Front license plate holder - thick vanity plate

[webman3802]

I have a pewter vanity plate from my university that is about 3/16" (5mm) thick that I'd like to mount on the front of my truck ('24 XLT). I couldn't find an OEM front plate bracket on the Ford website but from what I've seen elsewhere, it looks like this one, available from many different brands and sellers. (Note, in the first photo, it's installed correctly on the truck but the bracket shown below the truck is pictured upside down.) My problem with this item is the tabs at the bottom to hold the bottom edge of the plate. I checked with the seller and they're not deep enough for the thick plate that I'd like to mount. Does anyone have any experience with mounting thicker vanity plates? Right now, I seem to have three options:

• Modify the OEM(ish) mount by cutting off the tabs. I'm not sure how well this would look or if it would even be noticeable, but for $25 I don't want to experiment.
• Use an inexpensive universal mount, like this one. It seems decent enough and mounts either with screws or stainless steel zip ties.
• Other styles that I've seen (usually no-drill brackets) are $40 and up, more than I want to spend on this minor addition.

Any thoughts? I like the look of the OEM bracket and I'm not opposed to drilling to mount that one, but I'd rather use the zip ties if I go with the universal mount.

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[Bgolden]

Here's how mine turned out. Used a utility knife and cut the tabs off. Drilled holes for the two bottom screws.

 

[webman3802]

Great, thank you for the photo. The cut off tab is obvious in the close-up and since I'm looking for it, but probably wouldn't look that bad from a normal distance. This is helpful, thanks.

 

[lewiskauffman]

Is your vanity plate the same thickness all over or have a raised lip around the perimeter? If it is the same thickness, look at the Mabett

 

[White Thunder]

Is your vanity plate the same thickness all over or have a raised lip around the perimeter? If it is the same thickness, look at the Mabett

If I needed one I think I’d look at this one, (the Mabett) I live in Oklahoma, a one plate state. I moved here from Colorado, a two plate state.

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