ROPS Canopy

[BigD23]

Am thinking about making an easily removable canopy/sun shade to attach to my ROPS for my Kubota BX23...Any ideas/pics out there from those of you who have fabricated one? Thinking it could be a little tricky because the ROPS folds and needs to at times when I'm working around apple trees in my orchard...Thanks!

Don

 

[sixdogs]

Are you planning to leave the sunshade on the ROPS when you fold it? Or would you remove the shade and then fold the ROPS?

 

[Redbug]

Bigd23,

I have been thinking of the same thing. Nothing fancy, heavy, expensive, give shade, shed rain, and be easily removable. I have made several roofs/canopies on my tripod deer stands out of the 3/4" heavy walled PVC pipe, PVC fittings...and thinking doing something along those lines on the tractor. On the deer stands, I cut some heavy truck tarp material to fit and tie wrapped it to the PVC pipe framework I made up.

I figure I would make a squarish frame out of the PVC pipe and fittings with two support legs on the back. The frame and legs could be hose clamped to the rops frame. On those legs, a couple 45 degree angle fittings glued in place, (pipe inserted), which would go up to the front top edge portion, (45 degree fittings inserted in the top edge frame), to support the weight of the front of the shade.

Take off the hose clamps to remove, (or use tie wraps). If you break it, glue the break with a PVC connector fitting. Or if you need to take it off more often, possibly a pipe that would slide inside the PVC, hole drilled and pinned. Just pull the pin and lift the canopy off, type of deal. The pipe would be hose clamped more or less permanently, then.
Works with the deer stands...Why not the tractor? Opinions?

 

[BigD23]

Are you planning to leave the sunshade on the ROPS when you fold it? Or would you remove the shade and then fold the ROPS?

I'm thinking either/or...Would be nice to have it set up to be removed easily if need be in the upright or folded position.

Don

 

[BigD23]

Bigd23,

I have been thinking of the same thing. Nothing fancy, heavy, expensive, give shade, shed rain, and be easily removable. I have made several roofs/canopies on my tripod deer stands out of the 3/4" heavy walled PVC pipe, PVC fittings...and thinking doing something along those lines on the tractor. On the deer stands, I cut some heavy truck tarp material to fit and tie wrapped it to the PVC pipe framework I made up.

I figure I would make a squarish frame out of the PVC pipe and fittings with two support legs on the back. The frame and legs could be hose clamped to the rops frame. On those legs, a couple 45 degree angle fittings glued in place, (pipe inserted), which would go up to the front top edge portion, (45 degree fittings inserted in the top edge frame), to support the weight of the front of the shade.


Take off the hose clamps to remove, (or use tie wraps). If you break it, glue the break with a PVC connector fitting. Or if you need to take it off more often, possibly a pipe that would slide inside the PVC, hole drilled and pinned. Just pull the pin and lift the canopy off, type of deal. The pipe would be hose clamped more or less permanently, then.
Works with the deer stands...Why not the tractor? Opinions?

Dave, the PVC frame idea is a good one...If it gets crunched or needs to be repaired it wouldn't be cost prohibitive...I'm thinking about the "easily removed" part of the mix, one Could hose clamp the "base" of it to the ROPS and simply have the 45 degree support brackets as a slide in slide out connection, possibly pinned with 10/32, a couple of flat washers and a wing nut, or?...Going to do some thinking along those lines...Thanks for planting the seed...I don't use my tractor as much in the winter time so this would be more of a sunshade needing to be removed only when I get around my apple tree orchard when I have to fold the ROPS.

Don

 

[sixdogs]

I have seen a few simple canopies and actaully have the commercially-made frame of one in my barn that I plan to mount on my JD 5520. It is a simple metal framework that clamps with four "U" bolts to the ROPS. It's as wide as the rollbar and not much longer than that dimension. It maybe weighs 20 lbs. I plan to cover it with a simple piece of sheetmetal that I have a metal shop roll the edge and bend a small "X" from corner to corner so it doesn't sag down. I have done this before and it looks like the bends on the ductwork of your forced air heating system. The shop knows what to do. I figure it could also be covered with canvas and maybe 10 minutes to install and remove. Would look factory made.
I don't know about the PVC thing since I think it would "bounce' over uneven terrain and sag from heat and gravity.

 

[Redbug]

Sixdogs...U bolts with wing nuts is a good concept. And a metal frame would be more stout, especially with bouncing around on a tractor. PVC flexes. Good ideas with the AC sheet metal work. Never thought of that...

BigD...Also thinking if you have a conduit bender, something could be done along those lines with conduit. I'm a PVC man myself. All kinds of things can be done with it. Kinda like the PVC furniture idea, too. Going a little further..plastic milk crates would make great modular furniture... Now when velcro and tie wraps come on the scene...

What kinda apples do you have and how many trees? Apples don't do too well in central SC, (hot), but I have a couple Red Delicious, Granny Smith's, and a couple I don't know what they are. Some years they produce OK. I keep them pruned so they get plenty of sun in the interiors. Pears do better here. They are loaded this year. By the way...the canopy advise will cost you two boxes...one for me and one for Sixdogs.

 

[have_blue]

I've been envying a Kubota canopy for my L4400, but they sure are proud of them.

I've been thinking of making a simple negative mold of Styrofoam, and laying up an epoxy-fiberglass canopy. The corners would be double thick, and the mounting areas triple thick. I'm going to take a look at a Kubota canopy to get ideas on how to mount it.

Since epoxy resin is not cheap, it will no doubt be a little pricey to build. Still, I bet it will be only about 20% the cost of a Kubota unit.

 

[sixdogs]

OK, since we're talking free fruit here I will go out to the barn later and take a picture of my store bought (not by me) and inexpensive ROPS shade thing. By the way, I really do have six dogs and they all like pears. One box may not suffice.
They already ate my low hanging apples, most green peppers and lower tomatoes.
Photo tonight.

 

[Redbug]

Sixdogs...That's funny. My dogs do the same. Especially my shepherd. He can really jump. Labs can't get the ones the shepherd can reach. They all prefer the pears to the apples at my place. The pears are Bartletts.

Oh, and almost forgot...I also would like to see a pic or two of the shade thing. Might learn something new.

BigD said he would even deliver for free if the pics are good enough...

 

[BigD23]

Sixdogs...That's funny. My dogs do the same. Especially my shepherd. He can really jump. Labs can't get the ones the shepherd can reach. They all prefer the pears to the apples at my place. The pears are Bartletts.

Oh, and almost forgot...I also would like to see a pic or two of the shade thing. Might learn something new.

BigD said he would even deliver for free if the pics are good enough...

I'm laffin So hard.....You guys are sure a bunch of fun. It's so nice to be able to go to a forum where there's such valued input and such just plain nice folks. Thank you all for your ideas and pictures. p.s. I'm gonna go check my 10 apple trees this evening and buy a sheet of postage stamps in the morning.

Don

 

[sixdogs]

Good grief, I remembered how to post a photo. This rig was on a small JD (900HC) I bought and later traded but the shade thing stayed behind. It is factory made. It's a tad too wide for my JD5520 so when the mood strikes I plan to cut a small section out of the tubing and weld back together. Will have a heating shop--ductwork-- make a flat piece of steel with that "X" fold in it for strength and maybe fold the ends over or maybe just roll the edge. I have done this before and it looks as good as factory. Then paint it.
I'll bolt the steel pan to the top--with a rubber washer under the bolt if I were to leave outside (I won't) and U-bolt the thing to the rops. Then, no sun when it's high in the sky.
There you go, knock yourself out.
Dogs are springer spaniels and seem to move faster if food is involved. They don't jump but rather stand on their back legs or toes to get the fruit. Honest. The forbidden stuff always seems better.

 

[sixdogs]

I've been envying a Kubota canopy for my L4400, but they sure are proud of them.

I've been thinking of making a simple negative mold of Styrofoam, and laying up an epoxy-fiberglass canopy. The corners would be double thick, and the mounting areas triple thick. I'm going to take a look at a Kubota canopy to get ideas on how to mount it.

Since epoxy resin is not cheap, it will no doubt be a little pricey to build. Still, I bet it will be only about 20% the cost of a Kubota unit.

HB--there is a commercial unit on the market that is a fiberglass or something else unit that has a place for flasher lights up front and back. I have seen them in different colors and I actually had a green one but it blew off while towing the aforementioned tractor home. That's how come I have just the frame right now. It comes with the frame I have in the photos.
Whatever the cost, and I think it's "cheap" , it's cheaper than making one at home. The way i have mentioned works real well too and really does look factory for not much in the way of $$.

 

[Redbug]

Sixdogs...that's a good idea. No sense letting that frame just lay around. Put it on the chop saw and then weld it the width you want. Won't the AC type metal on the top be kind of hot? Some sort of insulation under it would help. Or...just get some truck tarp material, cut to size and tie wrap it to the frame work. Plywood would last for a while and then start warping and go wavy.

I plan to go the PVC route and will post a few pics and opinions when I get around to the project. Couple other projects in line to get done right now. And deer season will be starting on Aug 15...

I hope Don does not buy the 1 cent stamps...

 

[sixdogs]

The only thing that ever worked for me--- and looked like it belonged ---was the metal covered canopy. I tried the plywood and it looked like a quick fix. The canvas sagged and didn't belong.
Metal worked and was not hot. Prob enought air moving to insulate from the heat.
Post photos of whatever everyone makes so we can keep this wealth of knowledge on the cutting edge,

 

[WilliamBos]

Awesome thread. Really getting the ideas rolling. Of course winter also helps with that too.

Keep them coming.

Will

 

[sixdogs]

Awesome thread. Really getting the ideas rolling. Of course winter also helps with that too.

Keep them coming.

Will

What kind of ideas are you thinking about?

 

[BigD23]

Sixdogs...that's a good idea. No sense letting that frame just lay around. Put it on the chop saw and then weld it the width you want. Won't the AC type metal on the top be kind of hot? Some sort of insulation under it would help. Or...just get some truck tarp material, cut to size and tie wrap it to the frame work. Plywood would last for a while and then start warping and go wavy.

I plan to go the PVC route and will post a few pics and opinions when I get around to the project. Couple other projects in line to get done right now. And deer season will be starting on Aug 15...

I hope Don does not buy the 1 cent stamps...

Dave.....More than likely you'll get the apples with a bar code on each...Was looking at my BX23 last night and thinking about "hinge" pins on each side to be able to fold the canopy up/down...Would be there if you need it and yet could be out of the way so it doesn't snag low hanging limbs...p.s. Spose to hit 97 here in Portland today...ouch.

Don

 

[Redbug]

Don,

That's a good idea with the hinge pins. Why didn't I think of that? I like the idea of being able to fold the rops with the roof assembly. A convertable BX! I want to see what you do, so whenever you start your project post a pic or two. That way, I may incorporate in in my PVC design. It would hinge halfway up where the rops folds down, along that hinge area?

We are looking at triple digits here in Columbia today. I have the day off getting caught up on some other projects in the workshop with the big floor fan running. Not too bad with the breeze.

 

[sixdogs]

Redbug--
What is the name that seems to be written on things like the chair and fan?

Is that the dog that eats pears?