Mounting lights to ROPS?

[Woodland]

I have a Kubota L3400 with folding ROPS (posted here since this is really a general tractor question) and I need to mount two utility lights and an amber strobe for winter snow removal work. Seems like the best place to mount them (the utility lights anyway) would be from the ROPS to get the best angle for lighting behind me. The dreaded warning label, however, says DO NOT MODIFY, DRILL, etc... the ROPS. How have you guys mounted lights to your tractor?

 

[chipsndust]

I cut a 1-1/2" piece of iron pipe to a length shorter than the inside distance between the ROPS uprights. I mounted the work lights to the pipe. I put spacers between the pipe and the underside of the ROPS top cross member. I fished the wiring inside the ROPS (there were already holes in it) and fastened the pipe/light assembly to the ROPS with u-bolts. The lights are on the underside of the ROPS so they don't increase overall height. The adjusment bases on the lights, and twisting the pipe in the u-bolts provides adjusment. Lights can be pointed forward or rear. Only problem I have is, with lights pointed forward, they shine in my eyes when I look back to back up.

 

[pat32rf]

I clamped the rear of a 4' piece of plywood to the ROPS, supported the front with an angle iron frame up from the FEL brackets.(I seldom remove the FEL). Two lights at the rear, two at the front, radio and speakers in the middle, flashing plow beacon at the rear. All the switches are mounted on the left side angle bracket so I can hit them as I mount or dismount (including the radio). I have learned to check the switches each time I get off so the work lights don't get turned on during the day......and left on

 

[LBrown59]

I have learned to check the switches each time I get off so the work lights don't get turned on during the day......and left on

I run them through the switch key.

 

[SFish]

My plan is to use U-bolts to fasten a mount to the ROPS, as per Chipsndust (Chipsnsnow?), but I would like to use LED floods to keep the amperage draw down. Does anybody know of a source for reasonably priced waterproof LED floods?

Steve

 

[Dale1995]

I have a Kubota L3400 with folding ROPS (posted here since this is really a general tractor question) and I need to mount two utility lights and an amber strobe for winter snow removal work. Seems like the best place to mount them (the utility lights anyway) would be from the ROPS to get the best angle for lighting behind me. The dreaded warning label, however, says DO NOT MODIFY, DRILL, etc... the ROPS. How have you guys mounted lights to your tractor?

I mounted my strobe on my ROPS with magnets you can purchase at Harbor Freight and Salvage, they are really stong and inexpensive and you can remove them if you wire them with some type of quick connector

 

[2COR517]

I would also be interested in some decent LED lights. AW Direct has some, but they are about $130 each. They draw i think 3 amps, so they must be very bright. Out of my price range.

The best floodlights I have found are from John Deere. 40 watts, about 3 amps. They have a fantastic pattern, with good distance illumination too. For $25 you cant beat them. Ten times better than the crappy ones at Walmart. I put some on my skid steer, one on front one on back. You don't really need two, but would be nice. I am going to put some on my plow trucks soon.

 

[luscsmith]

Here are some lights I have been looking at buying. eBay Motors: LED Flood Beam Work Lamp White Light Truck Warehouse (item 270307068872 end time Nov-29-08 19:55:47 PST)

 

[kennyd]

The best floodlights I have found are from John Deere. 40 watts, about 3 amps. They have a fantastic pattern, with good distance illumination too. For $25 you cant beat them. Ten times better than the crappy ones at Walmart. I put some on my skid steer, one on front one on back. You don't really need two, but would be nice. I am going to put some on my plow trucks soon.

Those are HOBBS lights, with a trapezoidal pattern. I put 4 of them on my tractor. They are 50 watts though if they are they same ones I am thinking of...

I got mine from Messicks

 

[EdC]

I mounted two to my ROPS with U bolts, the kind with the 90 corners, not the actual "U" shaped ones. I mounted a flat strip of 1/8 steel to the bottoms and that gave me a tab to mount the lights to. Used the JD front light kit and turned one to the front and one to the rear. Will probably add another one pointed forward just to fight the glare from the headlights hitting the bucket. I did have to extend the wires just a little bit and left a small amount of slack where the ROPS folds so it would not strain the wring when folded. Then I enclosed all the sires in that plastic protective tubing for automotive wiring.

Believe it or not some of the on-line bike stores (Bike Nashbar/Performance) have sales on LED headlights for discontinued units. Some of them may be bright enough.