestions welcome!

Thanks / Kris

[Captain of the Titanic]

ACK! Why?!?!?!

I just spent 3 hours a couple of weeks ago removing my factory license plate holder, so I am very familiar with it. Does your carrier have a large cylinder that goes out through the center of the stock rim? On the stock unit, this cylinder holds the license plate light. It is welded on the main spare tire holder.

If your unit does not have this cylinder, I would "rig" something up, if I was you.

I would send you the remnants of mine, but I ended up using a sledgehammer as one of the removal items and the main cylinder was a little worse for the wear.

Good luck!

[H2Swede]

I think my carrier is very similar to the stock one except for the locking pin and yes, I do have the large cylinder in the center of the carrier. I'm also familiar with the greatest tool of them all, the sledgehammer - It helped me get rid of my curious neighbor... :D

[Captain of the Titanic]

There are three parts you are missing. The wiring, which as you say runs along the outside of the backside of the whole assembly; the bulb assembly; and the lens. The lens fits into the cylinder end (rear-most) and the bulb assembly screws into the same assembly.

I can send you pictures of everything if you like. I ended up leaving the full length of the wiring, just in case I needed to go back, but I still have all the parts I took off.

If you can't find the parts, I'll give the stuff I have to you. It will probably just sit next to my stock H2 rims, and side vents, and the stock intake, carb, and exhaust I took off my '68 mustang 20 years ago...

[H2Swede]

Great! Thanks! I'll try and find the bulb and lens but I think I'm going to go with a custom wiring, totally hidden. No need for pictures (yet)... Thanks for the help!!

[Captain of the Titanic]

I think if you drill two holes (top and bottom) and run a fish wire you should be able to do it.

I think it will look good as well!

Good Luck!