1999 JD GT235 w/54" deck; 1999 JD 4100HST w/410 loader; 2014 Grasshopper 930D w/72" deck
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135 Posts
It's always a good idea to have water or other refreshment with you to keep you properly hydrated when you're out working on your tractor. I've got a neoprene sleeve with a carry strap that holds 1 liter bottles, but there's really nowhere to keep it where it's not bouncing all over or getting caught or interfering with climbing on & off, etc., etc.
I've seen some nifty cup holders (bolt on, suction cup, magnetic, etc.) but $30+ is just stupid... especially for a cheapskate like me. LOL.
So I got to thinking about DIY alternatives and came up with this:
![785547]()
Made from a 8" length of schedule 40 PVC pipe and a pipe cap for it. And it isn't just sitting there. It's rigidly mounted; bolted directly to the fender.
I started by relocating the seat belt mount from the fender up onto the ROPS. This gave me 1 dedicated, threaded mounting hole.
![785557]()
There's another 'extra' hole (on each fender) that have rubber plugs in them. For what? I dunno, but I popped out the plug... and now I have 2 holes to mount my cup holder base.
![785558]()
Drilled corresponding holes in the cup holder base and shot both pieces with leftover bedliner spray paint. (I was gonna use either JD green or yellow, but they just want too much, and I wasn't certain it would stick properly to PVC.)
![785559]()
Luckily, I found all the hardware needed to attach the base in my odds 'n' ends bolt/nut/washer cubbies.
![785560]()
The big sleeve just slides down into the cap. (It was already a somewhat snug fit, but the coats of paint on both pieces made it doubly so, and as such I didn't see any need to glue the pipe to the cap with PVC adhesive.) If, for some reason, I have to disassemble or otherwise detail clean it in the future, it'll allow me to take the unit apart.
![785562]()
It doesn't stick out past the fender or interfere with the seat arm, hooking up the seat belt or - most importantly - when using the FEL joystick. It readily holds a 1-liter bottle in a insulated neoprene sleeve, and is very sturdy. Only thing left to do is buy a '99-era JD deer logo and affix it to the side, for a clean OEM look.😎
I've seen some nifty cup holders (bolt on, suction cup, magnetic, etc.) but $30+ is just stupid... especially for a cheapskate like me. LOL.
So I got to thinking about DIY alternatives and came up with this:
Made from a 8" length of schedule 40 PVC pipe and a pipe cap for it. And it isn't just sitting there. It's rigidly mounted; bolted directly to the fender.
I started by relocating the seat belt mount from the fender up onto the ROPS. This gave me 1 dedicated, threaded mounting hole.
There's another 'extra' hole (on each fender) that have rubber plugs in them. For what? I dunno, but I popped out the plug... and now I have 2 holes to mount my cup holder base.
Drilled corresponding holes in the cup holder base and shot both pieces with leftover bedliner spray paint. (I was gonna use either JD green or yellow, but they just want too much, and I wasn't certain it would stick properly to PVC.)
Luckily, I found all the hardware needed to attach the base in my odds 'n' ends bolt/nut/washer cubbies.
The big sleeve just slides down into the cap. (It was already a somewhat snug fit, but the coats of paint on both pieces made it doubly so, and as such I didn't see any need to glue the pipe to the cap with PVC adhesive.) If, for some reason, I have to disassemble or otherwise detail clean it in the future, it'll allow me to take the unit apart.
It doesn't stick out past the fender or interfere with the seat arm, hooking up the seat belt or - most importantly - when using the FEL joystick. It readily holds a 1-liter bottle in a insulated neoprene sleeve, and is very sturdy. Only thing left to do is buy a '99-era JD deer logo and affix it to the side, for a clean OEM look.😎
