DIY Canopy.

[scootr]

I need a sombrero style canopy here in southern CA. We have lots of sun.
Rops is 44" wide on the MX5200 and I need 60" in front of the rops and I would not mind a few inches behind it too.
I've seen a few here and on google. I wanted to ask members to show off their handy work before I got started.
One reason for the DIY is I have only 3 " clearance to get into the barn, which is a must. And 2 is $400-1000.00 for a small square of shade ! AYKM ? lol
I'm thinking of purchasing a sheet of Aluminum and welding up some supports. Buddy has a big break so I can bend the sides down on the metal top. Beyond this I have no plans.
Fan kits? Lights? yea it all sounds good.
Show us what you got. And thank you for having me here. I look forward to your knowledge

 

[old and tired]

Bolt on canopy using a golf cart top onto an old standard L2800

Sorry the photos uploaded backwards.... So when I started this project I thought I would be welding up brackets. As I progress and figured out how to fabricate and assemble it, bolting it all together was simpler and easier. I did cut and drilled metal to attach it all together. Will see...

www.tractorbynet.com

mine... find a golf cart top that will fit and build it under your ROPs

 

[Root Cause]

Hustle 2 cheap sets of bed rails on C'list.
Get enough to build the frame and the supports.

With that low profile, you can hustle what material you can find.
I would think you could come out under $150 with a little patience.
If your friend has a brake, then he probably has all you need to finish it.
Good luck.

 

[5030]

Should have just ponied up for a cab tractor with climate control....

 

[rScotty]

I used one of these from the JD dealer. They still make them, surprisingly good quality & price.

 

[Doorman63]

$50 golf cart canopy
Scrap 3/4” EMT
3” square u bolts
Misc fasteners

 

[scootr]

Nice job old&tired. I have access to a golf cart roof. Like your under the rops installation. I have a height restriction and that would be a good solution.
Saw a tractor on CL with a street sign canopy. That got me thinking a piece of aluminum with the sides bent over 20º for a few extra inches of shade

 

[2manyrocks]

I used a thick piece of aluminum for my L2501 canopy top because that's what I had.

My worst mistake was I only have attachment points for the aluminum top at the four corners of the frame. It rattles when I go over bumps. I'd recommend having several attachment points and maybe consider some sort of cushioning between the aluminum sheet and your frame.

One thing you want to avoid is having any sharp edges on the underside that you could cut your head when getting on/off your tractor or cut you in the event of a rollover. I don't know what clearances you have to work with. I'd built it with the mindset that if the tractor flipped, is the canopy going to hurt me and how can I avoid that?

The other consideration is aluminum is relatively soft and can be torn by branches. So if you have an unsupported portion of aluminum that a branch could snag, it might tear. This is why my top is flush with the metal tube frame.

My canopy top ended up being so wide in proportion to the operator's station that it doesn't matter that the top is flush with the frame.

 

[scootr]

2manyrocks - could be the name of my place too.
In that case you should be wearing a 5 point harness.
Good advice, multiple attachment points and some rubber material in those attachments.

 

[Mrsig]

I use the Rhinohide Canopy it is fully adjustable. You can set it up under or over your ROPS.
Tractor Canopy - Rhinohide Canopies

 

[2manyrocks]

Nice, rounded edges and looks like you can still fold your ROPS.

 

[can do]

I need a sombrero style canopy here in southern CA. We have lots of sun.
Rops is 44" wide on the MX5200 and I need 60" in front of the rops and I would not mind a few inches behind it too.
I've seen a few here and on google. I wanted to ask members to show off their handy work before I got started.
One reason for the DIY is I have only 3 " clearance to get into the barn, which is a must. And 2 is $400-1000.00 for a small square of shade ! AYKM ? lol
I'm thinking of purchasing a sheet of Aluminum and welding up some supports. Buddy has a big break so I can bend the sides down on the metal top. Beyond this I have no plans.
Fan kits? Lights? yea it all sounds good.
Show us what you got. And thank you for having me here. I look forward to your knowledge

If You go to ( Customization ) here on TBN there are quite a few post on doing a golf cart canopy ( Custom tractor Canopy ) Feb.19th 2021 page 3 , I posted quite a few pictures of my installation if this will help.

 

[redman135]

Scootr, weather you go for a metal or plactic roof, lay a bead of silicone along the top of the frame to take out the vibration. This will stop to bolt holes fatiguing out, and also stop the drives- you - nuts, buzzing of metal on metal/plastic.
Also I recommend that you put a rolled or folded edge on your roof (sides) as sooner or later you will hit your head. A 2nd advantage is the rain will drain to the front or back and not drip off the side and down your trousers.

 

[Greygoose]

50.00 Golf cart top.Scrap steel brackets I welded myself and painted.
SO MUCH cooler in the Florida sun-wouldn't be without it.

 

[Greygoose]

Golf Cart canopy-50 bucks. Hardware / scrap metal for the mounting braces I had laying around was free. A little welding up the braces and bolted right on. Just bought the tractor new a few weeks ago (TYM 394) and did the canopy project within hours of owning the machine and would NOT be without one here in the Florida sun!!

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Yep, $50 golf cart top was the ticket here..... I was able to get the mounting hardware too, for that price!

I had the 2" square tube laying around, so made "slip in" mounts, so I can lift it off if needed. Just pull 2 pins.

 

[2manyrocks]

A pair of U bolts on each side seems to be the defacto way of mounting a DIY canopy to ROPS. I wish the tractor manufacturers would weld on slip tubes or some other mounting options directly from the factory.

 

[Greygoose]

A pair of U bolts on each side seems to be the defacto way of mounting a DIY canopy to ROPS. I wish the tractor manufacturers would weld on slip tubes or some other mounting options directly from the factory.

Nah,they couldn't sell you their 850.00 canopy that way.....

 

[HayFarmer]

I made this from old banner vinyl (from the printshop I work for) and 3/4 EMT. The clips are 3/4 PVC with 1/3 cut out of them. The bow in the middle keeps it from flapping. The soft material doesn't reflect sound as much as my fiberglass canopy on the middle tractor does. The Compression fittings are so when I bend it, I can easily fix it. Limbs have trashed it 3 times!

 

[Fixastuff]

I use the Rhinohide Canopy it is fully adjustable. You can set it up under or over your ROPS.
Tractor Canopy - Rhinohide Canopies
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