Who's got a Canopy?

[icat]

Who\'s got a Canopy?

When I cut I wear a long sleeve t-shirt and a cowboy hat. But I'm still getting a bit crispy on the neck and face. So, looks like it's time for a canopy. I called the local dealer and he trashed the fiberglass units pretty bad (which is what I thought I wanted). He can get a unit from Wells Ag that is a diamond plateded steel unit for $350. Do any of you have one of these? If so, how do you like it? Does anyone else have a brand they recommend?

I found this on the web...

Looks nice and the price is right ($315 for the painted steel). Delivery is not included though, but they're in Waco which is a couple of hours drive from Houston - so I guess I could go and pick one up. This is a Perry Mfg. unit - anyone have one of these?

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Keith, I've posted the information about my Wells Ag Company canopy many times. I had a choice of the unpainted diamond plate aluminum or the steel painted to match the tractor for the same price of $295 in 1999. I've seen the aluminum; very nice, but I preferred the painted steel, and haven't yet seen a canopy I liked better.

You can find the address of Wells Ag Company in this thread. That address is actually the northbound service road of I-35 just south of FM 308 (north of Waco, of course).

 

[jinman]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Keith, I've never owned a canopy so this is coming from a total source of ignorance, but if you look at your picture in your post, it is clear that the canopy would not block any of the sun at that angle. It looks to me like the canopy would only block the sun when it is nearly directly overhead. Anyone who knows I'm putting out bad information, feel free to correct me, but it still seems to me that a good wide-brim hat with long sleeves and gloves are your best bet for blocking the old sun's rays. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Jim, the picture that Keith posted certainly appears to be much narrower, and on a narrower ROPS, than the one I had. But there's no way that I would want to work on a tractor this time of year without a canopy; a hat, gloves, and long sleeved shirts may block the sun's rays, but they sure won't block the heat like an insulated canopy. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JerryG]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

I have had an aluminum plate WellAg canopy for three years and I really like it. I'm also like Bird, I haven't seen one that I liked better. It has a strong angle iron frame with insulation sandwiched between the angle and diamond plate.

 

[icat]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

I hear ya jnman! I thought the same thing. I did notice just now that the ROPS on the pic I posted is VERY narrow. If you look at the pic of me in my sig, you can see that the ROPS on the 'Bota is MUCH wider. My ROPS curves outward and covers much of the fender area as well. From what I can tell from Perry Mfgs. web site, the canopies are designed to fit the ROPS they go on. So I'll have to assume for now that the unit for my L3130 would be widder.

Bird - after I posted I thought I should have checked the archives first! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I found your posts concerning the Wells Ag units and read them all. Thanks for posting on this oft asked question! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I also saw in the archives where one TBNer had made his own from .125 stock and that the Wells Ag unit is .060. Anyone care to comment? I really don't have anything much to run into on my place (at least I won't once I knock everything down). How does the .060 stock hold up?

The only other thing I think I need to do is mount an air conditioner on the canopy! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif It's WAY hot on the property this time of year! I'm just kidding of course, but we just replaced an AC unit on an RV and it got me to thinking....

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

<font color="blue"> It's WAY hot on the property this time of year! </font>

Texas in summer... The fourth ring of hell! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Keith, I never paid any attention to what gauge metal that canopy was, but I can tell you it's tough! It came with a heavy black molding all the way around the edge, and my brother scraped the molding loose on one side on a tree. I put it back, then I scraped it off on the eaves of the shed on the side of the barn, so that time Ijust removed all of it. Neither time did any damage to the metal or paint. Then later I backed under a big tree limb and bent the right rear edge and that's when I found how tough it really was; I finally managed to straighten it a little bit and it didn't look bad, but I couldn't bend it enough to completely straighten it.

Of course, it's been 4 years so I don't know, only assume, that Wells Ag Company is using the same metal, and if so, you sure don't need anything stronger.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

I think JerryG answered partly for me. What I noticed about the JD canopy on our 5420, is that it has about a 1" thick piece of insulation that provides a radiant barrier. It is hard to believe how much better this works than say a plain old umbrella or any type of metal without an insulator. If the Wells has a good insulator, I'd say buy it. I'd say it needs to be at least 40" wide or more. Watch out for tree limbs. They are known far and wide to take a bite out of the best canopys.
Later...Kyle

 

[monkeybreath]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Monday at a Kubota dealer, I inquired about availability of a canopy which could be folded down, or easily removed when that became necessary or desirable. The salesman told me that they had those available, they had a foldable frame of some kind and a heavy marine canvas top. I didn't get to see one. However, he said that they were not cheap - he thought about $280.00. If that would suit your purposes you might want to inquire further. If you cannot find those, let me know and I will follow up to get brand name, etc.

 

[icat]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Thanks for all the replies! The Wells Ag unit is looking better and better. I really don't want to drive all the way to Waco to save $40 - which would get eat'n up in gas, food, and time anyway. So I'll likely let the local dealer have a piece of the cake. Unfortunely, the best he can do is Monday, so it looks like I'll be fried again this weekend. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

When I got my 1920, I purchased one of the diamond plate canopies that they were offering. It has an anti vibration pad, and good looking angle and box iron supports. I've hit low branches, etc.. and have yet to damage it, or curl edges. I feel a bit better with a metal one rather than fiberglass .. it may give me some small protection from smaller falling objects, in lieu of a real FOPS cab.
The canopy also covers to the full edge of the fenders.. so no sunburnt arms except when the sun is rising / setting and at a good angle..

Ironically the buggy top my yanmar has is a bit better at keeping rain out.. but oh well.. got have trade offs i guess.

Soundguy

 

[BB_TX]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

I am curious why he "trashed" the fiberglass canopies. The only problem I can see is that it might crack if you hit a stout tree limb. I have a fiberglass on mine and am perfectly happy with it. I routinely run under low hanging limbs when I mow with no problem. I am careful not to hit limbs that I think might harm the canopy, but if they were that large, I wouldn't go under them with a metal one either.

 

[rancar]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

<font color="blue"> '...he trashed the fiberglass units...Does anyone else have a brand they recommend? </font>

Well.....see attached pic of my 'trashy' Bucktop canopy that's on my JD4710. I'm satisfied with it and in my opinion it ain't trash. It's a well built unit.

...Bob

 

[MikePA]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

<font color="blue"> called the local dealer and he trashed the fiberglass units pretty bad (which is what I thought I wanted). </font>
Hi Keith, does this dealer sell the fiberglass canopies?

 

[icat]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Whoa guys! I'm just the messenger! Post was not intended to discredit those of you with fiberglass units. As we all know, one dealers opinion may be based on several factors - some of which will benefit the dealer.

The dealer in question (not my regular dealer) doesn't stock any canopies, so he can get what ever I want. When I mentioned the fiberglass units he indicated that they don't sell those because they have had issues with them being destroyed when the tractors they were on were being trailered on the road. Now, having said that, I don't trailer my tractor so it's really not an issue at this time. But, when I investigated the cost of the fiberglass units, it appears they are actually higher than the metal units. Some of the fiberglass canopies I saw were over $500.

Now for an interesting note. While I was typing this my regular dealer called back. They have the same Wells Ag unit for $50 LESS than the "other" dealer - so I now have a Wells Ag in beautiful Kubota Orange on order! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And in case you were wondering why on earth I called the "other" dealer in the first place... I sent my favorite dealer salesman an e-mail earlier this week and he had yet to respond, so I called the "other" dealer just to see what they had. Yesterday I called to see why my favorite dealer had not responded to my e-mail. Turns out he was on vacation and will not be back until Monday. Got to show that boy how to do an automatic out of office message! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Anyway, one of the other salesman called me back with pricing, so it looks like I'm good to go. I'll post pics once it's installed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Keith, I guess that's kind of like my Kubota dealer in Waco. He didn't have anything bad to say about the genuine Kubota canopies, or any other plastic or fiberglass canopy, except that they'd never sold one because he could sell the Wells Ag Company metal canopies cheaper. He was willing to get and install whatever I wanted. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[TractorTeen]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Does anybody know if Wells Ag has a website? What is the website if they have one? I am interested in a canopy for my B2910.

Thanks

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

To the best of my knowledge, they do not yet have a web site, although the boss there told me quite some time ago that they were working on that. He also told me they only sell through tractor dealers; not direct to the consumer. They had a pin map on the wall showing where their dealers are; mostly in the Texas/Oklahoma/Arkansas/Louisiana area, but a few scattered over other parts of the country. He said anyone wanting one of their canopies should just ask his/her tractor dealer to call them; they'd be glad to have additional dealers.

 

[40Kchicks]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

So what was the final best price plus shipping?

Eric