Must Tractor ROPS Be So High?

[Little Red Tractor]

My Kubota barely clears...but that's good enough. However, I can rock it back about 30 degrees, and pin it there. It drops it by nearly a foot.

 

[Leejohn]

I would not cut the original one down, if you have the ability built a custom one then you can just replace the original if you want or need to sell the tractor. Just keep in mind that you are sacrificing some of the safety designed for the tractor make sure you know what you are doing

That is what I did on all of mine.

 

[bud70706]

One consideration in buying a CUT is where you're going to store it. There are lots of stories where owners ran into the siding over the garage door. A foldable ROPS works until you forget to fold it down.

So my question is, Could CUT manufacturers design a ROPS that is more garage friendly? (Must they be so tall?)

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The ROPS on my 1025R fits in my shop with no problem. The only time the ROPS on my 3046R is up is when it's in the way of using the back hoe.

 

[bdhsfz6]

If I was concerned about doing damage to the garage, I would mount a piece of PVC pipe as you see at a drive-thru.
I would set it so it hit me in the head just to make sure I noticed it.

The PVC pipe works but I prefer to use a tennis ball. It's easier on the forehead.

I attach the ball to a piece of string that I tie to the lower inside door handle. The ball is just a reminder for me to check the clearance of the tractor and any implements I have installed.

 

[jyoutz]

When fully raised, my ROPS will barely squeak under my garage door. But backing out, it will pucker the bottom lip of the door.

These photos show my ROPS in the second position. Does this look safe to you? It doesn't feel nearly safe to me. But if it's not as safe as fully raised, it makes me wonder why Kubota made that setting available.

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For doing what you are doing. It’s meant to be fully raised while in use.

 

[Reddogs]

One consideration in buying a CUT is where you're going to store it. There are lots of stories where owners ran into the siding over the garage door. A foldable ROPS works until you forget to fold it down.

So my question is, Could CUT manufacturers design a ROPS that is more garage friendly? (Must they be so tall?)

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That was exactly my thought when my JD 790 wouldnt fit in my new garage after I finished it. But then you'ld hit your head every time you stood up and there would be issue on that, and some of the taller people would not be able to use tractors LOL...

 

[RalphVa]

Got mine at the 45 degree position now. Clears door and should be good enough for ROPS.

JDs didn't have this 45 degree position.

 

[Root Cause]

Got mine at the 45 degree position now. Clears door and should be good enough for ROPS.

JDs didn't have this 45 degree position.

Do as you please but for others who want to know, the down position is to clear doors. It isn't an option for some other level of protection.
Not judging you or telling you what to do but rather providing context for those who follow and might think that down is approved by the manufacturer.

 

[ovrszd]

Do as you please but for others who want to know, the down position is to clear doors. It isn't an option for some other level of protection.
Not judging you or telling you what to do but rather providing context for those who follow and might think that down is approved by the manufacturer.

A folded ROPS is no longer a ROPS.

 

[RalphVa]

If they want us to use them, make them low enough to clear normal garage doors.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

If they want us to use them, make them low enough to clear normal garage doors.

Thats why I love a foldable. Really requires minimal effort, once out, once going back in.

 

[RalphVa]

I work with the tractor a lot around low hanging tree limbs that are a problem to fully raised ROPS. Just not practical to keep up fully.

 

[Root Cause]

n

If they want us to use them, make them low enough to clear normal garage doors.

Ok, it has been said many times in this thread so you be the engineer and decide how you want your tractor modified.

Here are the choices:
lower the ground clearance
lower the seat
make humans shorter
shorten ROPS that fails tests to protect the operator
make hitch pins so ROPS fits under doorways

Just what would you choose?

 

[Root Cause]

I work with the tractor a lot around low hanging tree limbs that are a problem to fully raised ROPS. Just not practical to keep up fully.

Got it and I truly hope it works fine for you.

 

[ptsg]

Around 2018 or 2019, I started seeing new tractors being sold with a gas spring assist for the ROPS so I assume it became mandatory for the tractor manufacturers to add a gas spring assist to lift and lower the ROPS here in Europe. I've never really dug much into that. Anyways, the idea was to hopefully make people lifting their ROPS when height is not an issue since there have been so much deathly accidents due to roll overs.

This mostly done on the mid mounted ROPS, since it's a lot more mass to move. I have yet too see the same gas spring assist on rear mounted ROPS though.

In todays world, tractor manufacturers really should just include a gas spring on all types of foldable ROPS. It won't cost them a fortune and I'm sure they have plenty of profit margin.

Here is a picture illustrating what I'm saying. Note the gas spring attached to the ROPS post. From what I've seen, when lifting the ROPS, once it goes over 50-ish degrees, it will pretty much lift itself all the way. Before the 50 degrees, it's still an effortless lift that can easily be done with just one arm.

 

[ovrszd]

Around 2018 or 2019, I started seeing new tractors being sold with a gas spring assist for the ROPS so I assume it became mandatory for the tractor manufacturers to add a gas spring assist to lift and lower the ROPS here in Europe. I've never really dug much into that. Anyways, the idea was to hopefully make people lifting their ROPS when height is not an issue since there have been so much deathly accidents due to roll overs.

This mostly done on the mid mounted ROPS, since it's a lot more mass to move. I have yet too see the same gas spring assist on rear mounted ROPS though.

In todays world, tractor manufacturers really should just include a gas spring on all types of foldable ROPS. It won't cost them a fortune and I'm sure they have plenty of profit margin.

Here is a picture illustrating what I'm saying. Note the gas spring attached to the ROPS post. From what I've seen, when lifting the ROPS, once it goes over 50-ish degrees, it will pretty much lift itself all the way. Before the 50 degrees, it's still an effortless lift that can easily be done with just one arm.

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Psssttt,,,, your ROPS is in the wrong location....

This is truly the first time I've saw a ROPS in that location.

Thanks for posting this Pedro!!!!

 

[JethroB]

Around 2018 or 2019, I started seeing new tractors being sold with a gas spring assist for the ROPS so I assume it became mandatory for the tractor manufacturers to add a gas spring assist to lift and lower the ROPS here in Europe. I've never really dug much into that. Anyways, the idea was to hopefully make people lifting their ROPS when height is not an issue since there have been so much deathly accidents due to roll overs.

This mostly done on the mid mounted ROPS, since it's a lot more mass to move. I have yet too see the same gas spring assist on rear mounted ROPS though.

In todays world, tractor manufacturers really should just include a gas spring on all types of foldable ROPS. It won't cost them a fortune and I'm sure they have plenty of profit margin.

Here is a picture illustrating what I'm saying. Note the gas spring attached to the ROPS post. From what I've seen, when lifting the ROPS, once it goes over 50-ish degrees, it will pretty much lift itself all the way. Before the 50 degrees, it's still an effortless lift that can easily be done with just one arm.

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First time seeing that too. Does the ROPS need to be upright to open the hood?

 

[jyoutz]

If they want us to use them, make them low enough to clear normal garage doors.

Garages are for cars and junk. Sheds and barns are for tractors.

 

[jyoutz]

Got it and I truly hope it works fine for you.

And hope he has no need for Rops protection in the future.

 

[JethroB]

I work with the tractor a lot around low hanging tree limbs that are a problem to fully raised ROPS. Just not practical to keep up fully.

Yeah, lowering cuts down some on the double whack in the head from small limbs. Also the wheelies when passing under a big limb. I tweaked my ROPS early on with a big pecan limb near the tree trunk.