Who's got a Canopy?

[icat]

Who\'s got a Canopy?

When I cut I wear a long sleeve t-shirt and a cowboy hat. But I'm still getting a bit crispy on the neck and face. So, looks like it's time for a canopy. I called the local dealer and he trashed the fiberglass units pretty bad (which is what I thought I wanted). He can get a unit from Wells Ag that is a diamond plateded steel unit for $350. Do any of you have one of these? If so, how do you like it? Does anyone else have a brand they recommend?

I found this on the web...

Looks nice and the price is right ($315 for the painted steel). Delivery is not included though, but they're in Waco which is a couple of hours drive from Houston - so I guess I could go and pick one up. This is a Perry Mfg. unit - anyone have one of these?

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Keith, I've posted the information about my Wells Ag Company canopy many times. I had a choice of the unpainted diamond plate aluminum or the steel painted to match the tractor for the same price of $295 in 1999. I've seen the aluminum; very nice, but I preferred the painted steel, and haven't yet seen a canopy I liked better.

You can find the address of Wells Ag Company in this thread. That address is actually the northbound service road of I-35 just south of FM 308 (north of Waco, of course).

 

[jinman]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Keith, I've never owned a canopy so this is coming from a total source of ignorance, but if you look at your picture in your post, it is clear that the canopy would not block any of the sun at that angle. It looks to me like the canopy would only block the sun when it is nearly directly overhead. Anyone who knows I'm putting out bad information, feel free to correct me, but it still seems to me that a good wide-brim hat with long sleeves and gloves are your best bet for blocking the old sun's rays. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Jim, the picture that Keith posted certainly appears to be much narrower, and on a narrower ROPS, than the one I had. But there's no way that I would want to work on a tractor this time of year without a canopy; a hat, gloves, and long sleeved shirts may block the sun's rays, but they sure won't block the heat like an insulated canopy. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JerryG]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

I have had an aluminum plate WellAg canopy for three years and I really like it. I'm also like Bird, I haven't seen one that I liked better. It has a strong angle iron frame with insulation sandwiched between the angle and diamond plate.

 

[icat]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

I hear ya jnman! I thought the same thing. I did notice just now that the ROPS on the pic I posted is VERY narrow. If you look at the pic of me in my sig, you can see that the ROPS on the 'Bota is MUCH wider. My ROPS curves outward and covers much of the fender area as well. From what I can tell from Perry Mfgs. web site, the canopies are designed to fit the ROPS they go on. So I'll have to assume for now that the unit for my L3130 would be widder.

Bird - after I posted I thought I should have checked the archives first! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I found your posts concerning the Wells Ag units and read them all. Thanks for posting on this oft asked question! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I also saw in the archives where one TBNer had made his own from .125 stock and that the Wells Ag unit is .060. Anyone care to comment? I really don't have anything much to run into on my place (at least I won't once I knock everything down). How does the .060 stock hold up?

The only other thing I think I need to do is mount an air conditioner on the canopy! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif It's WAY hot on the property this time of year! I'm just kidding of course, but we just replaced an AC unit on an RV and it got me to thinking....

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

<font color="blue"> It's WAY hot on the property this time of year! </font>

Texas in summer... The fourth ring of hell! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Keith, I never paid any attention to what gauge metal that canopy was, but I can tell you it's tough! It came with a heavy black molding all the way around the edge, and my brother scraped the molding loose on one side on a tree. I put it back, then I scraped it off on the eaves of the shed on the side of the barn, so that time Ijust removed all of it. Neither time did any damage to the metal or paint. Then later I backed under a big tree limb and bent the right rear edge and that's when I found how tough it really was; I finally managed to straighten it a little bit and it didn't look bad, but I couldn't bend it enough to completely straighten it.

Of course, it's been 4 years so I don't know, only assume, that Wells Ag Company is using the same metal, and if so, you sure don't need anything stronger.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

I think JerryG answered partly for me. What I noticed about the JD canopy on our 5420, is that it has about a 1" thick piece of insulation that provides a radiant barrier. It is hard to believe how much better this works than say a plain old umbrella or any type of metal without an insulator. If the Wells has a good insulator, I'd say buy it. I'd say it needs to be at least 40" wide or more. Watch out for tree limbs. They are known far and wide to take a bite out of the best canopys.
Later...Kyle

 

[monkeybreath]

Re: Who\'s got a Canopy?

Monday at a Kubota dealer, I inquired about availability of a canopy which could be folded down, or easily removed when that became necessary or desirable. The salesman told me that they had those available, they had a foldable frame of some kind and a heavy marine canvas top. I didn't get to see one. However, he said that they were not cheap - he thought about $280.00. If that would suit your purposes you might want to inquire further. If you cannot find those, let me know and I will follow up to get brand name, etc.