Half full or half empty

Nov 11, 2009
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My wife says I tend to be a glass half empty type of temperament, which is probably because during my working days I tended to concentrate on what risks could crop up and spoil my day.

But today convinced me that my wife has a point. I was looking to buy some new roof bars to fit the new RAV4. I looked at the supplier I tend to use and there were seven options all came with a warning that at 890mm between fixing points the distance was greater than many roof box dimensions. So I looked up the dimensions of the Hapro Traxer 4.6 on their website and sure enough it showed 815 mm with no tolerances. I use the rotary wind on claw type of clamps which aren’t small.

So I emailed Hapro who sent me a dimensioned specification and confirmed at 815mm it would not fit the RAV4. I then sent them a scanned pdf of the supplied User Instructions that came with the roof box in 2017. Clearly showing dimensions between and suitable for boxes between 815 to 890mm.

Outcome? The User Instructions that were supplied were printed incorrectly. I’ve now asked if Hapro T slot adaptor fasteners would be suitable as they take up less linear distance than the larger premium wind on claw type. Otherwise it’s potentially new bars and new roofbox, or pooch in the nearside footwell 🙈
 

JTQ

May 7, 2005
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I face the same from my wife, a "half full" mentality, has to be as it is always that which can go wrong that potentially screws things up, be that in technology and most else.
"Aviation" initial back ground probably, it is drummed in to explore and ideally design out anything that can smash you into the deck, identify & quantify the risks of what you can't avoid.
Most users like it better that way!

IMO its not the negative take many paint it to be*, it does not blind you to the positives, though thinking too much into the positive certainly can blind you to the negatives, and these are what potentially hurt.

* A big positive that can spin out of this is the lucrative commissions sorting out where for whatever reason inadequate thought had been invested. Those funds buy quite a lot of life's positives. ;)
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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I face the same from my wife, a "half full" mentality, has to be as it is always that which can go wrong that potentially screws things up, be that in technology and most else.
"Aviation" initial back ground probably, it is drummed in to explore and ideally design out anything that can smash you into the deck, identify & quantify the risks of what you can't avoid.
Most users like it better that way!

IMO its not the negative take many paint it to be*, it does not blind you to the positives, though thinking too much into the positive certainly can blind you to the negatives, and these are what potentially hurt.

* A big positive that can spin out of this is the lucrative commissions sorting out where for whatever reason inadequate thought had been invested. Those funds buy quite a lot of life's positives. ;)
Good points, but with aircraft one way or another gravity brings you back to terra firma. Marine vessels tend to go to the watery terra firma :(
 
Jul 18, 2017
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My wife says I tend to be a glass half empty type of temperament, which is probably because during my working days I tended to concentrate on what risks could crop up and spoil my day.

But today convinced me that my wife has a point. I was looking to buy some new roof bars to fit the new RAV4. I looked at the supplier I tend to use and there were seven options all came with a warning that at 890mm between fixing points the distance was greater than many roof box dimensions. So I looked up the dimensions of the Hapro Traxer 4.6 on their website and sure enough it showed 815 mm with no tolerances. I use the rotary wind on claw type of clamps which aren’t small.

So I emailed Hapro who sent me a dimensioned specification and confirmed at 815mm it would not fit the RAV4. I then sent them a scanned pdf of the supplied User Instructions that came with the roof box in 2017. Clearly showing dimensions between and suitable for boxes between 815 to 890mm.

Outcome? The User Instructions that were supplied were printed incorrectly. I’ve now asked if Hapro T slot adaptor fasteners would be suitable as they take up less linear distance than the larger premium wind on claw type. Otherwise it’s potentially new bars and new roofbox, or pooch in the nearside footwell 🙈
I wonder if my Thule roof bars will find your Rav4? I can send pictures of the roof bar tomorrow if you are interested.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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I wonder if my Thule roof bars will find your Rav4? I can send pictures of the roof bar tomorrow if you are interested.
Yes please. The roof rails are flush and don't have a gap underneath and the mount feet of the bars fit in four fixed points positioned in the roof rails. Some bars can have different foot mounts to suit the cars fixture points. So if you change car you might only need to buy new feet. My exiting Cruz Aero are like that but unfortunately the bars aren't long enough to span the Toyotas roof which is wider than the Kia. Like to see your Thule though and if you have the part number I could check them out. Thanks.

Quite stressful buying a new car these days as the outgoing one has to be de-daterised of personal stuff stored in the infotainment and navigation system. Managed to reset it all to factory default which made me realise that in Korea they must use Kmh, litres etc. !!!
 

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