Hard top canopy. Any suggestions?

[jake98]

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.

Around here, the sun and rain only come straight down every now and then.

Jake

 

[Bird]

I'm having a hard time envisioning what the canopies do for you other than make it louder...

Just as sellercreek and JerryG said, I, too, had the Wells Ag Company canopy on my 1999 B2710. I don't think it made it a bit louder since it has a layer on insulation of the bottom side. Now I spent a lot of time on an 85 hp Oliver tractor, cutting and baling hay, that had the soft top. It was a great help in keeping the Texas sun off me, but there was just no comparison with my Wells Ag Co. canopy. The hard (in my case, steel, but the same would be true of the aluminum) canopy was bigger, so it blocked more sun. It also made a great place to mount a rear view mirror, a front and a rear work light, a side to side tiltmeter and a front to rear tiltmeter. I can't imagine anything better without going to an air-conditioned cab.

 

[jake98]

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?

If you used either in the rain, we wouldn't be argueing the finer points.
Jake

 

[jake98]

Just as sellercreek and JerryG said, I, too, had the Wells Ag Company canopy on my 1999 B2710. I don't think it made it a bit louder since it has a layer on insulation of the bottom side. Now I spent a lot of time on an 85 hp Oliver tractor, cutting and baling hay, that had the soft top. It was a great help in keeping the Texas sun off me, but there was just no comparison with my Wells Ag Co. canopy. The hard (in my case, steel, but the same would be true of the aluminum) canopy was bigger, so it blocked more sun. It also made a great place to mount a rear view mirror, a front and a rear work light, a side to side tiltmeter and a front to rear tiltmeter. I can't imagine anything better without going to an air-conditioned cab.

Bird, Not for nothin... what do you do with a tilt meter in Texas anyway?
Jake

 

[WayneB]

When I got my so called sun shade it was to be used with the weather break I have for use in the winter. Having blown snow for a few years without a windbreak or sun shade let me tell you it has certainly improved my ability to be out in the elements.

Weather conditions I am talking about can include winds up to 20 mph, temperatures sub-zero, and heavy snow conditions.

I have never taken off the sunshade but do remove the weather break in the spring. With both items on I have found the snow stays out of the cab area, much warmer than without them, and most times I do not even have to wear gloves or head gear when blowing snow.

Bottom line is it is well worth having. Sure wish I could swing for a tractor with a custom cab, heater, CD player, but I can't so I make do with what I have and use my M-3 player

Wayne

 

[SnowRidge]

If you used either in the rain, we wouldn't be argueing the finer points.
Jake

You are the only one arguing.

 

[Casco1]

Here's a post I made a while back about my canopy purchase.
It's one accessory I've never regretted buying. Hope it helps.



http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/85654-canopies-helpfull.html

Post #5

 

[jake98]

When I got my so called sun shade it was to be used with the weather break I have for use in the winter. Having blown snow for a few years without a windbreak or sun shade let me tell you it has certainly improved my ability to be out in the elements.

Wayne

That looks like the way to go, Wayne.

 

[JB4310]

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...

Definitely worth the cost to me, except the elevated noise level no other down side, bought it for winter use to help keep the snow off me, thought I would take it off in the summer but Now I know I'll not take it off ever, don't need it for sun but it sure makes things much nicer when you have to go out in the rain!!! sure your legs can still get wet from rain or snow but your upper body stays much, much drier.

 

[Negligence]

It might not be the prettiest canopy out there, but a friend cut a 55gal plastic barrel in half and placed it on top of the ROPS. It works well, it's under $10 in materials, and you've got yourself a cheap, study canopy that you can mount lights on, etc.

 

[WayneB]

That looks like the way to go, Wayne.

Jake it works for me! And now I do not have to wear the snowmobile helment (it has a heated visor) and multiple layers of clothing!

 

[gabby]

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

I have my tops fabricated out of 2x2 square tubing and cover the top with a sheet of 3/4 treated plywood bolted to the square tubing. The framework is welded to the roll bar including an angle brace. It's much stronger and bigger than factory canopies and cheaper too, around $350. I have an OEM canopy on my JD 4520 and it's pretty but it's flimsy.

 

[jake98]

I just checked out the Firebird Fiberglass ad, and you can see that in two out of three of their photos, there's sun on the operator's face. The dude on the Case is getting more shade from his hat, the girl on the NH is getting none... I guess that's afternoon sun. Anybody put sun visors on their's?

Jake

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Jake98, I have no idea what the weather is like where you are at, but I am quite happy to get 6+ hours of solid shade during the summer where I am and any other benefit that the canopy provides is just an extra benefit. It sounds like where you are at there is no reason to have one, apparently the sun is never over head and the wind is always blowing, so there is little or no protection from rain or snow. But for many of us, the canopies serve a very useful purpose.

I would not be without some sort of sun protection, be it canvas, fiberglass, or metal, I have them all and anyone of them is better than having nothing.

 

[jake98]

Jake98, I have no idea what the weather is like where you are at, but I am quite happy to get 6+ hours of solid shade

Well that's what I was wondering. If you figure you get six hours of shade, then that's substantial. And I can see that if a person is working a field it would be practical, the bigger the better then. Some of the canopies look like they're too small and too high up to do much or anything tho.

Jake

ps if I ever get lucky enough to get out of the woods with mine, I might consider makeing a canopie that goes under the roll bar.

 

[TomWhite]

It might not be the prettiest canopy out there, but a friend cut a 55gal plastic barrel in half and placed it on top of the ROPS. It works well, it's under $10 in materials, and you've got yourself a cheap, study canopy that you can mount lights on, etc.

I'd like to see a picture of that. You say it may not be the prettiest canopy out there, but I'll bet your friend figures he can put up with a whole bunch of "ugly" for less than ten bucks!

 

[jake98]

small aluminum rowboat would be about the right size. think of the possibilities...

 

[AchingBack]

The naked truth: My dealer sells Bare-co. canopies. I really like the way the gutter system works on this unit. I should have bought mine years ago. My shed roof leaks, and the canopy keeps the water from dripping onto my seat adjustment rails. Purchase price, $320.00 BARE-Co Standard Canopy

 

[NC419N]

I got mine from Sims. When its 10-20 degrees and the wind is blowing and the sun doesn't shine in the valleys but for only 4 hours you will love a cab!! Call me soft, old or whatever I just like to stay a little warmer if i can in my old age

 

[kthompson]

As to cutting a barrel in half, there are some good looking barrels out there.

As to value of canopy, I run my tractors in the woods, yard and in fields. At times in the woods it is an issue. But have had it catch limbs that would not kill or maim but sure would hurt. Sound level increase did not notice but have bought them with tractor and added them on later. Think all I have had are fiberglass but had sponge underneath to help insulate. Guess those also cut down on sound. As to rain and sun protection, of course it will vary, just as any other protection does. Shed, umbrella, even a jacket. It the wind is blowing rain so badly that I get soaked under mine, I should be inside to begin with. Even in our southern sun have never had the canopy not to keep the sun off of at least part of me and when the temp is around a 100 and humidity about the same even a leg in the shade is a plus. The only time I wish I did not have a canopy is when working a field at night and the stars are out. Do need to mount fan under my current ones. But that will wait until summer heat is here.

Now my question is what value is a FEL? Why would anyone ever put one on a tractor to hit stuff or wear the front end more than needed? It makes no sense for at least half the time you are running it is empty.
Great thing still in our country, if you don't want it then don't buy it. Bought only thing different is taxes. Don't want them but still have to buy them.