Home made roll bar

[flyingdutch16]

Hey guys,

I finally purchased my zero turn mower today, and im going to pick up tomorrow. Its a badboy 5000zt 2010 has around 178 hrs on it. Runs very well and stuff

Now my dad wants me to get a roll bar on the mower, because he thinks i will flip over when im mowing the hill behind our house. Now the badboy doesent make roll bars for this specific type. Only for their commercials not home owner. Do you guys have any good tips on how to make one.

My dad was thinking of some round piping and welding that together and bolting it to the mower. Some just strong enough to prevent the mower to roll over. But the piping is obviously not strong enough to with stand any denting.

Hope you guys can help me out!

Heres a picture of the original badboy roll over protection.

Thanks,

 

[David Devuono]

How steep are the sidehills on your property. That thing looks like it has a very low centre of gravity and at 800 lbs I would guess a side slope capability that will scare you long before it gets dangerous. If you make a roll bar, will you ever put it in an enclosed trailer? as you will need a folding ROPS. For me, I would build a canopy into it to keep the sun off your head. Use 1.5 inch tubing, with 1/8 inch wall. Weld the top at 90 degrees and follow up with a brace on a 45 degree angle at least 6 inches down. (unless you know some one with a tubing bender, not to be confused with a pipe bender). In this video you can see what I am talking about on the bar though I did bit more then 90 degrees+ brace.

YouTube - Unimog S404

 

[kencunningham]

Use schedule 40 pipe, in whatever size you think is right. You friendly local pipe distributor will have butt weld 90 elbows that you can use to make the corners. Of course you could thread the ends and use screwed elbows, but the welded 90's will look much better.