After 44+ Years It's Time For A New Tractor

[Mountain Man Mike]

Hi guys, after 44+ years my 25 HP rated Kubota L245DT is getting a little old, tired and gray just like me. After almost 75 orbits around that large flaming ball in the sky I'm looking to substantially step up in HP and creature comforts. My first question of many to come is in regards to a cab. Is it worth the cost? I'm aware it will limit my activity in the low canopy treed areas but I can deal with that. Does a cab make it more difficult to change implements by yourself? Will the AC freeze me out of the cab on a 97 degree day doing heavy weed and brush mowing in the full sun. If the AC is set to the coolest temperature and the fan is on high what temperature will the cab get down to? Will the heater keep the cab comfortable in the winter? None of the dealers will quote me any temperature numbers and they remain very vague with their answers. They had no response to my question of how many years I can expect the AC to last. They were not able to tell me if the cab air filters kept all the dust and pollen out of the cab. I have close to a 100 acres of various types of terrain to work in. From very steep hills to level or semi level open fields with weeds and heavy brush to dense treed areas with dirt roads to maintain. So far I have talked to the orange, red and blue dealers with a green one next on my list. These dealers are all within 40 miles of me and they will not even deliver a new tractor to me without charging for transport. They won't even bring out one of their rental units so I can try it out for an hour or two to see how it performs in my conditions. Is that normal or is it just crazy California? I'm looking at tractors in the 40 to 75 HP range. I'm frustrated already!

So guys, please help an old guy out with your opinions, good, bad or indifferent, regarding cabs and the other items I brought up. I know this board has lots of those! Once I decide to go with a cab or an open station then I will have more questions as I proceed.

Thanks in advance!

 

[WM75Guy]

After getting a cabbed tractor I wondered what took me so long. My WM75 has 2 cab filters that keep everything out of the cab. It does good until the outside temp hits 100 degrees and then I can tell it is struggling. Putting tint on the glass would probably help out with that.

 

[duffer]

Ditto on the window tint. They now have a CLEAR window tint that cuts down on UV and heat. I have it on my F150, and the cab is 20°-30° cooler setting out in the direct sun than it was without it. It would definitely aid in your AC capability.

 

[oosik]

I have 80 acres of open range land - a mile long gravel driveway and a forest of ancient Ponderosa pines. Fortunately - I do nothing that creates "the Devils hurricane of dust". Like bush hogging.

I've had two tractors. Ford 1700 for 27 years and now a Kubota M6040. Both were/are open station. Since I don't bush hog or cultivate - open station is my preference.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've had my cabbed tractor almost two years now. Next month will be exactly two years. I ordered it in November when they had a deal that was too good to pass up, and it took that long to get it. I financed $55,600 for it over 7 years at zero percent interest through AGCO. Just five more years of $662 a month until it's paid for.

It's a Massey Ferguson 4707 4x4 with the Deluxe Cab. It has a six speed transmission with a high and low range for total of 12 gearing choices. It has a shuttle shift for going forward and reverse. Air seat, buddy seat, and a very good AC system. They came out with a brand new AC System in 2022 that solved all the issues with the older tractors. On mine, it can be extremely humid and hot out here in East Texas in the Summer, and I never have any trouble with keeping the cab cool. In the Spring, when temps are only 80 degrees out and the humidity is low, it can get too cold in there with the AC on the lowest setting. I just close all the vents except two of them and that seems to work for me. This is very rare, but it has happened.

One of the main reasons for the 4707 is that it doesn't use any Exhaust Fluid, and it does not Regen. My goal was to find the biggest tractor that I could that didn't use DEF. NH and Case don't either, and I think a few other brands don't.

Comparing Massey to the other brands, I felt that I got a heavier, more industrial tractor with more features and less money.

So far my only issue has been the electric clutch. It works, but it's not smooth. Their are a lot of YouTube videos out there on how to calibrate it, and they say it makes it a lot better when you do that, but so far, I haven't bothered to try. The clutch works, but it's not smooth. Instead of using the clutch, I use the shuttle shift. It also works the clutch and is a lot smoother then the foot pedal.

For moving dirt, I felt it was kind of tippy when going downhill. I built a 1,600 pound concrete rear ballast for it and now I'm very comfortable going downhill with a bucket full of dirt. My traction and overall ride has improved to. I probably should of added wheel weights when I bought it, that was a mistake on my part.

I also think it's one of the nicest looking tractors out there!!

 

[nybirdman]

Started with an open station Kubota L3130,liked it but moved to a L4240 HSTC in 2009;no regrets at all.
Year round use,currently have about 1400 hours on it.
A/C works fine in our climate(Norhern NY) have charged the system once(myself) very easy.
We do have a smaller open station for woods work.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Based on your questions, it sounds like you are concerned about, and need, AC and Heat. So, is the cab tractor "worth the cost"? Yes! The heat will work "better" than the AC -- generally speaking. It's much easier to take the chill off on a winter day than it is to cool a big glass box in the blazing sun. Dealers can't give you precise numbers on this because they don't have those stats. Too many variables.

If you take care of it, the tractor will be worth 90% of what you paid for it when you're through with it in another 25 years.

Does it make it harder to hook up implements? Depends on the implement, but it can -- a little. It's harder to reach the 3-point handle on mine to tweak things, but no big deal. Just have to walk around the door and reach in. Some models have a separate 3-point lever at the rear to address this. Models with the extendable lift arms also help with these minor tweaks when you're trying to hook up.

Cabs help keep dust and "stuff" out -- a lot -- but they're not hermetically sealed.

40 - 75 HP is a pretty big range and quite a difference in overall size and weight. You also don't really say what you're using it for. Will you be doing a lot of loader work? Are you planning on getting a FEL?
I'd say definitely get the cab if your work conditions allow it. But you need to define a lot of other variables that are even more basic. (4WD?, FEL, HP needs, tires, hydraulic needs like rear remotes and 3rd function on loader, ballast, transmission type, chores/implements you'll use it for, etc.) Nailing some of this down will narrow the field of candidates.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Get a cab, it makes it a 365 day a year machine, gets you out of the hot and dust. As far as tractors? Your budget and investigate features and size and DEALERS. You'll hopefully find your dream machine.

 

[m7040]

82 this year and mechanizing to make it easier. Bought an M7040 cabbed. Plowing snow after so many years with open station is a treat in shirtsleeves and the AC works great and always keeps up. Can limit some access in areas with trees so just have to careful. Sometimes wish I had a smaller tractor.
70HP and heavy makes it very useful for work. The 50 HP Massey open station is not used much. The excavator is the best thing for lifting digging and helping out around here and being cabbed on very hot days can use it to take down trees or move logs around.
Just got a great log splitter Wolfe Ridge 35 C and the speed and ease is wonderful

 

[chim]

Welcome aboard, Mike!

I'm the same vintage as you. On my 5th tractor now. It's the first one with factory cab that has factory heat and A/C. Had a few open stations and built a nice heated cab for an L3200 around 2012. It was wonderful to have heat and with the the doors off / fan on in hot weather it was OK. Then in 2018 I bought a used L4240HSTC. Absolutely thrilled with it. It's a real treat to be able to hop on the tractor to push snow or mow the yard without needing to change clothes either before or after. On a hot and dusty day I can step out of the tractor just as fresh as I was before starting to mow. To address some of your questions:

Trim low branches for clearance if you must.

I bought a clean used tractor to avoid the most recent DPF, DEF etc. Tier-whatever it is by now. It was a little more money than an open station would have been. Haven't priced new, but I'd spring for the extra regardless.

Swapping implements is about the same for me, and I am a loner with the tractor.. The telescoping lift arms on the cabbed tractor help. The rear window swings up so I can still get a good view of the lift arms and implement.

I haven't been frozen out of the cab on the hottest days, but it's always been cool enough So far I haven't taken a reading of the temp inside the cab. There's a picture below of my thermometer showing a 39.3°F reading on the A/C discharge vent.

There's more than enough heat in Winter. It's not hard to make it too hot even when I do plowing at night. The cab is like a solar panel in daytime to the extent I often run the A/C in Winter with the sun shining.

Not sure how old mine is, but I did replace an expansion valve on the A/C a couple years ago. It wasn't too difficult or expensive (borrowed a vacuum pump). I'm thinking the valve and fix was under $50 (DIY).

I have some allergies and this is the first tractor I could mow with at certain times in the Spring without a case of "lung fung" the next day. The filter must be fairly effective.