bam747
Silver Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2004
- Messages
- 209
- Tractor
- John Deere 4720 (2007)
This is my solution for attaching a metal JD tool box to my 4720. It should be adaptable to most ROPS structures on other brands of tractors.
The bracket itself is a simple 1" x 2" square tube with the ends closed in. It is attached to the ROPS using square ended U-bolts. I placed some rubber gasket material between the bracket and ROPS so they would not rub metal to metal and create a rust problem.
The toolbox is actually 35 years old and has been in my family for its whole life. I repainted it this year when I made its mounting bracket. I believe JD still sells this same exact tool box today.
One unique thing about the JD tool box is that it is removable. The tool box has its own bracket which is what is actually attached to the 1" x 2" ROPS bracket (see photos). The tool box itself attaches to its bracket using an internal pin.
When the tray is in the tool box and the lid is closed, the tool box cannot come off its bracket no matter how much it is bounced around. However, when you open the tool box, remove the top tray, pull the bracket pin, put the top tray back in, and close the lid, you can take the whole tool box off its bracket and take it with you where ever it is needed. Also, when you have the internal pin in place and put a lock in the tool box hasp, the tool box is securely locked to the tractor. Very nice design!
BTW, as you can also see in the photos, I added a mounting bracket for a grease gun to the tool box ROPS bracket while I was at it. Can't run a tractor without a grease gun!
The bracket itself is a simple 1" x 2" square tube with the ends closed in. It is attached to the ROPS using square ended U-bolts. I placed some rubber gasket material between the bracket and ROPS so they would not rub metal to metal and create a rust problem.
The toolbox is actually 35 years old and has been in my family for its whole life. I repainted it this year when I made its mounting bracket. I believe JD still sells this same exact tool box today.
One unique thing about the JD tool box is that it is removable. The tool box has its own bracket which is what is actually attached to the 1" x 2" ROPS bracket (see photos). The tool box itself attaches to its bracket using an internal pin.
When the tray is in the tool box and the lid is closed, the tool box cannot come off its bracket no matter how much it is bounced around. However, when you open the tool box, remove the top tray, pull the bracket pin, put the top tray back in, and close the lid, you can take the whole tool box off its bracket and take it with you where ever it is needed. Also, when you have the internal pin in place and put a lock in the tool box hasp, the tool box is securely locked to the tractor. Very nice design!
BTW, as you can also see in the photos, I added a mounting bracket for a grease gun to the tool box ROPS bracket while I was at it. Can't run a tractor without a grease gun!