Evil,
While you may not believe it, you are buying the ROPS at Kubota's cost. It is a small price to pay for your safety and possibly, your life.
As for a locally fabricated ROPS, I am sure you could get one built but when the tractor rolls over and your widow goes back against them, they will not be happy. Nor will it be a certified ROPS as that is where the cost really is.
The ROPS you get from Kubota is certified - tested and approved by OSHA so in the event of rollover, it will protect you.
Possibly Western Kentucky Tractor Parts would have a used ROPS that would cost you less in the long run.
Good luck!
Oh, come on! Where does all this come from?
IMHO, this is just so over rated. A good shop can build a good roll bar. Look at all the Jeeps out there. Land Cruisers. Race cars. Sprint cars.
It is certainly nice to have a bolt on piece to just put on the tractor. But a good fab shop could do a very good job too.
I guess you should not haul your tractor on that trailer that just had the tiedowns welded on? You can't hook your four chains and binders to those tiedowns; they might break; they're not factory.
Oh man, I think I just saw the ROPS police fly by in the black helicopter. Good thing my old Kubota has a stock ROPS. Hope they never find my old Jeep with the fabricated roll cage though...
Wait, they are circling; I think they saw my top-n-tilt on the 3pt that was not factory certified welded...
I do agree, if there is a quality factory part easily available, then it is worthwhile to pursue that. And, I have a wife and kid; it is worth not only protecting yourself, but protecting them too.
I grew up in Jeeps though. There was no roll bar or cage for a '42 Ford GPW(Ford war production "Willy's MB/GP"). For the later CJ5, there was only a basic roll bar; we had to add the cage kit.
The same with race cars. If we were not out in the Jeeps, I was helping work on stock cars. Those cages have to hold up to a lot of stress, especially when you wind up in the wall.
Otherwise, most all of the fab shops out there should close their doors.