Must Tractor ROPS Be So High?

[airbiscuit]

One consideration in buying a CUT is where you're going to store it. There are lots of stories where owners ran into the siding over the garage door. A foldable ROPS works until you forget to fold it down.

So my question is, Could CUT manufacturers design a ROPS that is more garage friendly? (Must they be so tall?)

 

[Roadworthy]

I'm sure they could be designed shorter and of course they'd be slightly less expensive as well. I suspect they are the height they are so the operator doesn't bang his head on them. If you regularly park your tractor in a specific stall perhaps you could consider hanging a sign in that stall reminding you to lower the ROPS before it connects with the door.

 

[jeff9366]

If a given model has an optional Backhoe the ROPS must be tall.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I'm going to say..... Yes.... It is likely designed to be tall enough to keep the tractor from going more than 90 degrees most of the time in case of a roll over on its side...

My 5 cents of opinion...

 

[ljjhouser]

Probably the answer is yes. But they did make it foldable. I don't think any company would accept increased liability if they couldn't secure proof the lower rops is safe.
Their view is more about liability and safety, not so much ease of storage.

 

[oakglen01]

I cut 5" off mine and added light bar. Not going to sale or trade tractor so I do not care.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I cut 5" off mine and added light bar. Not going to sale or trade tractor so I do not care.

Wish I had thought of that a couple years ago before I added a cage and limb risers.

gg

 

[jaxs]

I'm going to say..... Yes.... It is likely designed to be tall enough to keep the tractor from going more than 90 degrees most of the time in case of a roll over on its side...

My 5 cents of opinion...

I think that is correct so therefore no mfgr will lower it for fear of liability. As someone suggested,cut it down or custom desighn your own.

 

[Deere Dude]

It is probably that high so if in a rollover, the head will be in a protected area below a line from the roll bar to the front of the hood. Just a guess.

 

[jyoutz]

One consideration in buying a CUT is where you're going to store it. There are lots of stories where owners ran into the siding over the garage door. A foldable ROPS works until you forget to fold it down.

So my question is, Could CUT manufacturers design a ROPS that is more garage friendly? (Must they be so tall?)

View attachment 731391

My barn doors are 10’ in height so I never fold my ROPs down. I also installed a canopy, so folding down isn’t possible.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm in agreement that it's so tall so that most likely you'll get a tip over onto side VS a complete rollover.

If it was short enough to allow for complete roll-over, it could also turn into tumbling over and over down a hill type of thing.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm 7'6" tall, so I hit my head when I go in the garage....

(Is it April 1st yet?)

 

[Root Cause]

I am not judging anyone here it is your tractor. Maybe it is safe for you to do it.
Personally, I would not recommend it to others as they might not be as experienced, live on a hillside, or destroy their tractor because they didn't understand that cutting the ROPS is a bad idea. If you disagree, please call your insurance agent and ask.


Due to potential lawsuits, I doubt they pick a random height and call it a day.
They would have to have data backed by studies to show they did their due diligence when a lawsuit comes along. I agree that it is a height to protect both operator and tractor to reduce rollovers that crush the operator.

 

[jaxs]

I'm 7'6" tall, so I hit my head when I go in the garage....

Funny you mention that Moss. Many years ago I became 9' tall after more than a few drinks. Another bar patron "hit me in the head" and I've never reached that heighth again.

 

[JasperFrank]

Who wears a seat belt? ROPS is meaningless unless you wear one.

 

[BukitCase]

Moss, that pic woulda been more impressive if you coulda pulled it off posing in front of a Cat 992 (that's likely the 15 cubic yard bucket :=)

https://topworldauto.com/pics/5d/2c/caterpillar-992_b07b1.jpg

The 988's the biggest of their loaders I've been around, their bucket's "only" a wimpy 10 yards ... Steve

 

[MossRoad]

Moss, that pic woulda been more impressive if you coulda pulled it off posing in front of a Cat 992 (that's likely the 15 cubic yard bucket :=)

https://topworldauto.com/pics/5d/2c/caterpillar-992_b07b1.jpg

The 988's the biggest of their loaders I've been around, their bucket's "only" a wimpy 10 yards ... Steve

My bucket is 10 cubic FEET.

 

[MossRoad]

Who wears a seat belt? ROPS is meaningless unless you wear one.

I always wear my seat belt.

 

[airbiscuit]

My garage doors are ta enough, so I don't have a problem. I was just asking because somettimes I see a tractor height of 86" and I wonder why they didn't just make it 83 1/2" ? I think the best answer I've seen is that the ROPS has to be tall enough to stop the roll at 90 degrees.

I know from other threads that people who think they will always remember to lower the ROPS before entering the garage inevitably forget at some point and hear that disappointing crunch. Maybe somebody should invent a proximity audio visual alarm?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

My barn doors are 10’ in height so I never fold my ROPs down. I also installed a canopy, so folding down isn’t possible.

We welded ours where it telescopes (It don't fold) and bent some 1/8" steel for a top.