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I remembered an old post back on the original RAV4World forums (and surprisingly, text from the thread still Googles), but since it was lost in R4W's database corruption, I was wondering if anyone still recalled the details of that modification.
I finally got tired of the coin-powered nylon snaps and picked up some heavy-duty velcro to do the deed. I popped off that horridly designed battery panel, cut the posts off of all the fasteners, glued each ring and post back in place and affixed small squares of velcro at each of the six original mounting points.
Now here's the rub... I don't recall if someone found thinner strips of velcro than I did -- mine is heavy-duty, all solid plastic, not the standard hook-and-loop type, and also has a small bit of foam backing. Unfortunately, because of the velcro's thickness I've found the battery panel, while quite secure, now rides a good couple millimeters higher than it used to. It's no longer flush with the other panel and the rubber strip doesn't contact the windshield.
Since I had already cut and glued the fixtures, it was too late to turn back, so for now it stays the way it is. Probably not something the casual observer would notice, but *I* know about it and it bothers me -- likely enough to attempt to make it fit better. Luckily, it doesn't appear to create any additional wind noise at highway speeds.
Any ideas?
I finally got tired of the coin-powered nylon snaps and picked up some heavy-duty velcro to do the deed. I popped off that horridly designed battery panel, cut the posts off of all the fasteners, glued each ring and post back in place and affixed small squares of velcro at each of the six original mounting points.
Now here's the rub... I don't recall if someone found thinner strips of velcro than I did -- mine is heavy-duty, all solid plastic, not the standard hook-and-loop type, and also has a small bit of foam backing. Unfortunately, because of the velcro's thickness I've found the battery panel, while quite secure, now rides a good couple millimeters higher than it used to. It's no longer flush with the other panel and the rubber strip doesn't contact the windshield.
Since I had already cut and glued the fixtures, it was too late to turn back, so for now it stays the way it is. Probably not something the casual observer would notice, but *I* know about it and it bothers me -- likely enough to attempt to make it fit better. Luckily, it doesn't appear to create any additional wind noise at highway speeds.
Any ideas?
