On Board Tool Box JD 790

[BFPGW]

I sure could use a small tool box mounted to the tractor in a convenient, or not so convenient, spot. I went to the New Holland dealer this weekend to look at rear finish mowers. While there we crowsed the tractors and found tool boxes mounted on the rear. The NH box was pretty cheesy, just plastic and mounted on one small pin.

Anyone have a suggestion on where I can pickup a small tool box to mount on the tractor? I'm only looking to put in it a pair of gloves, a couple spare hitch pins, and the clevis from my Speeco quick hitch (for neighbor's non-quick compatible attachments I borrow). I'd like it to be a "sanitary" looking installation so cobbled home made items are not an option.

 

[RoyJackson]

When I read this post, I had to run out a look at my 790.

There's not a lot of room, but if the box was about the size of a ammo box, one could mount that to a fabricated cross member between the ROPS vertical sections. You'd have to mount the SMV placard on the box.

Also, just visualizing this, there may be some mods required to the top link catch...not sure about that though.

This would also be a good place to stash a water bottle.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'm not really familiar with the rear end of a 790, but I mounted a large tool box (pick up truck box) behind the seat of my tractor. I used the base of the ROPS, and removed 1 bolt from each side, then took a piece of flat steel stock to run from one side of the ROPS base to the other. I did bend the flat stock to lower the toolbox. I drilled holes in the bar stock that lined up with the holes in the base of the ROPS and bolted it into place with the original ROPS bolts. I mounted the tool box on top of that new platform. I glued a SMV emblem to the back of the tool box.

If I had a regular toplink I would have had to have repositioned the toplink hook, but I use a hydraulic top link with quick disconnect so if I need to I can just pop the hydraulic cylinder off, or I can hook the toplink hook to the metal quick attach points to hold it up.

Here is a picture: Toolbox behind the seat

 

[RoyJackson]

That's a good looking set up, Bob. And, rigging the cross member to the ROPS attach bolts seems to be a good idea.
One must consider the length of the bolt and thickness of the cross member, however. Longer bolts may be required to ensure correct thread engagement.

I'm not sure if the 790 has as much room behind the seat as the TC24, but it's sure worth investigating!

I do have a .pdf file (Adobe) of the 790/990 tractors the shows a toolbox one can buy from the Dealer. The way I read it, this is for the 990 machine only. The toolbox mounts on a bracket in the grab handle holes of the fender. This looks like a good location too, for a smaller box. If one goes this route, remember those fenders are pretty thin (1 mm) sheet metal. Also, consider the movement of the loader joystick when mounting a tool box on the fender. If the mounting bracket (from the 990 box) fits the hole spacing, it's probably cheaper to buy one then fabricate one, unless you have all the required tools at home. The bracket could probably be modified to mount a smaller tool box then that shown in the attached file.

I've attached the page from the file. This requires Adobe reader to view it.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green">
That's a good looking set up, Bob. And, rigging the cross member to the ROPS attach bolts seems to be a good idea.
One must consider the length of the bolt and thickness of the cross member, however. Longer bolts may be required to ensure correct thread engagement. </font>



Roy, excellent point about the bolt length, I inserted a fairly thin piece of stock so it was not an issue, but if the bolts are not long enough, it would be important to buy the proper 'grade' bolt to replace the old ones, I'm sure putting in the wrong grade bolt would void a warrenty and could cause a ROPS failure if it was tested in a roll over.

I used the ROPS based because it was the most stable thing I could find for a mounting point that would not be subject to flexing, stress cracks, etc. If that is a possible mounting point on the 790, it would be worth considering. Also my tool box is very large and I'm glad of that fact. I keep mid size pruners in there (a 16" anvil pruner & an 18" bypass pruner) plus some basic tools, plus assorted lynch pins, top link pins, etc. There is also a hatchet, a couple heavy duty tow straps, etc. And there is room for LUNCH should I decide to pack it.

 

[RoyJackson]

I did take a good look at the back of the 790 this morning.

Unfortunately, the ROPS on the 790 is held on by three bolts running horizontally threaded into the rear frame. Although a cross member could be installed with some thought, it wouldn't be a simple job. The cross member would have to run up and over the rock shaft valve and hardware. We 790 owner's would also have to remove the rear wheels to install such a support.

Back to the smaller fender mounted box, I suppose... Or, rig the support higher on the ROPS. That's definitely doable, but I'd probably have to mount a catch hook for the top link to the cross member support.

 

[BFPGW]

Well guys. You've found what I did. It's a nice compact tractor, but putting a box on it will require some creativity. I hate to look like a 3rd grader and wear a backpack while driving the tractor, but that's all I could find room for too. Thanks for the effort. By the way, Bob does have a heckuva tool box on that blue tractor. I'm envious.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I have an idea, but I need to see the back of a 790, could someone post a picture? I think a cross member could be clamped to the ROPS uprights. A tool box could then be bolted to the cross member, or possibly cantalevered off the cross member? It presumes that the ROPS is behind the seat as opposed to being in line with the seat.

 

[RoyJackson]

"I have an idea, but I need to see the back of a 790, could someone post a picture? I think a cross member could be clamped to the ROPS uprights. A tool box could then be bolted to the cross member, or possibly cantilevered off the cross member?"

That's what I was discussing in my first response in this thread.
The seat back is a few inches forward of the ROPS (which is slightly canted aft), so there would be room for a smaller toolbox. Of course, smaller is a relative term.

Doing some quick measurements on the fender and behind the seat, a fender mounted box could be 15" long, 8" wide and maybe 8" deep. That would be large enough for a pair of gloves, a couple small tools and odds and ends (which is what the originator of this thread indicate he wanted).

A tool box mounted as Bob describes could be about 20" long, 8 to 10" wide and 12" deep (or a little more). Of course, if it rested on a cantilevered cross member such as Bob described, it could be considerably wider. Being wider might make rigging implements to the 3PH a bit of a hassle though. A tool box this size could be divided off to carry tow chains.

I normally don't have to carry any tools larger then a 12" adjustable wrench, a pair of gloves and a couple lynch and cotter pins (which I'm always losing).

Bob, I will try to get a picture of the rear of my 790. The cross member would have to set just above the sections of ROPS that bend inboard where it mounts to the tractor. Also, we'd have to consider how to attach it (clamps as Bob mentions, I suppose) without drilling the ROPS.

By the way, Bob...what are the dimensions on your tool box? Is it steel or aluminum?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Roy, not waiting for a photo, would something like this work?