Anyone make their own foldable ROPS?

[Dieselmh]

I'm kicking myself for not buying my new Kubota L3400 with a foldable ROPS. I only have one pasture that I mow where the ROPS is needed, and the others I mow have trees where the ROPS becomes a real pain in the butt. I was wondering if anyone had ever made their ROPS foldable. The foldable option just seems to be a standard ROPS that is connected with a hinge/latch system. I'm thinking that if I could get ahold of that hinge/latch mechanism, I could have one of the numerous certified welding shops around here cut the original ROPS with a bandsaw so that the heat doesn't affect the temper, then have them install the foldable option. Anyone done this, or seen it done? I'm tired of having limbs hang on the ROPS and attempt to knock me off the tractor. *kicks self for not buying the foldable option*

 

[Kendrick]

I would be leary of any mods to the rops. there are specific tolerances that MUST be adheard to for it to be usefull in any way. last thing you need is for it to be in use and snap off in your general direction.

 

[kennyd]

Cutting the limbs higher is a more viable option than cutting your ROPS!, and cheaper too!

And finding a welder that will make that modification to your ROPS will be very hard I bet. Any good business or welding shop would not want to assume the liability of such a modification.

 

[PBinWA]

I'm not going to pass judgement but round these parts, "modifying your ROPS" questions usually end up as long heated discussions.

Brace yourself, depending on the mood of the membership this could get long.

 

[RoyJackson]

Maybe you can trade it in to your dealer...
That would be the first place I'd try.

 

[jsborn]

I'm not going to pass judgement but round these parts, "modifying your ROPS" questions usually end up as long heated discussions.

Brace yourself, depending on the mood of the membership this could get long.

Amen !!!

IMHO

Some people act like a ROPS is something magic . It is just a roll-bar to help protect the operator in the event of a rollover. I understand manufactures liability and all but you know NASCAR and other race sanctioning bodies build, weld on , cut , bolt to and modify roll cages every day using standard Mig welders or sometimes Tig with no special heat treating or other magic materials why do we as tractor operators feel that a ROPS has to be blessed by some all-powerful being ??


Just a thought before the line gets too long .

 

[machmeter62]

I'm kicking myself for not buying my new Kubota L3400 with a foldable ROPS. I only have one pasture that I mow where the ROPS is needed, and the others I mow have trees where the ROPS becomes a real pain in the butt. I was wondering if anyone had ever made their ROPS foldable. The foldable option just seems to be a standard ROPS that is connected with a hinge/latch system. I'm thinking that if I could get ahold of that hinge/latch mechanism, I could have one of the numerous certified welding shops around here cut the original ROPS with a bandsaw so that the heat doesn't affect the temper, then have them install the foldable option. Anyone done this, or seen it done? I'm tired of having limbs hang on the ROPS and attempt to knock me off the tractor. *kicks self for not buying the foldable option*

I think you are facing a "no win" situation; if you decide to modify it yourself, the liability will follow the modifier, (YOU) for the life of the tractor if/ when you decide to sell or trade. There are attorneys lurking for liability issues; don't become one! Also, if you, or family members are the ones hurt in the future because of the mod; your insurance company may balk too? I would have a foldable added, or sell or trade out? I would also talk to your dealer, and maybe he will help you for a minimum cost as goodwill; if he won't help, check with others!?

 

[RoyJackson]

An addition...
If you modify your ROPS, you may have to replace it if you ever trade your tractor or subtract the replacement cost from the trade value.
a private sale, machmeter62's statement would apply.

I trim any branches...this is an annual event, but after the first time, it's no big deal.

 

[Dieselmh]

Thanks for all the advice so far. Trimming all of the trees really isn't an option, since I don't own all of them, and since some of them are fruit trees, it really isn't optimal to cut off the limbs. I know a professional welder that can and will do the work. He makes roll cages for a living, and caged my old K5 Blazer. He's been building cages and roll bars for over 40 years now for local racers, and has never had a single serious injury due to cage/bar failure. I trust him with my life, as do hundreds of others every day they race. I'm not real worried about selling the tractor, since I have a habit of keeping things until they turn to dust. I was mainly wondering if anyone had ever seen it done, or knew if the components could be purchased. If it weren't for that one pasture, I'd be thinking about removing it altogether. If anyone has ever seen a hay field in East Texas, you'll know what I mean when I say it's flat! If it weren't for one drainage ditch, the ROPS would probably already be gone.

 

[RoyJackson]

Good luck to you!

 

[schmism]

(pass the popcorn plse)

 

[Kernopelli]

Keep the ROPS, you never know just how easy it is to roll a tractor until it is too late (wear the belt too). I recently had a very close call that I never would have imagined was possible. Very very low speed, relatively flat and I nearly overturned.
I agree with the school of thought that ROPS are not some magical element that only a certified engineer within a specific industry can create. I fabricated the ROPS on my tractor and have every reason to believe they are far more than sufficient. They are made from heavier material, have more reinforcement and they have more mounting points than either the factory or aftermarket ROPS I looked at.
I see no reason the hinge/lock on a foldable system couldn't be duplicated using quality materials and craftsmanship. I too wish I had made mine folding and plan on modifying them in the same manner at some point this winter. Use the same design as OEM , similar or better materials and certified welding and there is no reason a safe system couldn't be duplicated or made better. If you still have reservations get a folding ROPS from your dealer, but please, DON"T remove your existing ROPS.

Darryl

 

[hazmat]

See about swapping out for folding at the dealer. In theory it should be less expensive to aquire the "mass produced" item than have your welder custom fab one. You may want to consider it even if you have to buy the folding one outright.

 

[Dieselmh]

See about swapping out for folding at the dealer. In theory it should be less expensive to aquire the "mass produced" item than have your welder custom fab one. You may want to consider it even if you have to buy the folding one outright.

I'll give that a shot. I've got to go buy some stuff for my next service soon anyway. I think it would be cheaper to make my own, if I could get my hands on the folding mechanism that they use, since I could use the existing rollbar, and just modify it, but that mechanism is proving to be difficult to get.

 

[kennyd]

I'll give that a shot. I've got to go buy some stuff for my next service soon anyway. I think it would be cheaper to make my own, if I could get my hands on the folding mechanism that they use, since I could use the existing rollbar, and just modify it, but that mechanism is proving to be difficult to get.

On Mine, there is not really a "mechanism", just 1/4" plates welded to the square tube to make a hinge. If you guy is that good, I am sure he could replicate it easily.

 

[8561]

The ROPS on my tractor was a standard non-folding ROPS. Before I took delivery, and since I had a backhoe and needed the height, my DEALER took the ROPS off, cut it in half, welded in 6" of additional height, made a hinge similar to the factory one, and put it back on. Done. No big deal.

For all of you guys who have a complex about getting sued, there is a little something called assumption of risk. If the guy who buys the tractor knows that the ROPS bar has been modified, he assumes that risk. He has the option of replacing it if he chooses. If he chooses not to, he assumes the risk. Further, what makes the original owner liable for a new owner putting a machine in a place that gets him hurt? The new owner is operating the machine, in what would presumably be in an unsafe or incompetent manner, and he is aware that a piece of the equipment is modified. At best it's split liability, if any liablity at all.

 

[Dieselmh]

On Mine, there is not really a "mechanism", just 1/4" plates welded to the square tube to make a hinge. If you guy is that good, I am sure he could replicate it easily.

Thanks for the pics. That's a little different than the one I looked at, but looks like it could be duplicated easily. I think I'll run those pics to my welder and see what he says.

 

[milkman]

Amen !!!

IMHO

Some people act like a ROPS is something magic . It is just a roll-bar to help protect the operator in the event of a rollover. I understand manufactures liability and all but you know NASCAR and other race sanctioning bodies build, weld on , cut , bolt to and modify roll cages every day using standard Mig welders or sometimes Tig with no special heat treating or other magic materials why do we as tractor operators feel that a ROPS has to be blessed by some all-powerful being ??


Just a thought before the line gets too long .

Just think about it, those rollcages in NASCAR only have to protect the drivers in crashes where they are going ~200MPH, that's no where near the forces that we're talking about in a tractor ROLLOVER, and besides those NASCAR drivers have the added protection of a helmet, when is the last time you saw anyone on a tractor wearing a helmet. FGS don't let the heat from a welding flash near that ROPS and don't DRILL a pin hole in it.

 

[mboulais]

Some people act like a ROPS is something magic .

Agreed, way too many people who didn't grow up around the old tractors think that way. Someone I work with (who grew up around the old tractors) has decided to remove the ROPS from his new zero turn mower after a couple near misses when the ROPS caught branches, clotheslines, etc...

 

[PBinWA]

If you really cared about future liability you could just remove the factory ROPS and store it some where. Then install your own custom ROPS. When you sell the tractor, reinstall the old factory ROPS.

The only negative is that you need to buy some more steel.