The ultimate cheap canopy

[srjones]

Hey everyone, I need your help.

For the last few days, I've been driving by a fiberglass truck bed cover for sale. I stopped by and talked the seller tonight and this seems like the ultimate cheap canopy if I fab up a frame for it. The problem (which is maybe an advantage) is that this thing measures roughly 62"x64" which is wider than my tractor. I'm not sure how it would look either, but I'm really not to worried about that. However, it would be nice not to have small children pointing and laughing as I drive down the street.

The advantages I see are multiple:

1) Ultimate shade
2) Ultimate rain cover (it rains alot around here)
3) Good durability (this was designed for a truck bed)
4) Good price. The guy wants $50 for it.

So, the question: Should I go for it? Usually I wouldn't think twice about buying this, but money is tight at the moment and I'm questioning everything. For what this is (and what it could be) I'm thinking I'd be passing up a steal if I didn't.

I just need a little push to go get it, or some reasons why it would be a bad idea. Thanks.

-Steve

 

[ToadHill]

5. Right color.

 

[JoeinTX]

It would be sort of like building a shed for your tractor............and taking it everywhere with you.

 

[srjones]

Well, fearing it might be sold before I could get to it and after making the original post, I jumped in the truck and drove 6 miles back down the road to buy it. I think I convinced myself to buy it just by writing about it.

And.......I think I lucked out. The color seems to match pretty well and it doesn't look too oversized. But it is big...and flat..but that's ok. At a certain angle, it does look the Flying Nun's habit....(good thing the tractor doesn't go that fast).

Also I didn't realize that a fiberglass tonneau cover typically goes for more than 10x what I paid for it, so this is the "Ultimate Cheap Canopy" only if you buy it cheap.

So anyway, thank you ToadHill and JoeinTX for giving me that little push I needed, even if I didn't wait long enough to even read them.

-Steve

More pictures to come this fall when I figure out how to securely mount it and redo the lights.....

 

[MrJimi]

Looking at first picture, it kinda looks like a racing stock car and I looked at the size and it came off a short bed small truck, it could have been worse if it was a long bed full size truck. Looking good and mount your lites at the front and reat edge and you will be fine with some front supports

 

[mjncad]

srjones:

I had the same thought as you about using a fiberglass pickup box cover; but I never found one cheap enough to get one. So I bought a factory made unit from Femco.

I hope you post more pictures as you come up with a permanent mounting frame for it.

 

[JoeinTX]

"So anyway, thank you ToadHill and JoeinTX for giving me that little push I needed, even if I didn't wait long enough to even read them...."


It actually looks not bad at all and as a poster above said the paint seems to match. If you can fab-up the frame to support it, you're golden.

There's never too much shade when running a tractor and rarely an "aesthetics" debate over what you've done to make it more comfortable.


If someone doesn't like it.............***** them.

 

[srjones]

@MrJimi,

I didn't write it down, but I think the guy said it came off a 2002 Dodge Dakota shortbed. The dimensions were actually larger than I first reported.

@mjncad,

I've seen your posts and really I like what you've done with the ROPS mounted canopy...and the mirrors...and.... However, right now I'm torn between doing something like that versus building up full front supports which would lend itself to eventually enclosing it in. Also, the 4 post design would give me more places to attach stuff (mirrors, gunracks, toolbars, etc). But then again, your design seems aesthetically cleaner. Oh, I'm torn...TORN I tell ya. I'm sure when the rains return I'll make up my mind real quick.

 

[sandman2234]

Four poster would be ok, but if you can make a strong enough one using a two post support you will probably like it better in the long run due to visibility problems with the front posts. If you do have to go with the front posts, make them see thru as much as possible.
David from jax

 

[SPYDERLK]

Great coverage! Looks good. Watch out when you work near trees. Any lean will make you real wide.
larry

 

[EddieWalker]

I like it!!

I'm thinking of doing something similar with the hood off an S-10 blazer that I'm canabalizing.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Eddie

 

[woodlandfarms]

Us PT owners have our canopies mouned from the front ROPS (we do not have rear ROPS like normal tractors). Frankly, I love it. They make great Oh S*#$ handles, great places to hang your drink and do not obstruct the view at all. Also, they work great pushing limbs out of the way.

I saw some guys build front support using PVC Piping. You could also use conduit bender as well and make a mount out of conduit. Personally I think the 4 poster method is the best.

Carl

 

[TBDonnelly]

....and if you angle it correctly to take advantage of the downward draft,
you should increase the rear tire traction dramatically!!

Good find.

Don

 

[3RRL]

Heck, that looks pretty good on that Mahindra. It's not too big at all. Sure beats a Sun stroke or pneumonia. And if the price was right, it's a great deal.

Can't wait to see Eddie's contraption.

 

[mjncad]

@mjncad,

I've seen your posts and really I like what you've done with the ROPS mounted canopy...and the mirrors...and.... However, right now I'm torn between doing something like that versus building up full front supports which would lend itself to eventually enclosing it in. Also, the 4 post design would give me more places to attach stuff (mirrors, gunracks, toolbars, etc). But then again, your design seems aesthetically cleaner. Oh, I'm torn...TORN I tell ya. I'm sure when the rains return I'll make up my mind real quick.

Thanks for the compliments, I do appreciate them. Actually I am working on adding front posts to mine for a number of reasons: Minimize the vibration and bounce from a cantilevered canopy. I don't care how good the mounting frame is, that much hanging out is space wants to bounce. A permanent mounting platform for mirrors in the event I need to take the loader off. My arthritic back likes mirrors. A stable platform for high mounted front work lights. A place to mount a down and dirty wind screen if need be. If I need to put the tractor on a trailer, there will be less opportunity for the wind to rip off the top; though I still would put straps over the top for safety. And another little idea that I have in the back of my mini mind to hopefully make my life easier.

I'd like to enclose my 4200 too, and making front posts is a fabrication learning experience in that direction.

OK, the downside to front posts will be reduced visibility and as someone else in this thread mentioned, keep them as unobtrusive as possible. Also, the posts are going to make fueling chores more difficult and I know that.

I have no delusions that my current front post design is going to be a ROPS rated addition to my tractor.

 

[srjones]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll be sure to post pictures when I get it done.

 

[moloss]

real cool score! something to think about.....when you mount it think about putting hinges in back and quick disconnects in front (so you can lay it down if you transport it somewhere)......or even quick disconnects all the way around (so you can take it completely off for transport)......that thing will be a parachute going down the road at 70mph.

 

[Harvey7]

Not bad at all and the color's perfect.

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Now you've done it. You got me think'n again. I want to make a canopy for mine also. A friend of mine works at a golf course and has access to golf cart roofs. He said he could get me one but it would be $45 which probably isn't a bad price but I'm cheap. I have a car top carrier that I don't use and tried to sell an auction, no bids so I brought it back home. Now I'm think'n maybe I could use the lid for a tractor canopy.....hmmmm.

 

[wolc123]

Think I have you beat. Covered a wood frame with an old canvas boat cover I got at a gararge sale for $2. Added some steel supports, took about 2 hrs total to build. Goes on or off in under 5 minutes with four bolts and is light enough to lift with one hand. About the same size as yours but about 1 ft deep in the center. Have used for (2) seasons and has held up great and blocks the sun better than the factory fiberglass job I had on my last tractor. The light weight and easy on/off is important to me as I have to fold my rops to get into some of my smaller barn doors on occassion.