Anyone make their own foldable ROPS?

[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.