Canopy What type of canopy?

[jwstewar]

I've been looking at canopies. Getting tired of getting sunburned - even with the SPF smeared on. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I've found some others that are really nice and not a whole lot more expensive until you include $120 for shipping. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif The one thing that has stopped me from ordering this one are lights. Currently I have 2 lights on my ROPS. These will have to be moved. Is this canopy strong enough to support a couple of lights? What about vibrations? Do you notice sound echoing off of this? If so, have you considered some type of insulation, even if just the styrofoam type?

 

[anojones]

I don't think I'd mount lights on this- but I could be wrong, however, given the flexibility of the mounting system you might be able to leave the lights where they are. When I use the tractor I wear ear plug type headphones or ear muffs with headphones mounted inside, so don't notice the noise. I will say that I didn't notice any new or change in noise while bush hogging yesterday.

 

[daTeacha]

A kludge sounds like what we call Amish Engineering around here.

 

[flusher]

I have a Tufftop canopy for my B7510HST. Cost: $325.

 

[Trucky]

I have a TracTop that came with my BX when I got it used. I thought I'd be taking this thing off as soon as I got it home but now I love it and wouldn't part with it. You'll notice from the angle of the dangle that I kinda sloped it down in front more than most but I found that it acts like a third arm to lift branches up and over the top. Those branches that don't comply get the chainsaw real quick. The support arms also make a great place to mount some lights when I get to that project and I've mounted my tilt-meter right on the the inside, in front of my eyes so I can really get scared quicker now. I had one gnarly peach tree grab the left rear corner and do a bit of customization but other than that this thing has really stood up to the abuse I seem to dish out.

 

[Casco1]

I have a fiberglass canopy, besides the obvious sun use, I mounted my worklights to it. I like having the front lights 3 ft forward of the ROPS it gives the lights a much better angle for loader work.

 

[Casco1]

View of the back

 

[Onederdog]

I've also been searching the web for canopies but I have a concern about trailering. Are most of the brackets and mounts able to withstand the wind from traveling the freeway? I would think in an open trailer there would be quite a bit of uplift on the shade.

Bruce

 

[daTeacha]

I wouldn't trailer it with the canopy in place. Get one that comes off easily. A folder would be likely to catch an awful lot of air, too and lead to stability problems at highway speeds.

 

[Doc_Bob]

I am looking at TuffTop, http://www.tufftop.net/. Looks easy to take off and on.
Bob

 

[Bird]

Over the past several years, there have been so many discussions about canopies and I've posted so many times about my Wells Ag Company canopy that it sounds like I'm advertising for them when I really don't have any financial interest at all in the company. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But I did like their canopy, pictures of which can be seen in my gallery. As can be seen in the pictures, it's close, but not completely, level. I had a rear view mirror, two tiltmeters, and both front and rear work lights mounted on it, and I never even worried about it when trailering. I don't guess it ever got towed over 70 mph and most of the time 55-60 mph and was never a concern or problem.

 

[Rusty]

Anajones - Thanks, but what I really was asking is how much extra height does the canopy add above the top of the ROPS, if the canopy is installed directly on top of the ROPS? I have only 5" clearance between the top of my ROPS and the garage door. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Rusty

 

[Rusty]

To All: For those of you who have a canopy, how much extra height would the canopy add above the top of the ROPS, if the canopy was installed directly on top of the ROPS? I have only 5" clearance between the top of my ROPS and the garage door. Rusty

 

[anojones]

I mounted the Sun Guard flush with the top of the ROPS- so pretty much a negligible increase in height. As I said earlier, you could even mount it below the ROPS in front- a lot of mounting options.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( how much extra height would the canopy add )</font>

I don't remember for sure, but I think it was about an inch and a half, and I know that 5 inches leaves you plenty of room.

 

[JRP]

I built onle like the wells, but with thicker aluminum, about 1/8" thick. It breaks the tree limbs.

Seriously, You will like a canopy. Shiney aluminum reflects the heat. It must have a sound absorbant underside, otherwise it just reflects and magnifies the engine noise.

If you don't want to fool with buildi ng one then do as Bird did and buy a Wells.

 

[RickHouTX]

This canopy is made by a company called Perry in Waco, TX. It is sheet metal over a piece of OSB painted black. I think the OSB is intended to dampen vibration and does a decent job.

I am not sure about the price because it was on the tractor when I bought it, but I think the lower end model like the one I have was about $500 according to the dealer that sold me the [used] tractor.

Link to Mfr: http://www.perry-co.com/canopy.htm

I have ran into a few limbs and it is pretty ugly when viewed from the front. There was some plastic trim around the perimeter that was torn off (by the tree limbs first and then by me before long). The worst thing was when I drove it under an old satellite dish partiall full of leaves and water. Made for a great shower and/or wet T-shirt contest. Thank got nobody got a free shot of the man-teets! Boy, I learned real quick that it was up there!

I didn't even think twice about pulling the tractor from LaGrange to Houston (about 100 miles) with the canopy on. No problem at highway and interstate speeds. The guy who helped me load it didn't mention it either, and he knew how far I was going.

 

[Bird]

Rick, that Perry canopy looks like, and you description makes it sound very much like, the Wells Ag Company canopy. Of course I got mine in '99 so I have no idea what current prices are, but back then I think it was $295 and was the same price whether I selected the diamond plate aluminum or the steel painted to match the tractor.

 

[txdon]

Rusty, I have a Wells Ag canopy like Bird had. I just chanced poisonous snakes, scorpions and spiders and ran through a driving rain to my dark tractor shed to get you the exact measurement. Since there is no electricity I stood on the side of the tractor with a flashlight between my legs. In one hand I held a 6' level and the other hand a tape measure and measured the distance from the top of the ROPS to the highest part of the canopy, which is the front edge. The canopy is higher in the front so the water will run off the rear. The front of the canopy is 4 1/4" higher than the ROPS. The canopy right above the ROPS is 1 1/2" above the ROPS. You should have plenty room if you make your canopy close to level. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Rusty]

txdon - You are truly a gentleman and a scholar!!! Thanks much for the information. I thought choosing a tractor was difficult, but the implements and attachments will drive a person crazy. This site is the thing that lets me keep my sanity. Thanks again for the effort! Rusty /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif