After market cab for B3200

[CBW1999]

I have seen them available, but has anyone seen or put an aftermarket cab on the 3200?
I've looked at the 3030 and for the additional creature comforts vs the price- i just cannot justify it for my needs.
Really, what I am looking for is shelter and warmth when plowing in the winter. A heater itself is not absolutely needed so much as something to protect me from the high wind and blowing snow.

Any thoughts?

 

[red4now]

CBW1999:

At a recent Kubota dealership opening I attended, a Curtis rep was there and he suggested that they could put a cab on any B model - even the B3030 - mind you a less feature rich model - but more in line what your requirements are.

 

[triumphsp3]

when I bought my b3200, the dealer had one setup with a curtis cab. they said that they send one of the new tractor models to curtis ( only a few towns away ) to prototype the cab.
I was offered the cab at a " fair price " almost $ 4000!!!
I wasn't too crazy about the fit of the cab and the scratches on the fenders. it was mounted to a tlb 3200 at norfolk tractor in mass. maybe they still have it ?
I wonder what a pain it might be for getting the seat turned every time you had to move from bh to fel.

 

[lawn_king]

Ten years ago had a curtis softside cab with heater and front worklights dealer installed on my B7500 for $2500. That was money well spent! The way it stands today, aftermarket cabs cost almost as much as factory?

 

[CBW1999]

The base price on the B3030 with factory cab is 22516.00 The price on the B3200 is 15203.00 (prices off the kubota web site).

So, in theory- the B3200 with aftermarket cab is about 3k less than the B3030.

Kind of a toss up. I believe that the factory installed cab is the better option from the quality standpoint. To save the 3k, I would be spending 4k above the base price of the B3200- without the benefit of a cab that was designed as origional equipment. (sounds weird...)

Is the extra 2 HP worth the sacrefice of OEM? It is a close call. I'll have to think very hard. Even though this will not be purchased for a while.......

Any other points of view?

 

[Ductape]

I'll throw my two cents in, since I was pricing cabs for my B2400 before I bought my B3030. Actually pricing aftermarket cabs IS what made me buy my 3030.

Buying a new 30ish horse B series and then adding an aftermarket cab makes no sense to me. Literally EVERYTHING is an option with the aftermarket cabs. The bare bones price of say, three thousand gets you nothing. No heater, no front work lights, no headliner..... heck, the wiper is probably an add-on you pay for. By the time you add what I think are nessecities, you are priced comparatively to the Kubota factory cab WITH A/C. But just for a minute..... lets leave the A/C out of it. The factory cab was designed and built for the 3030........ not the 3030 plus twenty five other tractors. It doesn't have to fit in front of the ROPS, it IS the ROPS.... making it much roomier than an aftermarket cab. It is mostly glass, and the doors are all glass, giving it excellent visibility. Everything is well laid out, there is no heater box to smack your knee on getting in and out. It is sealed well to keep out dust, drafts,etc. Its quiet..... not Toyota Avalon quiet, but quiet for a tractor. And the factory cab will always hold value...... because these features will be just as desireable to the next owner. If you have an aftermarket cab, you will be lucky to get a few hundred extra dollars for it come trade-in or re-sale time. Its just plain money better spent on the factory cab.

Now..... I'm not trying to bag on aftermarket cabs. I won't own another tractor without a cab in my climate. I certainly commend anyone who puts a cab on their tractor..... especially if you get the snow we get (or more). But...... if you are thinking about buying a NEW B3200 with a Curtis cab over a B3030HSDC to save a thousand dollars, I think you'd be out of your mind. Especially when you factor in the 3030's deluxe features.

 

[NH-Rob]

I would love to have a cab tractor but it would not work well for what I do with it in the summer months. But if I was in the market for a tractor with a cab I would definitaly go with the factory installed one. I have not seen a aftermarket cab that sealed as tight. Factory should also come with a radio.
Rob

 

[lawn_king]

The 3030 factory cab is much nicer than any aftermarket cab. I know this first hand as i owned one before jumping up to the L.

 

[red4now]

Another possible source for B3200 cabs is the Yukon from Sims. Here is a link:

Sims Cab Depot - Kubota Compact Tractor Cab Enclosure - Models: B3200

Even aftermarket products do not seem to be a major savings so the discussion around why not buy a B3030 with a cab instead of putting one on the B3200 do make sense. One of the reasons for my B3200 decision was that I did not ever see the need for a cab for my particular use - way too many trees to worry about - and I understand those lights are not cheap.. ;-)

 

[milkman]

I don't need a new tractor or one bigger than I already have, but if I ever considered a trade up, the only one that comes to mind is the 3030HSTC.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

If resale is a consideration, a factory cab does bascily nothing to help sell a machine... a factory cab you will get your money out of.

 

[mark2610d]

If you elect to go for the aftermarket cab it would be like putting a camper top on your pick-up truck and then calling it a suv.

With aftermarket you get, "no factory air", more dust, more air leaks, no factor fit, less noise control, and no resale value.

Both the truck with camper top and the suv will both give you coverage from the elements but which would be better and more comfortable to travel in?

Don't get me wrong, aftermarket cabs are great for when your model tractor hp range does not have a factory cab option (nothing beats holding back the cold wind snow blowing with it 10 deg outside).

However, if you looking at 30hp range then the factory cab would be miles a head with not much more cost. The factory air alone is worth a extra 1k in my book.

The other day I was mowing and it was 98 deg outside (high humidity) and 62 deg inside cab at seat level.

 

[lawn_king]

I wouldnt say aftermarket adds nothing to resale, i got a few dollars back on my curtis cab, but nothing like you would get for the factory cab. Im amazed at how quiet the new factory cabs are, super quiet, very little vibration and comfortable. Well worth the 5 grand!

 

[WayneB]

I don't need a new tractor or one bigger than I already have, but if I ever considered a trade up, the only one that comes to mind is the 3030HSTC.

If I was in your situation I would hear what Lawn Boy has to say. He has owned a bunch of cab tractors. Number two lives in an area where he has used it when the temps are way down there and the snow is way up there! He makes a living sitting on his tractor and has a bunch of hours inside the cab.

I believe for aftermarket the Curtis Cab has a good name. If one buys the soft side cab the doors come off easily for summer time use. You can get an optional heater and driving lights and I am not sure what else Curtis might have for the aftermarket cabs. The hard side cab doors are much nicer with sliding windows which work nicely if you want to talk to someone, at least you do not have to fling the door open!

Without the heater it will be in the 2000 to 2500 range then you will either have to install it yourself or have someone do it for you.

There are add on cabs that look more like golf cart covers than functioning tractor cabs and some of them sell for as high as $1600.

I have a Femco Weather break with a sun shade type top which works to keep the snow off from me and the heat from the motor does come up into the cab, but with that said it certainly is a poor man's approach to a cab. I am not sure how much I have invested in it, but it would approach $800.

I am looking at a Curtis Cab retrofit for my B-7500 right now and the pricing for a soft sided deluxe is $1500. The hard side is around $2500 (this has the nicer doors and I think better back window shield, but I am not sure) With either the hard or soft side cab you can add a heater unit and also the lights offered by Curtis.

Here is a link to the page I saw the pricing: Curtis Tractor Cabs for Kubota Compact Tractors

 

[kuboman]

If you are so inclined you can install the factory b3030 cab on the b3200. They are the same physical tractor.

 

[WilliamBos]

Is this what you ment to say or did you want to say a non-factory cab does basicly nothing ......??????

I think he meant non.

I vote the factory cab route.

 

[EHR]

Most aftermarket cabs use flat glass whereas a factory cab uses alot of curved glass. The is a huge price difference and the issue of availablity 4 years down the road.

 

[WilliamBos]

Most aftermarket cabs use flat glass whereas a factory cab uses alot of curved glass. The is a huge price difference and the issue of availablity 4 years down the road.

I have only had 1 broken windsheild in 21 years of driving, sorta a moot point.

Most manufacturers do not change their cab glass very often. And support will be there.

 

[EHR]

Sorry, here in New ngland we have small fields with alot of trees on the border. The gentleman with his 80 hp John Deere mowing my field made the comment. He had broken the third drivers door glass and at $1400 he was going to wait until he put the tractor for sale before replacing. The same glass from flat plate instead of curved would be a couple of hundred.

If you search the threads here you will find comments on ten year old Curtiss cab doors not being supported by Curtiss. In the past you will also she post about less than 5 year old curved factory glass not being supported anymore.

No stink fight intended...

 

[WilliamBos]

Sorry, here in New ngland we have small fields with alot of trees on the border. The gentleman with his 80 hp John Deere mowing my field made the comment. He had broken the third drivers door glass and at $1400 he was going to wait until he put the tractor for sale before replacing. The same glass from flat plate instead of curved would be a couple of hundred.

If you search the threads here you will find comments on ten year old Curtiss cab doors not being supported by Curtiss. In the past you will also she post about less than 5 year old curved factory glass not being supported anymore.

No stink fight intended...

LOL. I have no worries. 1500 series has been cabbed for a while, and the 1600 series is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Keeping warm, dry & cool in the summer is
Worth the investment. Not going to lose any sleep worrying.