Cheapie Cab Heater

[Hiltz]

Hey Guys. Ive been needing a little heat for my cab this winter but I really didnt want to spend alot of money and time. Im not in my tractor much in the winter other than clearing alittle snow for me and my neighbors. An hour or two at the most after it snows is all I do. But I need just a little heat to chase the chill.
I came up with this. I bought a small camping heater at Dunhams ($25.00) and built a mounting brackett to attach it to the corner of my cab. Time on the brackett was about 1hr including the paint to dry. The clamps are dryer vent clamps with large "keys" to turn the clamp. Works great and cheap too. Even on the lowest setting cab gets really warm.

 

[jlsmith]

Those are great little heaters. I have one in all my deerstands one in my utv,tractor and a few to take camping when it gets cold.:thumbsup:

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Be aware of the CO danger of a propane heater in an enclosed cab.

Bill

 

[etcallhome]

Be aware of the CO danger of a propane heater in an enclosed cab. GET REAL!!
Our cabs are not air tight !!!!!!!!
I used a Coleman Golf cart type heater for close to 4 yrs. Went through I'm guessing 20 canisters of gas..Been on tractor 10-12 hrs and no health problems.
They do a great job just be careful they do get hot and could burn your hand or arm ..!!

 

[MossRoad]

Just be sure to crack a window. Lots of people use those types of heaters when ice fishing. Every year we read about someone dying in their ice tent when overcome by the fumes from one of those.

 

[Bill Hoffman]

etcallhome,

I was being real.:thumbsup: CO is a real danger that sneaks up on you. All I said was "be aware" Some cabs are much tighter than others. I'd hate to hear about someone dead from CO poisoning.

Bill

 

[Diamondpilot]

Be aware of the CO danger of a propane heater in an enclosed cab. GET REAL!!
Our cabs are not air tight !!!!!!!!
I used a Coleman Golf cart type heater for close to 4 yrs. Went through I'm guessing 20 canisters of gas..Been on tractor 10-12 hrs and no health problems.
They do a great job just be careful they do get hot and could burn your hand or arm ..!!

You get real. I have seen it happen in boats with just camper canvases. You must still be the guy who thinks smoking does not lead to cancer?:confused2::confused2::confused2:

I am not saying it will happen but I have seen it happen with way less enclosure.

Chris

 

[CBW1999]

You do not have to be in an air tight enclosure to build up levels of carbon monoxide. As a medic, I have been to several incidents involving CO including one where the person was sitting in the car, door open with legs outside (resting). Because of the snowbanks/no wind, the CO built up and they succumbed.

Putney Vermont on 1/5/11, several students and faculty exposed to CO in the School and were hospitalized. Can't tell me a large public building is air tight....

Ever wonder why people get sleepy on long car trips? Likely from small exhaust leaks into the passenger compartment.

It is a great idea though- the way this heater is set up. I don't have a cab, so I am wondering if the radiant heat might work for me....My feet always freeze. I may just give it a try.

 

[etcallhome]

No I'm not the one that thinks smoking doesn't cause cancer...
All I'm saying is this !!!!!! With the Original Tractor cab there are enough air leaks plus under the seat all the slots for air to come in.
I don't know about you or the others but while I'm plowing or blowing snow. I'm always opening a door to get on or off the tractor or talking to someone.
Yes these heaters can be dangerous and can make you sick or kill a person. Read that on the box and in the manual....
Some of the homemade cabs may be fitting tighter, rubber seals to keep the air out and what your saying could happen or at least make you sick.
But using it on my tractor for the yrs I did , I never had any problem !!!! Lots of time after the heater was on for 30 min or so I would turn it off or turn my to the lower setting maybe for the rest of time or just leave it off for 15 min and then turn it back on.
In other words using common sense !!!!!!!!!!! Something to many people have forgotten in this country !

 

[ihuntbear]

you should just get an old heater core from a junk yard and install a fan behind it.Much safer:thumbsup:

 

[etcallhome]

I have a regular heater and blower now !!

 

[dixstir]

cab heat!!!! I would no way put one of these is a cab A good friend did and they found him dead ,I also told him not to.

 

[handirifle]

you should just get an old heater core from a junk yard and install a fan behind it.Much safer:thumbsup:

+1 from me on this one. Seems to me the free heat from the engine is the way to go.. Never run out of fuel for the heater either.

I used to work in the heating and AC business, plus a degree in it. Trust me it doesn't take much CO to kill you, and you'll NEVER know it. It first creates euphoria, then puts you to sleep, forever.

 

[etcallhome]

One thing everyone is forgetting your tractor is MOVING fresh AIR is coming in around all the cracks around doors , under seats,, and around the pedals..
Yes if all of these are sealed you could die..
I was doing 10-15 driveways on some of these times up to 3/4 mile away from my home. If someone is creeping along taking a half day to do a 30 min driveway just to stay out of the house away from wife and kids..never getting out of cab you could become sick or die . Read what I read before of getting in and out of cab.
Do at your own risk but I can say I have used this type heater for years it worked great for me , and if my tractor heater blows a heater hose I will put my little heater back in cab and blow snow...
Again use COMMON SENSE.!!!!!!

 

[John47]

CO is deadly, the red cells take on CO readily, in fact "prefer"it to Oxygen!! That's the danger with CO. It takes "parts per million" to kill.
During my apprenticeship many many years ago, we were taught about gasses, I worked in Coal mining, and we had plenty of air, moved by a very large fan on the surface.
CO is a gas produced from incomplete combustion and is ever a danger underground due to spontaneous combustion of coal seams.
It is odorless, colorless and POISONOUS.
Beware, it can get you without you realizing it!! When you start to feel the symptoms, sleepiness, pounding headache, seek medical help!!!
Don't ever get complacent with gas burning heaters.

 

[dogleg]

If you were to cut a small hole in the engine side pannel near the tank on your handy heater and install a small automotive style adjustable vent, you would get plenty of heat.
Just remember to tarp in the sides near the front to cover the side grilles. Let the engine fan do the work. Today it was -20c here and I spent all day on my tractor, an open air Kubota. Just a 12 foot long piece of 3' tarp to direct the heat around me and I was toasty warm, even with the wind. If you go with what you have, just point your mirror at your face. If your lips are turning blue, open your door quickly and get some air.

 

[John47]

CO turns you "pinker" but then it's too late, CO2 gives you a "bluish" hue. But CO2 is only asphyxiating...

 

[CBW1999]

Blue is a sign of lack of oxygen, not a build up of CO or CO2. The cherry red color associated with CO poisoning usually occurs after death.

CO binds with hemoglobin 100 times more easily than oxygen does- and, does not release as oxygen does. Once attached, essentially that red blood cell will no longer carry oxygen.

Measured in PPM, the curve for CO poisoning is quite dramatic. at very low levels, it can take hours to days of exposure to develop symptoms. Very quickly however, as the PPM increases, the time of exposure drops dramatically to become sick- to the point that you can succumb within a few minutes of exposure.

CO has roughly the same density as room air. In the 1980's, in Vermont- 4 out of 5 family members died within the same house from CO exposure. In early 2002, a family sleeping in rooms 20 feet apart were exposed. 2 of the 3 died. there are many variables that affect how "gasses" disperse in any environment.

Even in an open station tractor, with the "tarp" concept to direct heat towards the operator- risks exposure. Any exhaust leakage will be directed around you just as the heat is.

Of course for a simpler explanation- Have you ever "let one fly"....."ripped one out"......"exhausted your own gas"- while on the tractor and been offended by the vapor? Same concept- gas or vapor travels in unique ways and we still get exposed to it.

 

[furnitureguy13]

that's great if you have water cooled engine but what about those of us that have 18-22 HP air cooled engines. I don't suppose you thoght of that!

 

[buickanddeere]

If you were to cut a small hole in the engine side pannel near the tank on your handy heater and install a small automotive style adjustable vent, you would get plenty of heat.
Just remember to tarp in the sides near the front to cover the side grilles. Let the engine fan do the work. Today it was -20c here and I spent all day on my tractor, an open air Kubota. Just a 12 foot long piece of 3' tarp to direct the heat around me and I was toasty warm, even with the wind. If you go with what you have, just point your mirror at your face. If your lips are turning blue, open your door quickly and get some air.

Serious or kidding ?