TEN Affordable Tractor Modifications that Make My Life Easier!

[@stevegraham3817]

The first modification you should do is put the ROPS up. Roll Over Protection System for those playing along at home.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Heard that before. Spent my life as a roofer. That make ROPS look like J walking so to each their own.

[@stevegraham3817]

@@upinsmokefirewood Not for you, for the young fella with the limited experience.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

@@stevegraham3817 👍

[@Asimplelife1]

I’m more concerned with drilling in the loader arms than the ROPS being down. Love the chain storage tube. I’ll be stealing that idea! New sub!

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Welcome aboard!

[@russrussell4097]

Wonderful, easy to do add-ons video. Especially liked chainsaw holder idea. Amazing video, please make more if you can.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks so much!

[@livefreeordie1]

The number one mod in my opinion is liquid ballast in the rear tires. Each of my rears (Kubota L3940) has about 475 lbs of washer fluid. It makes the tractor safer, and turns it into a different animal as far as stability and putting power to the ground. Plus, my grandfather was killed in a tractor rollover accident, so stability is key for me in the hills of Tennessee.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I have Rim guard in that tractor. Wouldn't run one without it! Wonder what it smells like if you pop a tire LOL!

[@tennray]

Sorry for your loss, in Middle Tennessee here. Neighbor had tractor roll same happened. Keep that roll bar up. Saw some move ins other day from Ohio and one waved me down . Her husband on tractor with roll bar down I mentioned what can happen. He started using roll bar even put on seatbelt after getting up on 2 wheels that day.

[@RimGuardBallast]

​@@upinsmokefirewood Rim Guard has an 'earthy' smell, one of many great attributes in our all-natural product!

[@vdub1959]

@@RimGuardBallastsmells like a salad bar… 🤣

[@geno929]

Nothing better than simple, cheap and easy mods! Good Job! Thanks.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks!

[@SuperFunny65]

Cool upgrades. Going to check out the pvc chain holder. Would like to get my chain out of the cab.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks!

[@Darenator1]

About the steering nob. As a kid in the 70's my dad called that a "necking nob". He had one on his chopped and channeled Ford Coup when he was in high Scool in 1950

[@upinsmokefirewood]

That's funny. Your like the 4th person to call it that. I think I'm going to adopt that into my vocab! Thanks for watching.

[@chigray3662]

Good ideas, The pvc chain holder is amamazing. So amazing Kubota offers one now but at a kubota price. I personally wouldn't drill into my loader arms but otherwise solid.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks!

[@EverythingElliott]

Excellent work! I'm going to steal that saw haul idea from you...always thought of making one, the cutting board is a great idea!

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@davidedwards3734]

I like the saw holster, I try to carry 2 saws everywhere i go, yes I pinch my bars!!!! Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Ha! We've all done it!

[@hhazelhoff1363]

A must have for any tractor is a third functional hydraulic up front for a grapple bucket. Best implements ever

[@upinsmokefirewood]

For sure. I don't use mine as much as I'd like but when I have allot of brush or logs to buck there is nothing better! Big fan of the clam shell style.

[@toddsoutsideagain]

Some really cool upgrades! Good stuff Steve! Thanks for sharing👊🏻

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks for watching!

[@toldt]

Here's a free modification - put up your ROPS. It could save your life (or that of your kid).

[@upinsmokefirewood]

He's short

[@_B_K_]

@@upinsmokefirewood He's also not wearing his seatbelt, so that's probably the biggest issue here.

[@LandFather]

Moving trailers with tractors is a simple joy of life. Great video. Just found your channel. New sub!

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I agree! Good to have you!

[@outdoorsinthe608]

Very cool! I might have to get a cup holder for the splitter! Thanks Steve👍👍

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@peewee.3138]

Everyone needs a Gavin!

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I could go either way LOL! Needs to get his license!

[@bikerhighmiler8998]

My grandson Shane is so helpful for me..!!

[@jwm6314]

Love most of this. Subbed

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Welcome aboard!

[@1833marine]

I Love Gadgets. all these upgrades are Great Ideas!. I already had the magnetic cup holder, worked perfectly inside fender on my MM M602

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Awesome! I don't know why I didn't have one sooner!

[@billnolin9423]

I like the shovel holder I'm going to buy some of those. Nice video

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks 👍

[@SpicerDesignsLLC]

Great video and editing

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Machine!

[@MyClutteredGarage]

Nicely done 👍

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks 👍

[@redtailwoods]

Ok, some awesome ideas here! Ordering a cup holder, and heading out to see if a PVC pipe will fit in my loader.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

No better way to spend the day LOL!

[@DanielAtkinsFirewood]

The magnetic bottle holder is an AWSOME idea..

[@upinsmokefirewood]

When I first read this I thought it said "magic bottle holder" that would have been far more interesting! Thanks for watching Daniel!

[@projectswithjw]

Great job on the video.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks for the visit

[@TheShalomstead]

Nice tractor brother! I just picked up the same model for myself as my first machine as well. Simultaneously the most expensive thing and my most favorite thing I have ever purchased.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Nice 👍 I really like mine!

[@frankwrogg2515]

Thanks for sharing

[@upinsmokefirewood]

My pleasure

[@PeeWeeHenson]

NICE PLACE YOU HAVE.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks for visiting!

[@danielb1877]

Chainsaw holder is nice. I need to make the chain holder, too... often gets left behind in the barn because I don't want to lose it because I hang it from my quick hitch often.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Since I made this I find it hard to remember it's on the tractor. Left my saw out in the rain. Can't win either way LOL

[@_B_K_]

Number one mod would be to use that ROPS.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Man I hear ya but I've spent my adult life as a roofer and concrete before that. Now I play with chain saws for fun. My father before me as well. I have broken every bone in my body and I've lost count of the stitches. As my father says, there is not an industrial accident short of death that I have not experienced. That ROPS have a very small threat compared to the life I've lived. I don't care to poke the Lion but it kind of seems like a smoker taking vitamins to improve their health instead of quiting. Thanks for watching.

[@_B_K_]

@@upinsmokefirewood I mean, it's right there on your tractor, why not use it? I've had near-death experiences myself and it seems strange not to use something so simple to reduce that number. Up to you, but too bad you're teaching unsafe habits to your kid, though -- it just takes one time and there's no going back.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

@@_B_K_ Well it doesn't fit in it's home with it up, the bar is still above head height when folded down and is truly to keep the tractor from rolling repeatedly over top of you if it flips and with it half up I believe it would do that job. Gavin is not my kid not that makes his safety less important but I have grown kids who have been through my "tractor training program" and lived to tell the tale. That young man on the tractor races dirt bikes when he isn't working with me and that is 100 times the safety concern that the tractor is. If it ever lives outside I'll put the bar up.

[@_B_K_]

@@upinsmokefirewood I store mine inside garage every time I use it and have to deal with the same thing (put up and down each time), until I get a proper barn... to each is own I guess. Dirt biking can definitely be brutal (I got a concussion about ten years ago from trying to clear a double and not standing up all the way, so I got thrown off -- cracked my helmet), but it's nothing like a tractor landing on top of you. Good luck.

[@TwinCityFirewood]

Great video!! And great mods!! I especially like the last upgrade!! 👊🏻🔥🪵

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Yessir!

[@welshhomestead]

Great video. Does the PVC tube chain holder work its way loose (comes out the side) over time ?

[@upinsmokefirewood]

so far it hasn't

[@terryk3118]

Enjoyed the video! Don't worry about the tractor - he'll be back in time for dinner. Wanted to see some more of your videos, but when I search youtube, all I get is suggestions for the Cheech and Chong movie! Anyway, I've subscribed and looking forward to more videos from you.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

He brought it back in one piece LOL! Hard to get a bigger following than Cheech and Chong so might be a while till I get the pole position!

[@zeke1eod]

I love the chainsaw holder but it takes away from ground clearance bad, up here in the mountains I would have to take it off to push stuff

[@upinsmokefirewood]

What mountains are you in? It's lower than the floor boards but way higher than the tractor diffs.

[@sparkyprep3905]

Great video, but I only have one critique. For all who watch, please, NEVER drill holes in your loader arms.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I knew that one would get somewhat of a rise LOL I for sure wouldn't drill very big holes!

[@MW-bz1qe]

U paid for the tractor, do what u want with it !😮

[@Cowsareprime]

Lol John Deere sure doesn’t think that way.

[@negativefishermen9286]

All kinds of holes already in loader arms

[@vdub1959]

I think some of those super strong magnets would have worked too., rather than drillin’ holes. 😂

[@bikerhighmiler8998]

Chainsaw holder is a great idea..im looking for a cutting board.!!!

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Good luck!

[@rikkilee9409]

a holster is good to have

[@upinsmokefirewood]

This is my first one

[@610MARYAM]

♥️

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks!

[@MP-zl1to]

Your steering knob could also be called a necker knob....according to my drivers ed teacher back in the day it was great to have one for steering while necking :)

[@upinsmokefirewood]

That's funny!

[@LexusLane]

@@upinsmokefirewood Ive always heard em called Necker Knobs,

[@steveallen9581]

@@LexusLane I think this is my new favorite improvement. I just need someone to tell my wife LOL!

[@lancefisher8364]

Many of these I've done with my tractors, good suggestions. There is one thing you may want to consider, I try to use a chain that will break before the tractor does, you may want to consider a lighter chain??? Think of it as a fuse😉

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I like that idea. Easier on me as well. I really like a strap or something that doesn't hold energy so if it breaks it doesn't snap back.

[@vdub1959]

Aren’t the bolts on the hooks supposed to shear before the links do? Newbie question…

[@TonyGeneseo]

Ford. John Deere. Just sayin 😂 life would really suck and be no fun if we all had the same stuff !! Take care Steve

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks Tony, good to have options!

[@hightail5313]

where did you get the 3 pt tool bar?

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I got that one at Rural King I believe. Amazon has allot of different ones too.

[@danarmstrong8299]

they sell a bracket that keeps the bar from rolling so it stays level, I didnt know about it when I got mine, hope this saves you an extra trip to the store

[@upinsmokefirewood]

@@danarmstrong8299 Mine is "A" shaped so it uses all three links. Ar you talking about the cast straight one with a bunch of holes in it that goes through the bottom two links only?

[@danarmstrong8299]

@@upinsmokefirewood yes, my neighbor put one on his tractor but i didnt know about the bracket with 2 bolts that keeps it from twisting

[@larrygeran6964]

Congratulations Gavin! The open road is almost yours!

[@upinsmokefirewood]

He's excited!

[@larrygeran6964]

I’m excited for him! Awesome video thank you!

[@tyharland1906]

That safety police are definitely out in full force.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

In deed!

[@anvilsvs]

Three point frame: rather than mount hitch balls weld on a 2" receiver and you can then use any drawbar.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I think some even come that way.

[@anvilsvs]

@@upinsmokefirewood I have seen those for usually outrageous prices. I'm using a frame that came for a boom pole and it also works for hitch receiver without the pole.

[@CVP100]

Just make a carry-all for your 3 point hitch and all your problems will be solved. I would never carry my chainsaw on the side where he had it. More Power to him.....

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I have one at my KY property. I love it but here I pick up my big trailers with the ball on the 3 point and the hitch on the carry all won't handle the weight. I wind up tossing it in the back of the side by side most of the time.

[@rikkilee9409]

hydraulic top link steel cutting edge 1''x6''x72'' and ats easy change all are $200-$250 at your door

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I have a reslo edge on my skidsteer, worth it's weight in gold!

[@kylerayk]

Why would you pull a treetop out of the woods using the loader instead of the drawbar?

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Watch the next video where we pull it out with the draw bar and cut it up! We were testint the hooks I had just installed!

[@stacybelcher8400]

you should really be using the rops to the up position it will save your live, other wise great vidio

[@upinsmokefirewood]

What is it about you people. That is the 50th comment about the rops. I will guarantee 100% that is not how I will die.

[@golfbravowhiskey8669]

I know it's been said above but me being a Kabota dealer for 23 years I could not even take that Tractor in on trade having those loader arms drilled. If I did take it in on trade I could not give top dollar for it as it would have to be sold to a wholesaler and ran through an auction due to safety concerns, you know how insurance works.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

it has been said

[@donaldstrishock3923]

For "Those" who ONLY ever had A "kubogy-tractor"; they Are a Great piece of machinery. As "Fer Us Other ONE's"; they LACK THREE-FOUR "Real Tractor" parts& features.( got one of the "orange 54hp rigs"); and it has Werked flawlessly ever since it got UPGRADED ! The 38cent original factory tool box got Scraped,then it got a RIGHT side Steep,then the hydraulic flow volume ( not pressure) got INCREASED by changing some cheap-small Original-Equipment "Scraponese" fitting& hoses= 40% improvement in Volume-Speed. Then the "Buck-board" Seat got modified also. Then the Loader bucket( of a L1068 loader) got parked Out by the "scrap-heap" ,& substituted with a light-duty After-market Skid-steer-style buck that WORKS 375% BETTER than The "Kubogy" one!!!! Thank you Sir for the Excelent vidio and happy safe tractoring. Best wishes with all your endeavours with that New Shiny Tractor.

[@upinsmokefirewood]

Thanks! Sounds like you've got the bugs worked out!

[@frederickshipp8013]

You like good ole English too I C. LOL

[@lancefisher8364]

RE: Aren’t the bolts on the hooks supposed to shear before the links do? This may be correct if you use grade 2 bolts, but how many of us use grade 5 or 8 bolts?🤔😉

[@upinsmokefirewood]

In a perfect world I wouldn't be doing anything with it near the limit of anything in the set up. Really I prefer a braided synthetic winch line that doesn't hold any energy, is the "weakest link" and simply falls to the ground if it breaks. Something to think about i guess.

[@mariaswaney1493]

How bout using the bucket to shove tree Into woods .

[@upinsmokefirewood]

You could for sure but I like to pull them out and use for firewood!

[@philswords6390]

I didn’t want to agree with the guy chastising about the Rops being lowered, however at end of video there was a ditch that forced me to agree with his comment. Better safe than sorry!

[@upinsmokefirewood]

But here we are LOL. For all the things I've done like 30 years of roofing, motorcycles, chain saws.... Seems like the dangers of the ROPS are very far down on the list, like so far down a fella wouldn't worry about it all.

[@stacybelcher8400]

I have lived the farm lifet for 56 years i have lost many friends, and customers over the years who said the same. I DO HOPE you NEVER LOSE ANY or any FAMiLY but it is your choose not to

[@upinsmokefirewood]

I hear ya. I have been in the roofing industry for 30+ years now. I've only lost one friend to it but several more hurt. I don't like to poke the lion but I don't like to live in fear either. I don't usually think of my recreational hobby stuff at home as the big danger. Something to think about. Thanks for watching.