Anybody taken off their ROPS?

Ledgemere Farm · Mar 12, 2004

I don't wear my seatbelt, so what good is the ROPS? Might as well take it off to get around better through the woods...

AndyM · Mar 12, 2004

Let the fireworks begin... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

BillyP · Mar 12, 2004

It's a free country and you're a grown man. I wouldn't let anyone else drive it though /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bird · Mar 12, 2004

I like the ROPS, wear the seatbelt, and wouldn't recommend anyone do differently; however, I'll bet your manual (as with most of them) says the ROPS and seatbelt go together. You don't want to use either one without the other. So . . ., if you just ain't gonna use the seatbelt, then you're probably better off removing the ROPS. Just be sure your life insurance is paid up, your will is up-to-date, and your family knows what kind of funeral arrangements you prefer. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

KubotaSteve · Mar 12, 2004

Does anybody ride around with a loaded pistol stuck in their mouth?? Both questions sound like a suicide cry to me!!!

NIXON · Mar 12, 2004

I yooth to ride wff a loade pusto ia mouff . But it went off an hert ma errs . Thankfully it only hit ma brane ! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Now I only need a tooth brush , not a teeth brush ! John

rtimgray · Mar 12, 2004

I have taken off my ROPS on occasion so that I can drive the tractor into a low barn while hauling in tobacco. I have little to no fear of rollover while operating the tractor. I have operated way more hours on a tractor without a ROPS than one with a ROPS. I have no problems with either one. Often, I forget to wear my seatbelt when operating a tractor with a ROPS. I also have no problem drilling, bolting, cutting, welding on my ROPS, content with the conclusion that if it fails it is my doing and that if I trade it in it will be subject to markdown because of such and if I sell it outright it will be without the ROPS.

There is also no doubt in my mind whatsoever that ROPS combined with seatbelts drastically reduce the risk of injury and fatality in the event of accident/rollover. The risk of rollover is probably one of the largest risks for a tractor operator. It could also offer some protection in the event of driving into a ditch/sinkhole etc by keeping your body on the tractor and in a relatively protecting environment (under the rops/between the fenders/in front of the steering wheel and out from beneath the tires/wheels of the tractor).

In short, I would say you face only a minor increase in the danger of operating a tractor by riding without the seatbelt or ROPS, but an increased danger all the same. Is it worth the risk....that is for you to decide. I would not personally lose a lot of sleep over it, because as mentioned earlier, you are a grown man (I guess) and can make your own decisions. ROPS or not, just take care during the operation of your equipment.

JayC · Mar 12, 2004

Do you plan on drilling it later on? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

thcri · Mar 12, 2004

I think you guys are missing the point of the ROPS. You see it is there specifically to keep the garage door people in business. In my case I had to spend a couple hundred bucks replacing panels because my door was coming down as I was backing in. If the ROPS wasn't there it would have hit my head and knocked some sense in me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Another reason it is there is so when you drive too far in a lake it helps your tractor float by keeping air in it. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

In Henro's case it would not work as he has drilled holes in his thus letting the air out and filling up with water.

Someone just had to start another ROPS thread didn't they /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

murph