Canopy It's not a Canopy, but...

[Henro]

It\'s not a Canopy, but...

I still want to join the "Canopy Club!"

Where do I sign up? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

This week I have been getting a lot of seat time under the sun...maybe 7 or more hours per day, just about non stop...

I purposely built my light duty FOPS (aka head protector) with steel mesh on the top so I could see what was happening when pushing on dead trees...

Sure lets the sun through, though... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Tried a piece of plywood a while back but it vibrated and reflected the engine noise and I did not like it.

The design of the FOPS is narrow and the front and only as wide as the ROPS in the rear, so I can still get between/past trees. So it does not give the normal shade a true canopy would.

Had brainstorm several days ago. Cloth roof to absorb the sound and side curtains to help keet the sun out. Wonderful! Did not have to wear a hat and was cooler too!

So can I join the Canopy Club? I feel like I'm there already... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Henro]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

A shot with the curtains retracted in the front... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[polecat]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

great idea dude ...looks like if u made the cloth a liddl longer...you'ld have a great place to take a siesta 2!!!!
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[755inNY]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Nice, but does your wife make you put the curtain back up on the window in the house every night? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[mathey]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

wow, that's an awesome idea...good Job!

Looks like you could use a little help from one of those HGTV designers on your color pallette selections, however... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Henro]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Polester...maybe I can incorporate a mesquesto (wish I could spell, but I got the fellin' you understand... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) net and use it for overnighting as well... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

755inNY...Nope, we just leave the windows uncovered... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

mathey...Oh man...you mean No-manner-man and underwear-man is about to have another name/reference applied to him...no-color-coordination man...??? That's a pretty heafty moniker...(proof again I can't spell without help... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

<font color="blue"> "Looks like you could use a little help from one of those HGTV designers on your color pallette selections, however... " </font> /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

How about 'Queer Eye for the Tractor Guy' ?

 

[Poncho]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Gary..... LOL ... have you reserved the rights for that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Henro I say if it keeps your head cool in the hot sun then by all means it was a good idea. In my opinion it really doesn't look bad either. You may be the first to make rag-tops for tractors a common and sought after commodity in the tractor world. It won't be long now and they will be popping up all over eBay, a credit to your engineering skills. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[To20Chris]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

I'm thinkin' some white fringe along the sides - you know, the stuff with the little knit balls. Than again, I just spent quite a few hours in the sun on mine (thinking a lot about a canopy!), so I may be a bit fried right now /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Alan L.]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Great idea. Looks like a good replacement for my busted $400 Kubota canopy. And probably cooler.

 

[DiskDoctr]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Henro,

Have you tried a fitted sheet? Looks like about a "twin"

You can get the elastic sheet holders that keep the sheets on a mattress and run them under the top of the FOPS, but inside the uprights to hold it right on, along with the elastic corners of the sheet itself.

You could get a nice Tigger sheet in the kid's dept. It would probably match your tractor, too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-JC

 

[Henro]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

What I am thinking of doing is getting some kind of waterproof material and using velcro to hold in on the top.

Then making some side curtains that I can valcro to the sides and back when I want to...like in winter when the bamboo I have to drive past/under hangs real low covered with snow, and the snow ends up down my back...or under my butt on the seat...

I like the cloth because it does not reflect sound...but need waterproof stuff (tent material perhaps) for the obvious reasons...like rain... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

It is really nice having something over one's head on a sunny day...never imagined how nice...love that shade!

It has me wanting to make something for the bx now... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Ozarker]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What I am thinking of doing is getting some kind of waterproof material and using velcro to hold in on the top.
)</font>

That is how the canopy on my little Sears GT 5000 is made. The front is folded over and sewed into a pocket. It slips over the front of the frame and then it has velcro on the back flap.

 

[RandyBX]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

I know you guys saw this before, but here it is again...and to date, it is the single best improvement that I have made.

 

[Henro]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Looks good, Randy...

There was a time when I would not have appreiated it.

But now I see something along those lines in my BX2200's future too...

 

[pekabu]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Hey Henro, how about adding a little class to that tractor and throwing a NH blue tarp over it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Sorry, couldn't resist.

When I bought my tractor my oldest son (4yr) was adamit that we buy a orange tractor (his favorite color). He was really peeved that I bought a blue one, and for a month insisted that I paint it orange. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Henro]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

<font color="blue"> He was really peeved that I bought a blue one, and for a month insisted that I paint it orange. </font>

We got to give that boy some credit! For a month! At that age a month is a lifetime...

I see a future orange tractor owner there... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Actually I might have bought blue if my local (and I mean local, less than a mile from me) had been a bit nicer...I might have went back the forth time...but after three times leaving feeling negative...never went back to talk to anyone again...but I still do stop and look at the tractors outside though... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[SCDolphin]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

Henro;

When you get it finished add orange pom-poms around the base of the top.........would go good with the sombrero.

I have been trying to come up a system like the T-top on a small center console boat. I have to be able to fold the ropes down to get mine in a storage container.

Hugh
SC

 

[Varmintmist]

Re: It\'s not a Canopy, but...

If you want a little more water proof, how about one of those cheapo tarps 4X6 or 6X8 at around 5 bucks a pop at TSC or any hardware store?? When you do mess it up, who cares? Go get a fresh one. You could bungee it off with the metal eyes, tie wrap it, or get fancy and make hooks mounted on the fops.

Do you have any pics of the FOPS posted sans the mini skirt /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif?? That overhead protection seems like a REAL good idea to me.