Cage and skid plate for John Deere 5205

[Firefighter912]

Planning to build a cage with limbrisers for my 5205 John Deere. I want to do a skid plate too.

The thing is I have a front end loader.

Anyone have any pictures of their set up?

 

[dieselcrawler]

I built a nice one for my former boss, JD 4066, and a cage for my own 3005. I'll try to find pictures of 4066, there's a thread on my build of the 3005 cage.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/346672-jd-3005-full-cage-rops.html

 

[Firefighter912]

I built a nice one for my former boss, JD 4066, and a cage for my own 3005. I'll try to find pictures of 4066, there's a thread on my build of the 3005 cage.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/346672-jd-3005-full-cage-rops.html

Very nice. My thing is I don't want to really attach the cab to the front end loader mount in case I want to take the whole front end loader off including mount. I am debating about getting a side rotary mower one day to mow around steep areas like our pond dam.

How much did you spend on the metal?

 

[dieselcrawler]

I used metal I already had, those details are likely in the text of my thread posts. I bought very little, some paint and fasteners, but that's about it. I'm a cheap b@$t@rd.

You will need to make some compromises to accommodate your side mower mounts, but nothing that can't be worked around with a welder, torches, grinder, tape measure and some head scratching. Maybe a few cold beverages.

Good luck...

 

[Firefighter912]

I see there are side mowers for the 3pt hitch. I may go that route, and then be able to do what you did.

 

[Firefighter912]

Going to use 2"x2" square tubing that is 1/4" thick for the framing of the cage and limbrisers. 20' stick of it is $81.35 plus tax.

Will use 1/4" thick and 3" wide flat bar for the corners as gussets. 20' of it is $33.27 plus tax.

For the skid plate I will use 3/8" thick plate which comes in 4'x8' sections for $343.06 plus tax.

1" round bar for the skid plate mount. 20' of it is $63.62 plus tax


Any suggestions/opinions?

 

[dieselcrawler]

I better get you pictures of the 4066 skid/cage build. 3/8" plate will be HEAVY, which isn't always a bad thing down low... but install/removal is a b!t£h.

I did fine pix last night on my old phone, but it needed charged, and I was tired...

 

[dieselcrawler]

Having a hard time uploading pictures. I have many more, details of mounts and such, I'll add more as I can. This should give you an idea of what I came up with.

 

[dieselcrawler]

The skid plate was done in 2 pc, with a heafty crossmember at the seam between the 2, just under the front edge of the cab. It does not tie into the loader mounts like my 3005, but uses other unused mounting holes on the bottom of the motor/frame. Each section of skid plate bolts to the crossmember, and to mounting points on the tractor at each end. As you can see, it is full length, and cut-outs for full articulation of the front axle, steering components, and tires were made. Extra pressure point 'stands' were added at key locations so if it did bend, it hit solid points of support, not crushing things like steering cylinder hoses, drive shafts, etc.

I was in the process of changing jobs as I was finishing this project, and never saw it painted, but it was complete otherwise.

 

[dieselcrawler]

The crossmember served as support for the skid pan, and cage, with the ability to remove the pan or cage without removing the other, aside from the cage wheel well hoops bolting to the outter corner of the rear pan section directly in front of the rear wheels, but the pan can be removed for service if needed.