Top box holding plate breaking

[Stormswift]

while I was preparing my scooter for hibernation I had to remove the rear carrier box. I have original Genuine top box and it held up well over time. my new scooter cover does not accommodate the box so I took it off. Underneath was the plate on which the box rests which also needed to be removed because of it possibly ripping the cover. That is when I saw that this metal plate developed cracks. Had I not removed the box and seen this there is no doubt in my mind that it would have eventually ended with plate cracking in half. The best case scenario would have been me loosing the box. The worst is ...God help whoever was riding or driving behind me when it all broke off. The dilemma now is that I need to replace the plate with something that would work better than this original plate. I am thinking treated and painted plywood?. I am hoping for suggestions if there is something else that might work better.

[PeteH]

A machine shop or a HVAC outfit might be able to quickly fabricate a duplicate.

[Stormswift]

Thanks, Pete. I am going to look into that.