Do ROPS' work when UP? Do they work when folded?

[beppington]

1) Curious about peoples' experiences toppling over:
- Did your ROPS bend?
- Did you get hurt?
- Did you have your seat belt on?
- Do you feel it saved your life, or at least saved you from injury?

2) Do ROPS' work when folded down? My manual says "Fold the ROPS down only when absolutely necessary and fold it up and lock it again as soon as possible." ... but it doesn't say it won't actually work when folded down.

 

[bp fick]

1) Curious about peoples' experiences toppling over:
- Did your ROPS bend?
- Did you get hurt?
- Did you have your seat belt on?
- Do you feel it saved your life, or at least saved you from injury?

2) Do ROPS' work when folded down? My manual says "Fold the ROPS down only when absolutely necessary and fold it up and lock it again as soon as possible." ... but it doesn't say it won't actually work when folded down.

Wondering if this question is asked, with tongue in cheek. Of course, they need to be in the up and locked position. They provide about as much protection when folded down as your seatbelt does retracted neatly.

 

[bp fick]

Or as much protections as an unloaded gun.
As much warning as 4 way flashers turned off.
Or holding power of a parking brake not set.

Can't think of any more right off. :laughing::laughing:

 

[Duffster]

Wondering if this question is asked, with tongue in cheek. Of course, they need to be in the up and locked position. They provide about as much protection when folded down as your seatbelt does retracted neatly.

I was thinking the same thing until I thought about where they fold. If the hinge point is a ways up, like at shoulder height or so, it would provide some protection.

 

[beppington]

I was thinking the same thing until I thought about where they fold. If the hinge point is a ways up, like at shoulder height or so, it would provide some protection.

This is why I asked. Not tongue in cheek.

 

[bp fick]

Sorry, Bep, sometimes my humor bone gets tickled.

The folding point is awfully low, regardless. The loss of the height would make the stubs fairly, no, very risky as to doing much. Further, there must be some engineering thought put into the structure of the ROP as an integral arch. Just two, disconnected "post stubs" would/couldn't provide the same strength.

Those manuals couldn't possibly cover every argument or question from the negative. They tell you what to do, not tell you what would/could happen if not done. I suspect that hoping the stubs provide some protection something most ROPS folded down operators might ponder.

 

[hawkeye08]

I would not count on the ROPs doing any good when folded down other than not hitting your building if have a shorter opening.

 

[Qapla]

I have seen a number of people using them folded down to a 90 degree angle with the top of the ROPS facing the back of the tractor. (a lot of guys with ZT mowers work with their ROPS that way.

Seem kinda self defeating to me. Besides, we are going to put our extra lights on the ROPS :thumbsup: so folding it down would aim them in the wrong direction

 

[NorTracNY]

I'd say as much protection as an unloaded gun could be correct. There certainly is some protection from an unloaded gun, but I'd certainly fell better if there were some bullets.

 

[KU Gator]

I would suspect that they help some, because I would bet that a lot of the roll-overs are really fall overs. They only go 90 degrees instead of 180 or more. And if that is the case the ROPs even folded may be making it a little harder to go all the way upside down.
I frequently have mine down one notch. I am sure that is not as good as having them all the way up, but when I am going under limbs, the top of the ROPs in that configuration is just above my head. It reduce the chance of me catching limb or running into one. If I'm not ducking I'm probably ok. It also keeps me from hitting the top of the garage door.
I think in the manual it says if the ROPs aren't up, you should not have the seat belt on.

 

[gf5205]

.
I think in the manual it says if the ROPs aren't up, you should not have the seat belt on.

That means that the ROPS doesn't protect you when down and you are better off bailing when tipping.
Greg

 

[KU Gator]

That means that the ROPS doesn't protect you when down and you are better off bailing when tipping.
Greg

As I recall, it said you were to bail. But it has been a while since I read through that. Knowing my cat like reflexes (tongue in cheek), I would stand a better chance of hoping I could grab onto the seat fimly with my other cheeks and the floorboard with my toes. At any rate, I hope not to test the theory.

 

[Redgoatea]

Awww but my ROPS doesn't fold it's solid. 7

 

[Duffster]

Awww but my ROPS doesn't fold it's solid. 7

Then just take them off. :laughing:

 

[MikePA]

This is why I asked. Not tongue in cheek.

The process is the same as with open wheel race cars and many tractor manuals have this diagram. Looking at the tractor from the side, draw a straight line from the top of the ROPs (when up and when folded) to the front of the hood, or whatever part of the front end of the tractor that would rest on when upside down. Any part of your body that goes above this line would be crushed. Unless you are one of Santa's elves, a folded ROPs provides no protection.

 

[Redgoatea]

Then just take them off. :laughing:

That would be quite the project as that are welded to the frame.

 

[CBW1999]

There is absolutly no way to "jump clear" of any vehicle rolling over. You are traveling in the same direction and cannot overcome the directional force to change direction enough to avoid the vehicle.

Bottom line for a ROPS- it is specifically designed based on the dimensions of the tractor. Modifying or lowering it defeats all purpose- regardless of a full rollover or just tipping over.

I am curious what manual suggests not wearing the seatbelt.... that would be a hard one to get by the manufacturers lawyers before printing.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I am curious what manual suggests not wearing the seatbelt.... that would be a hard one to get by the manufacturers lawyers before printing.

I would think they all do. Mine sure does.

Your odds at surviving a roll-over by jumping off, however unlikely, is better than being strapped-in... in the case of no ROPS or CAB.

My manual clearly states: "Always use the seat belt if the tractor has a CAB or ROPS. Do not use the seat belt if there is no CAB or ROPS."

Common sense would conclude that ROPS down = no ROPS.

 

[Duffster]

The process is the same as with open wheel race cars and many tractor manuals have this diagram. Looking at the tractor from the side, draw a straight line from the top of the ROPs (when up and when folded) to the front of the hood, or whatever part of the front end of the tractor that would rest on when upside down. Any part of your body that goes above this line would be crushed. Unless you are one of Santa's elves, a folded ROPs provides no protection.

I think to say "No Protection" is going a little to far. Like I said earlier it would depend on where they fold. It would probably depend on the surface you are on as well.

That would be quite the project as that are welded to the frame.

Really. What kind of tractor? The 2 we have with ROPS are bolted on.

 

[Redgoatea]

Really. What kind of tractor? The 2 we have with ROPS are bolted on.

It's a '96 JD 870. According to the manual all JD CUTs at that time were frame welded.