Canopy - looking for input

kentrodngun · Jan 2, 2007

Hi all & HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Since old man winter is a bit slow in coming here to NYS, I decided maybe it was time to add a canopy before the snow arrives. I went to my local golf cart repair shop and bought a hard shell cart roof for $100. Sure beats the aftermarket model for $300.

Anyway, I'm in the process of attaching the front & rear supports and would appreciate suggestions from the brain trust out there. I've learned from reading this forum that there are a lot of great ideas out there and that it's best to get input before the project is complete. So here goes:

Rear supports: I just clamped the steel channel to the ROPS (see rear support pix)
Front support: I'm thinking of drilling & tapping two 1/4" holes into each side of the loader support (see front support pix)

My goal is to make it easy to remove the roof when trailering & traversing the woods or other areas where it might snag.

I have another question too

should the roof be installed level or slightly elevated in the front for runoff purposes? (see side view pix).

Any comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Finally, since I used a golf cart roof, I was able to buy a golf cart four sided enclosure to help keep me warm & dry. For those interested, the enclosure is on sale for $69.99 at Golfsmith.com and at their retail stores until sometime in February. Golf Cart Accessories: Gear For Golf 4 Sided Deluxe Golf Cart Cover, golf cart covers, golfcart covers, four-sided golf cart cover, gear 4 golf cart cover I've seen the same one on Ebay for $139.99 plus shipping.

Bob_Skurka · Jan 2, 2007

Looks really good to me.

One thing you might want to consider is putting a thin piece of rubber between the canopy brace and the ROPS bar just to make sure it does not rattle? Of course if it doesn't rattle then there is no reason for it!

shaley · Jan 2, 2007

You could use a piece of 1x1 square tube and bolt it to the loader plate with two 1/4" bolts down the centerline of the tube about 2" apart and the front canopy tube would slide into it and stop on the top bolt. This would give the upward support and still be easy to remove. Good looking top. Do happen to know the dimensions. I want to build one myself.

kentrodngun · Jan 2, 2007

shaley said:
Good looking top. Do happen to know the dimensions. I want to build one myself.

Top is roughly 42" wide and 55" long.

snowjoker · Jan 3, 2007

Nice work ! But i would suggest that you go with 3/8 holes in the front insted of 1/4 inch. Quarter inch dont take much vibration to break.... Looks Good !! Curious as to how the canopy will fit on there...........

rlk · Jan 3, 2007

Thought you might like to see how I did mine on a BX 2200.

Bob

kentrodngun · Jan 3, 2007

Bob, thanks for the pictures. A couple of quick questions & comments:
1. How did you secure the canopy's front frame to the tractor / loader?
2. Can you easily & quickly remove your canopy?
3. I see your canopy is tilted rearward - that answers the question I posted.

schmism · Jan 3, 2007

im just NOT a big fan of the front supports for a number of reasons

1) dont like the look
2) dont like the fact they are likely to be in the way of something
3) dont like how you would have to unbolt them to remove the loader.

so instead simply take some 1" sq tube and modify the frame that holds the top like so.

this allows you one (clamp on if you perfer) mount at the rear.

1) makes it easy to remove
2) keeps the front supports out of it
3) looks better (IMHO)

rlk · Jan 3, 2007

kentrodngun said:
Bob, thanks for the pictures. A couple of quick questions & comments:
1. How did you secure the canopy's front frame to the tractor / loader?
posted.

My front supports run to the floorboard, then turn 90 degrees toward the tractor. On the BX 2200 there was already a hole in the floorboard with a bolt through it. A longer bolt was used to run through the same hole to secure the front supports.

kentrodngun said:
2. Can you easily & quickly remove your canopy?

It can be removed fairly easily, but is a little awkward holding a large top like that with one hand while loosening the bolts with the other hand, then holding everything so it doesn't fall on top of you. As you know, the top does not weigh much, so weight is not a problem. My wife and I can easily remove it together. I thought about rigging up something in the garage ceiling to hold it, but have never gotten around to it. I only removed it one time, and that was when the BX 2200 went to the shop for warranty work.

The top does not touch the loader or any loader mounting hardware at all.

kentrodngun said:
3. I see your canopy is tilted rearward - that answers the question I posted.

Yes, it is tilted toward the rear a little. The thinking was that rain water would run toward the rear. In a light shower it works, however, in a heavy downpour, I still get wet. The best part about the top is keeping the sun off of my bald head.

Another poster stated he did not like front supports. I like them because the front support can be a handhold for getting on the tractor; a rearview mirror can be mounted to the support, as can a tilt meter, cell phone, radio, hook for your gloves, or whatever else you want to hang there.

I did not design this set-up. In 2003, Danny Williams was an active TBN poster who came up with the design. I asked him about the attachment to the ROPS as well as the front supports, and he made a set for me. I paid him for all the materials and the shipping, plus a little extra.

I have not seen Danny on TBN in quite a while. He was making his own FEL, and I wanted to when finished.

Good luck with yours. If you need better pictures from me, let me know.

Bob

kossetx · Jan 3, 2007

I think front supports would make your top much more stable and keep some things from whacking you while in the brush.

schmism · Jan 4, 2007

kossetx said:
I think front supports would make your top much more stable and keep some things from whacking you while in the brush.

as a general rule you dont move the brush out of your way, you duck around it.

because if you push it aside about the time you pass and let go is about the exact time it takes for the guy walking behind you to be in the perfect spot to be cracked in the head with said branch.

the same is true for the front support.

escavader · Jan 6, 2007

Heres mine,.I have to be able to fold my rops down so i cut a little out of f the canopy and put it between the rops.Added two steel braces to hold it up.Its GREAT!!! MOVED MY FRONT ROP LIGHTS TO THE FRONT,AND SWITCHS up in the top. Added a 4 inch rubber stick on metal roofing gasket to inside each rop for vibration.I love the thing !Best part is got it off a junk at work for 10 bucks,Used the original frame work on front,so i could add a foldup golf cart windsheild if i ever want to blow snow.
ALAN

escavader · Jan 6, 2007

AS you can see in my pic[which is before i moved my lights] with a roof on they cast a shadow in front of the tractor.So i moved the whole pipe with the two front lights up to the front od the canopy,i left the backhoe light on the rops.Sotty i dont have a pic ,but i can if you request or of how i attached everything.Did not drill the tractor anywhere.
ALAN

tommu56 · Jan 6, 2007

escavader
cover looks good
how much clearance is from seat to cover?
is it in the way when running backhoe?

thanks

tommu56

escavader · Jan 6, 2007

tommu56 said:
escavader
cover looks good
how much clearance is from seat to cover?
is it in the way when running backhoe?

thanks

tommu56

HI,
I got about 8 to 10 inchs above my head sitting up right on the seat.Not at all in the way running hoe,keeps my body out of sun and rain,although my lower legs,and feet are out in the rain if it starts.I have absolitely nothing negitive to say about my roof,except im still trying to figure out how i can close it all in in the winter

ALAN

kentrodngun · Jan 7, 2007

escavader said:
HI,
I have absolitely nothing negitive to say about my roof,except im still trying to figure out how i can close it all in in the winter
ALAN

Alan, see my first post - the golf cart canopy top may just be the ticket - on sale all month too. Thanks for the picture - something to consider.

escavader · Jan 7, 2007

KENTRODNGUN,
I have considered a cover.I was more thinking of a cab with doors,to remove in the summer,windsheild with wiper[the golf cart windsheilds fit on my set up] and of course HEAT

.Thinking down the road,when i get a snowblower for my tractor.Iput a heater core in my plow truck today,its gonna be hard to give it up

Of course aint enough snow any more to justify new snow removal equipment.MAINE use to be a place to stay out of in the winter,in the last two its been real mild with no big snow,mostly ice.
ALAN