Homemade Tractor Canopy

[MutzFarm]

Couldnt see paying for one of those high dollar tractor canopy when we can just build one ourselves. O yea and the wife wanted something to hold her cell phone while she was on the tractor.We also installed brackets for future lights on each corner of the canopy. We figure it cost us less than a $150 to build this canopy. Thats better than a $450 and ours even has brackets in it for when we add lights later. We also put a piece of fiber board / asphalt sheathing that makes it bout 10 degrees cooler under it.


Before we was always baking in the sun.
Got a piece of pretty Mahindra red aluminium.
Added a red horseshoe cell phone holder.
Brackets on all 4 corners for future lights.
Fiber board / asphalt sheathing insulation.
All this be an easy $450 at the dealer I believe.

 

[farm boy00]

Couldnt see paying for one of those high dollar tractor canopy when we can just build one ourselves. O yea and the wife wanted something to hold her cell phone while she was on the tractor.We also installed brackets for future lights on each corner of the canopy. We figure it cost us less than a $150 to build this canopy. Thats better than a $450 and ours even has brackets in it for when we add lights later. We also put a piece of fiber board / asphalt sheathing that makes it bout 10 degrees cooler under it.

Before we was always baking in the sun.
Got a piece of pretty Mahindra red aluminium.
Added a red horseshoe cell phone holder.
Brackets on all 4 corners for future lights.
Fiber board / asphalt sheathing insulation.
All this be an easy $450 at the dealer I believe.

I instantly see a shattered,cracked, or scratched screen on a phone. Maybe some foam put in the holder?? Or something to protect a phone

 

[Walkin Horse]

That looks nice. I like the back overhang. I also like the attachment. What is the frame made from?

 

[MutzFarm]

I instantly see a shattered,cracked, or scratched screen on a phone. Maybe some foam put in the holder?? Or something to protect a phone

Our phones are actually Samsung Galaxy S5 active with a pelican case and tempered glass on the screen. We work hard and play hard. I will say the phone actually rides really nice in there and we dont worry bout it in there at all. Now before when we carried our phones in our back pockets they would slip out and almost get ran over or when we had cases and it didnt latch right or get hung on something and come off was also an issue.

 

[MutzFarm]

That looks nice. I like the back overhang. I also like the attachment. What is the frame made from?

Thanx. The longer part of the frame, the left and right sides that run parallel are 2 X 2 X 1/8 angle. The front and back cross pieces are 1.5 X 1.5 X 1/8 angle. The middle cross and angle braces are .75 X .75 X 1/8. The mounting steel to the ROPS is 6" X 3/16 thick pieces of plate that I believe was cut at 12" on the outside pieces.
Hope this helps.

 

[FTG-05]

I'm in the process of making my own canopy for both my tractor and ZTR. Good timing, thanks for posting this!

Good luck!

 

[MutzFarm]

I'm in the process of making my own canopy for both my tractor and ZTR. Good timing, thanks for posting this!

Good luck!

No problem. Feel free to ask questions. I am thinking bout adding mirror(s).

 

[tomplum]

I thought about making my own. I almost grabbed a sheet of steel (thinking 16/18 gauge) and thought that I could make one that protrudes also over the seat for the backhoe. I would have enough white polycarb or 3/8 acrylic (though it is a lovely smoked color) to use. At our place the misses has at least twice the seat time if not more on our TLB than I. Though she is comfortable on the side slopes, I think that the Tuff Top maybe safer and less apt to injure her directly in case she took a tumble. Any thoughts on this?

 

[MutzFarm]

I thought about making my own. I almost grabbed a sheet of steel (thinking 16/18 gauge) and thought that I could make one that protrudes also over the seat for the backhoe. I would have enough white polycarb or 3/8 acrylic (though it is a lovely smoked color) to use. At our place the misses has at least twice the seat time if not more on our TLB than I. Though she is comfortable on the side slopes, I think that the Tuff Top maybe safer and less apt to injure her directly in case she took a tumble. Any thoughts on this?

For sure if you feel safe with that unit go for it. Safety is a big deal. I dont do many steep slopes or any at all if possible.

I used a very thin piece of aluminium that was already red and over priced, but did it for the cosmetic part. I put a piece of sheathing insulation under the top which a lot of canopy you buy have. I got it from the local box store. It was about $12 for a 4x8 sheet. Well worth it. Probably 15 degrees cooler under it in the summer. Of course from the pictures you can see the one I built was stout.

Again if you think buying that unit vs building your own is safer and gives you piece of mind then for sure go that route.

 

[kthompson]

Have had a Case and two Kubota's fiberglass tops and they are good. However used diamond tread aluminum that was bent in a "break" to get the lips wanted on a Gator and it needs a metal support frame as does the fiberglass does but really like the metal top. The aluminum reflects the heat very well. With side lips it helps to prevent it bending. You may need to install some molding along the edge of such a roof to keep from hitting your head or such. The aluminum cost was good bit less than factory fiberglass. They also do not fade.