Why keep roll over bars down?

[theg]

I keep watching videos and lots of people keep the roll bars down. Is there a reason this is done? Maybe simple question, just trying to learn if I am missing some performance gain. Mine are up and have never thought about lowering them.

 

[rekees4300]

In my case it is kept down because it will not fit under the shed door when up. I only put it up when working on hills.

 

[2ndhalf]

Tree limbs! If everyone kept their ROPs on and up there would be more roll overs by tree than what is saved by ROPs ask any commercial mower.... first thing they do is take off their ROPs.

 

[arrow]

I keep watching videos and lots of people keep the roll bars down. Is there a reason this is done? Maybe simple question, just trying to learn if I am missing some performance gain. Mine are up and have never thought about lowering them.

Same as Rekees. I put it up during skidding through the woods then hope to high heaven I remember to put it down before entering shed. Haven't remembered yet.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Trees are a problem here, but I don't put it down anyway. It's not up for the safety aspect but because it holds my canopy up ! It fits in my barn and garage with it up.

 

[ovrszd]

I removed it on my little JD.

It's rigid on the Ford.

Used to be foldable on the Kubota but is rigid now that I have a four post with canopy.

 

[theg]

Thanks. Knew there had to be some legit reasons.

 

[BlackOps]

i keep mine up -- hassle with the trees and some areas i just cannot get in. from what i have seen i takes wrenches to loosen the buts/bolts to rasie and lower is just a pain.

 

[BlackOps]

if there was some sort of a pin that would make it easier i would at certain times but i find that keeping it up just seems to make it safer generally.

 

[ovrszd]

if there was some sort of a pin that would make it easier i would at certain times but i find that keeping it up just seems to make it safer generally.

Even foldable ROPS normally use bolt/nut fasteners. I think this is more to increase the crush force required to collapse the ROPS than user friendliness.

 

[KennyG]

Even foldable ROPS normally use bolt/nut fasteners. I think this is more to increase the crush force required to collapse the ROPS than user friendliness.

John Deere uses pins in the ROPS.

 

[Inspector507]

My New Holland uses 2 spring loaded pins to fold it down.

 

[ovrszd]

Good for them.

 

[mike69440]

My New Holland uses 2 spring loaded pins to fold it down.

So does my Max28, sturdy pins with jam bolts so nothing rattles. Except for when I'm mucking the cow camp, Bar stays up.
I like the CAB on my excavator and the 4 Post FOPs roof of my L39. Better safety.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Mine dont fold, and think it would better if it wasnt offered as an option. All or nothing kind of thing. Trim your tree limbs. If they didnt make the ROPS so d@mn tall they wouldnt have to make them fold to fit in garages. Our BX is fixed, clears under 6'. Our friends newer BX with folding ROPS is nearly a foot taller, and never gets put up. Really dumb.

 

[oldpilgrim]

trim your tree limbs

Kinda tough when you spend a lot of time driving through natural woods.

 

[gladehound]

I leave mind up. Built the shed with 9 foot clearance and trim all my trees at least that high. When in the woods I just drive through anything that is too low and break it off. Most the trees in the woods are stretchers anyway - few branches down low. ROPS tend to be annoyingly high. I'd rather see tractors with lower FOPS offered. Would be great of there were options that the buyer could choose from I.e. Fixed ROPS, folding ROPS, FOPS, forestry package!

 

[4570Man]

Mine dont fold, and think it would better if it wasnt offered as an option. All or nothing kind of thing. Trim your tree limbs. If they didnt make the ROPS so d@mn tall they wouldnt have to make them fold to fit in garages. Our BX is fixed, clears under 6'. Our friends newer BX with folding ROPS is nearly a foot taller, and never gets put up. Really dumb.

A folding ROPS is a lot better than a non folding one. If they didn't fold a lot of people would cut them off. Agreed shorter and possibly 4 point would be better.

 

[AchingBack]

If you have your roll bar folded down, be sure your are not wearing your seat belt. If the tractor rolls suddenly, you want to be thrown away from it, not crushed by it.

 

[Wagtail]

If you have your roll bar folded down, be sure your are not wearing your seat belt. If the tractor rolls suddenly, you want to be thrown away from it, not crushed by it.

Good, true standard advice.

Mine has pins to drop it, but I never have... my shed is tall enough to accommodate. Also, where else would I mount my fire-extinguisher, amber 'whoop-whoop' light and (future) work-lights?