After market or homemade ROP's

[elalexander]

The tractor I recently purchased, a 1982 Bolens G190 does not have any type of ROP. Has anyone purchased an after market ROP or made their own? If so what are some of the considerations I should look for if I fab one myself. Thanks

 

[RonR]

Ohhhhhhhhh, ROPS are touchy subjects here.

Many will debate whether building your own is better than no ROPS at all. A lot of testing and good design work goes into a factory made ROPS (or it should).

There's a sponsor here who's ad pops up now and then. I'd contact them to ask if they have it, as they have aftermarket ROPS for many tractors.

A lot to consider if you make your own. It should mirror the size and material of a factory ROPS for a same sized tractor. And of course, the ROPS does zero good if it doesn't attach well, so the mounting is important as well.

And ya need a seat belt if you have a ROPS to hold ya on.............

A lot of guys look to folks who build roll cages for race cars to build their ROPS. That is probably a good way to go, if you don't find a mfgered one.

Good Luck,
Ron

 

[Rusty]

Hercules is a sponsor here on TBN. I have not dealt with them, however, other TBNers may have. Best wishes!

Hercules - Home

 

[bx23barry]

4x4 and race guys make and have made roll bars/cages all the time. Lots of places can bend some good tube and weld some brackets on for not much. While it may protect you the stuff on most equipment wouldn't pass inspection at any 4x4 or race event I'm aware of.

 

[Tom_Veatch]

...
While it may protect you the stuff on most equipment wouldn't pass inspection at any 4x4 or race event I'm aware of.

Not trying to be argumentative or anything, just don't quite follow your meaning. The stuff that wouldn't pass inspection; do you mean the "lots of places bent up stuff", commercial aftermarket ROPS, both, or something else?

 

[roxynoodle]

Just be careful. Apparently an OSHA approved ROPS does have some flex built into it in the right places. A super strong structure may break off your rear axle and fail. There was a news story not long ago about a 13 yr old boy being killed that way. ROPS broke the rear axle right off the tractor. So is it better than none at all? Perhaps not. I wouldn't want to be strapped into one that wasn't tested. Do you?

 

[Doc_Bob]

The tractor I recently purchased, a 1982 Bolens G190 does not have any type of ROP.

Go with tested and engineered aftermarket ROPS.
ROPS is no time to save money or figure out you were not qualified to engineer one.

 

[elalexander]

Thanks. Your right........ I'm no enginer. I did contact the Hercules dealer associated with this site as another member suggested.

 

[bx23barry]

Not trying to be argumentative or anything, just don't quite follow your meaning. The stuff that wouldn't pass inspection; do you mean the "lots of places bent up stuff", commercial aftermarket ROPS, both, or something else?

I meant factory ROPS. Little bracing, strange bends, square tube, but hey most tractors don't even go 20mph or roll down mountains. I'm sure the safety police here will have alot to say but everything doesn't have to have official blue prints from an engineer to be safe. Of course alittle common sense and experience are a good thing (something most engineers I’ve worked with were short on).

 

[briancd]

Of course alittle common sense and experience are a good thing (something most engineers I’ve worked with were short on).

I sure hope my ROPS was designed with a lot more than "common sense". A lot of engineers >>I've<< worked with (which would be hundreds since that's my job) may use common sense to get an idea or starting point but thank god follow that with proven design principles and tools. I hope no one puts their life or that of their wife or other tractor user in the hands of someone who built a garage ROPS with "common sense" and not sound engineering...because that would of course just be "common nonsense".