Is the ROPS really needed?

TomSeller · Oct 9, 2014

Gary Fowler said:
I like the four post FOPS system........ runner rails going from front of the tractor to the top like some dozers have to guide branches up and over the top. .

Agree and agree. Surprised they are not more common options.

CobyRupert · Oct 9, 2014

It's funny to see all the "there are no accidents that can't be avoided! All accidents can be avoided if you plan ahead and take precautions" hubris on this thread and others. (There was a recent thread where the OP was injured.) No matter how smart, careful or creative you are in imagining what can go wrong, Mother Nature can and will be more creative in inventing a scenario you could of ever imagined.

whis · Oct 9, 2014

haven't read all the reply's but you really only need it if you turn over

TomSeller · Oct 9, 2014

whis said:
haven't read all the reply's but you really only need it if you turn over

... BEFORE you turn over

CobyRupert · Oct 10, 2014

whis said:
haven't read all the reply's but you really only need it if you turn over

Exactly! They are (the same as) insurance. You only need it if something bad happens. Otherwise it's a waste of money. And like insurance, there's also taking a risk because you have it (you may need the money for something else important, or could invest & self-insure and actually have that pile of money spent) similar to the risk of ROPS (hitting branches, barn door, head, etc..)

It's all a gamble folks. You're in the casino, there's no escaping it. It comes down to a combination of individual risk tolerances, the (perceived) odds, and the value you place on the opposing stakes. These are all things with no real concrete answers.

Garycw · Oct 10, 2014

Like the saying... Better to have it & not need it , than need it & not have it. The problem with the latter is if you need it & don't have it may be the last thing you do.
I wouldn't be surprised to see further development in designs to overcome some of the drawbacks.
I'd also like to see a retrofit bolt on design for all older tractors that would give owners a easy option to add.
Many people, myself included think that in a pre rollover situtuation , you could simply jump clear. We might get lucky, but believe we're fooling ourselves.

downsizingnow48 · Oct 10, 2014

I've been reading the thread with interest. My B21 has ROPS/FOPS. I have had wheels lift off the ground. I have had stuff fall on the FOPS. I would never think of removing the protective parts and usually use a seat belt. Looked up some numbers this morning. Tractor rollover deaths seem to be in the range of 8-10 per 100,000 workers in the hilly parts of the country, and about 2-3 per 100,000 in the flatter areas. Skydiving, which most anyone would consider risky, has a fatality rate of about 1 per 100,000. So you could say, climbing on a tractor is quite a bit riskier than jumping out of an airplane.

Baby Grand · Oct 10, 2014

"Tractors are by far the biggest cause of U.S. farm injuries and deaths. rollover technology has made current machines safer, but many farmers use older models lacking safety features." Modern Farmer

Death on the Farm - Modern Farmer

TomSeller · Oct 10, 2014

Garycw said:
.
I'd also like to see a retrofit bolt on design for all older tractors that would give owners a easy option to add.
.

Here you are

ROPS

k0ua · Oct 10, 2014

TomSeller said:
... BEFORE you turn over

Just before you turn over... no sense having that thing on there even a second longer than you need it..:laughing:

TomSeller · Oct 10, 2014

k0ua said:
Just before you turn over... no sense having that thing on there even a second longer than you need it..:laughing:

Maybe they can make automated hydraulic bollard style ROPs that trigger off of a tilt sensor? Or maybe huge air bags.

dragoneggs · Oct 10, 2014

TomSeller said:
Maybe they can make automated hydraulic bollard style ROPs that trigger off of a tilt sensor? Or maybe huge air bags.

I like it... a telescoping model with tilt auto-activation.

Parkanzky · Oct 10, 2014

dragoneggs said:
I like it... a telescoping model with tilt auto-activation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0BCMZbf9u4

dragoneggs · Oct 10, 2014

Parkanzky said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0BCMZbf9u4

Holy Crap! There it is. Doesn't look 'beefy' enough but conceptually brilliant.

TomSeller · Oct 11, 2014

0.7 seconds for a roll over to happen. I hope the non ROPS believers can scramble off their rolling tractor faster than that.

TomSeller · Oct 11, 2014

TomSeller said:
Here you are

ROPS

On these retrofit ROPS some models of tractors have only fixed ROPS. Anyone know if they can custom those models with the folding style?

ray66v · Oct 11, 2014

dragoneggs said:
I like it... a telescoping model with tilt auto-activation.

Hope you like the added cost too.

Due to the fact that the folding ROPS are not used properly the majority of the time, the government is considering requiring some type of self deploying ROPS in the future.

They could be expensive, and may potentially require some type of certified inspection, or replacement after a certain number of years.

Scooby074 · Oct 11, 2014

Automatic telescoping roll over bars are pretty common on lots of modern convertible cars. Youd think something similar could be easily devloped for tractors. Downside is if you ever laid it on its side you might not have damage to tractor as is many times the case, but you sure would have damage to your wallet replacing the deployed roll bars

ray66v · Oct 11, 2014

Scooby074 said:
Automatic telescoping roll over bars are pretty common on lots of modern convertible cars. Youd think something similar could be easily devloped for tractors. Downside is if you ever laid it on its side you might not have damage to tractor as is many times the case, but you sure would have damage to your wallet replacing the deployed roll bars

They have been developed, and some have been tested. Here is one document about it:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/awards/hamilton/pdfs/deploy-rops.pdf

dragoneggs · Oct 11, 2014

ray66v said:
Hope you like the added cost too.

Due to the fact that the folding ROPS are not used properly the majority of the time, the government is considering requiring some type of self deploying ROPS in the future.

They could be expensive, and may potentially require some type of certified inspection, or replacement after a certain number of years.

Relax, Ray... we already have our tractors :laughing: Seriously though I do come down on the side of less regulation and am not advocating for this... just like the technology.

Scooby074 said:
Automatic telescoping roll over bars are pretty common on lots of modern convertible cars. Youd think something similar could be easily devloped for tractors. Downside is if you ever laid it on its side you might not have damage to tractor as is many times the case, but you sure would have damage to your wallet replacing the deployed roll bars

That's what the Kubota KTAC insurance is for... bumper to bumper... I mean bucket to bucket. You have to admit though that an auto telescoping ROPS would solve a lot of folks complaints about working around branches and damaging their garage openings