Hard top canopy. Any suggestions?

[TerryJ]

I just bought an almost new Case IH JX80 with rops and would like to put an aftermarket canopy on it. Needs to be rigid type, no soft tops. It doesn't matter if steel, fiberglass, aluminum, plastic, etc. I just need some suggestions for now so that I can start comparing. Thanks.

 

[WayneB]

check these people out

Tractor sun shades

FEMCO, Inc.

I bought my weatherbreak from Femco and they are really a good company to deal with!

Laurin inc | Canopes pour tracteur | Canop駸 Confort

 

[sellercreek]

I have a steel canopy from Wells and really like it.
Wells Ag Tractor Canopies Insulated Steel or Aluminum Canopies

Westendorf makes a nice canopy, too!
Front-End Loaders by Westendorf: loader for tractor, shade canopy, wagons, manure & landscaping equipment.

Hope this helps.

 

[SnowRidge]

I have a Tel-Trax, also linked above. I am very pleased with it. My dealer recommended it over other brands for quality and coverage.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

This is very similar to the Tel- trax, but another to consider.

Custom Tractor Canopy For Any Tractor Model - The Smart Farmer, LLC.

 

[JerryG]

I have to second the Well's Ag canopy. I have had one for about 9 years now.
Wells Ag Company - Tractor Canopies

 

[SnowRidge]

This is very similar to the Tel- trax, but another to consider.

Custom Tractor Canopy For Any Tractor Model - The Smart Farmer, LLC.

I think that may actually be a Tel-Trax being resold by The Smart Farmer. The phone number for The Smart Farmer is a Knoxville cell phone. The business does not provide a physical address anywhere that I could find, nor do they have an "About" link describing their business. They do not appear to have a business phone listing.

I would not be surprised if they are little more than a web site, and everything they sell is drop shipped. Might as well deal directly with Tel-Trax. They are a known entity.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I think that may actually be a Tel-Trax being resold by The Smart Farmer. The phone number for The Smart Farmer is a Knoxville cell phone. The business does not provide a physical address anywhere that I could find, nor do they have an "About" link describing their business. They do not appear to have a business phone listing.

I would not be surprised if they are little more than a web site, and everything they sell is drop shipped. Might as well deal directly with Tel-Trax. They are a known entity.

After looking at some pics a little closer, I believe that you may very well be right. I would guess that whoever has the lower price would be the actual mfg? Now I'm wondering who my dealer got mine from, not that it really makes any difference. I am very happy with it.

 

[SnowRidge]

After looking at some pics a little closer, I believe that you may very well be right. I would guess that whoever has the lower price would be the actual mfg? Now I'm wondering who my dealer got mine from, not that it really makes any difference. I am very happy with it.

Tel-Trax is the manufacturer. They are not that far from here. Mine came through my dealer, and there was some confusion about the ROPS measurements on my Branson, so the dealer asked me to call Tel-Trax directly to make sure everything was correct, which I did. They are nice folks, and it was a pleasant exchange.

Tel-Trax has their own delivery service to local dealers, so I was able to avoid shipping charges by going with that brand. A nice bonus.

 

[JB4310]

I got mine from the JD dealer, cost a little more than the after market ones, even though I know Deere doesn't make it, it's well made and looks right, the only thing I don't like is how it makes it alot LOUDER!!! while in the seat.

 

[jake98]

I got mine from the JD dealer, cost a little more than the after market ones, even though I know Deere doesn't make it, it's well made and looks right, the only thing I don't like is how it makes it alot LOUDER!!! while in the seat.

I'm having a hard time envisioning what the canopies do for you other than make it louder...
I can see if there's light rain and no wind it would keep some of it off, or at high noon it would block the sun, but is it worth it? With a soft cab attached, it seems worthwhile, but by itself I don't know...

 

[SnowRidge]

Here's a pic of the Tel-Trax mounted on my Branson.

 

[PILOON]

Heck, why not make your own?

Any sheet metal fabricator could fold edges on suitable sized sheet of aluminum (for stiffness as well as to form a 'rain gutter'), could be made stylish by tapering the fold towards the front.
Attach to the rops using proper sized 'U shaped pipe clamps' available at most hardware stores. Rops would be wrapped with rubber 'tape' to prevent marring the rops and prevent slippage.
You would then want 2 struts from each vertical side of rops to support the weight of the shade, these would also be clamped in same way.
OR a triangle shaped 'side', say 12 x 16 with a 90 deg 1" flange at top that would be attached to rops vertical sides same way as top clamps.

Bet you'd get that all done for no more than $100 more or less!

Would look kinda like the Laurin

 

[SnowRidge]

I'm having a hard time envisioning what the canopies do for you other than make it louder...
I can see if there's light rain and no wind it would keep some of it off, or at high noon it would block the sun, but is it worth it? With a soft cab attached, it seems worthwhile, but by itself I don't know...

Mine is off right now. I have been clearing a wooded area, and the top gets in the way. Low branches and the top don't mix. Having used the tractor both ways, back to back, I definitely prefer having the top on. Yes, it is worth it to keep the rain and sun off. Obviously, wind driven rain and low angle sun will not be blocked, but it will provide protection for a lot of the time. It will also keep the bird droppings off the seat, if you park under an open shelter.

My canopy does not increase the noise. Tel-Trax inserts a foam pad between the frame and the fiberglass, which probably helps a lot.

 

[TomWhite]

I'm having a hard time envisioning what the canopies do for you other than make it louder...
I can see if there's light rain and no wind it would keep some of it off, or at high noon it would block the sun, but is it worth it? With a soft cab attached, it seems worthwhile, but by itself I don't know...

Part of what mine does is keep the sun off me when I'm running the hog out in the fields. I have one field in particular that takes a few hours to mow. It sure makes those hot mid-summer cutting days a lot nicer. It also helps keep rain or snow off my head.

It has also kept a couple fallings limbs off my head.

Yes, it was more than worth it to me.

 

[jake98]

It has also kept a couple fallings limbs off my head.

Yes, it was more than worth it to me.

I'm no fan of having things dropped on my head, I ram my head into something every time I wear a hat with a brim. I use my tractor in woods and wonder if I'd like it less not having the view upward.

On the other hand, I remember whilest clearing and burning, my father, one time had a tree with one end burning, rotating on top of the JD, as he was manuvering. A great sight that I'm glad didn't get 'burned' into my memory... or his either.

The backhoe has a metal top. Now I can't say it doesn't keep much out...

 

[jake98]

Here's a pic of the Tel-Trax mounted on my Branson.

That thing looks utterly useless. If you ever road a motorcycle, you'd realize it. I want one for the goldwing...

Jake

 

[SnowRidge]

That thing looks utterly useless. If you ever road a motorcycle, you'd realize it. I want one for the goldwing...

Jake

You do realize what you said makes no sense at all? What in the world do motorcycles have to do with tractor canopies? BTW, I have hundreds of thousands of miles on bikes.

 

[jake98]

You do realize what you said makes no sense at all? What in the world do motorcycles have to do with tractor canopies? /QUOTE]

Of course. Wind direction, rain speed. Hail, hail, the gang's all here.

What were you saying the topper does for you, again, if I might ask?

 

[SnowRidge]

You do realize what you said makes no sense at all? What in the world do motorcycles have to do with tractor canopies? /QUOTE]

Of course. Wind direction, rain speed. Hail, hail, the gang's all here.

What were you saying the topper does for you, again, if I might ask?

You are comparing something that travels at high speeds to a tractor that goes maybe 5 to 6 miles per hour. Do you have a tractor?