SOFT CANOPY???

[sacmarata]

I'm going to be making my own soft canopy for the Yanmar. I have a good idea of how to make it so the frame will retract into tubing that will be mounted inside the ROPS. The canopy material will collapse and expand as the frame is slid in and out.

The frame will be two very thin 3/16" steel rods paralell to each other on each side of the ROPS. I chose steel over fiberglass because fiberglass has more memory and would require being tied down in the front to keep it from sticking straight up. The steel rods are strong but flexible enough to curve out and over the cab and have little memory so they will stay put, though I worry about bounce.

There will be no gas cylinders, support braces or "structure" other than the 3/16" steel rods and the tubing that holds them in place.

I looked for something similar on the web but couldn't find anything.

Any suggestions to improve my design or pictures of something similar?

I've considered instead of running two rods paralell to each other, using one longer rod that would loop out over the cab, but this option would not retract as far.

 

[Groo]

Why do you want it to be able to retract?

 

[jimgerken]

I am interested in helping refine the concept, but cannot understand it well enough yet. Any drawings available?

 

[BHD]

you may want to consider a tractor umbrella, used one for many years before we had cabs, and most are easily removable or fold down,

We used both the buggy type and the single arm and more of a beach umbrella type, we had the buggy on the tractor and the other on the combine, many company's sell them example below,
Tractor Supply Co. - Enjoy browsing:Tractor Umbrellas, Tops & Covers

I still have the metal parts, of the old JD one we have, not sure if we have the bottom mount any more, https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/document/english/pmac/6206_fb_Umbrellas.htm

 

[jaotguy]

2 collapsible fishing rods ?

 

[sacmarata]

No drawings just in my head. I cant ever get pictures to post either.

I hqve the frame on the tractor and left it on all day. I put about 6 hours on the tractor today and it did just fine. Bounced around a bit but I havent permanently mounted the tubes it will retract into. Once those are mounted and the frame is held by them it should bounce even less.

I lime the 3\16 rods. I angled them downward towards the front if the tractor and many time when I went under limbs it just slid right under and flexed enough to keep from breaking.

I want it to retract because I like getting the sun most days and I just like the flexibility of being able to take it down quickly if needed.

wish I could post pics. It looks pretty legit gonna sew the waterproof fly on it tomorrow.