chim
Elite Member
Hard to believe it's been 3 years since I built the cab for my L3200. When I finished it one of the guys said it sure would be nice to have a cab for the Montana we use for odds and ends around the facilities. I ordered tube steel and it's been languishing on the rack. Recently the workload in the shop slowed down a bit and allowed them some time to get a start on the Montana cab. The project was given to a new guy who has a gift for going beyond the routine of normal pipe welding. I showed him pictures from my build and said we don't need to add the complexity of angled doors, but to duplicate or improve on the basic design of mine. The fellow definitely has more merit badges in fab work than yours truly and it's really fun to see him working on it.
There is a piece of angle that sits on the ROPS to carry the weight on the rear end of the cab. I think we'll probably add two more pieces outboard of the one that is now there in the center. I picked up a pair of latches like mine. We will use weatherstripping from McMaster Carr, tinted automotive safety glass and a 20,000 BTU heater that uses engine coolant for the heat source. The wiper for this build will be from the rear window of a decommissioned SUV. I already picked up LED work lights for the front and rear, and we have a spare yellow strobe somewhere for the top.
The cab will be made in one piece with lift-off doors. When the weather is warm we can take the doors off. The cab will be removable, but in one piece rather than sections. We have five 5-Ton overhead cranes, so that won't be a problem. The sides will be kept pretty well straight and there is a small added triangle of floor on both sides at the front.
In an effort to give the inside a cleaner look than mine we're thinking about fishing the wiring through the frame to conceal it. There's an advantage being the second or third in a series of similar projects. Although I'm happy with my cab, it would be neat to see the tweaks that would be made by the time we would get to a fourth or fifth build.
There is a piece of angle that sits on the ROPS to carry the weight on the rear end of the cab. I think we'll probably add two more pieces outboard of the one that is now there in the center. I picked up a pair of latches like mine. We will use weatherstripping from McMaster Carr, tinted automotive safety glass and a 20,000 BTU heater that uses engine coolant for the heat source. The wiper for this build will be from the rear window of a decommissioned SUV. I already picked up LED work lights for the front and rear, and we have a spare yellow strobe somewhere for the top.
The cab will be made in one piece with lift-off doors. When the weather is warm we can take the doors off. The cab will be removable, but in one piece rather than sections. We have five 5-Ton overhead cranes, so that won't be a problem. The sides will be kept pretty well straight and there is a small added triangle of floor on both sides at the front.
In an effort to give the inside a cleaner look than mine we're thinking about fishing the wiring through the frame to conceal it. There's an advantage being the second or third in a series of similar projects. Although I'm happy with my cab, it would be neat to see the tweaks that would be made by the time we would get to a fourth or fifth build.
