Canopy Cab or no cab

[mmmm1178]

I have my tractor picked out that I want to purchase. The L4240 but I cannot decide whether or not to get a cab. I have about 50 acres (15 acres are open and the rest wooded)here in northern NY. I will be plowing a long driveway, firewood removal in the woods, dirt and rock moving, and anything else a typical home owner would do. I know during times of the year I will be loving that cab when we have those - 20 degree wind chills and I'm out doing the drive....I'm just afraid with going down into the woods and getting caught on tree branches and having them come back and crack the glass. I understand I need to be more careful but I'm just really looking for advice and opinions on whether or not I should get a cab since we experience the extreme of all 4 seasons here in northern NY. All advice is welcome since this is my first tractor purchase and I plan to keep this for many, many years.

 

[Earl Ohl]

I have my tractor picked out that I want to purchase. The L4240 but I cannot decide whether or not to get a cab. I have about 50 acres (15 acres are open and the rest wooded)here in northern NY. I will be plowing a long driveway, firewood removal in the woods, dirt and rock moving, and anything else a typical home owner would do. I know during times of the year I will be loving that cab when we have those - 20 degree wind chills and I'm out doing the drive....I'm just afraid with going down into the woods and getting caught on tree branches and having them come back and crack the glass. I understand I need to be more careful but I'm just really looking for advice and opinions on whether or not I should get a cab since we experience the extreme of all 4 seasons here in northern NY. All advice is welcome since this is my first tractor purchase and I plan to keep this for many, many years.

If you're going into the woods then a cab is no good. Unless you do a lot of branch/limb trimming beforehand. For most other uses a cab tractor is great.

 

[TripleR]

There are at least two pretty long threads, one from the general forum and one from John Deere; lots of good reading.

Our primary tractors are a L5030 HSTC and M8540 HDC. Until recently we kept an open station Massey Ferguson around for woods work, but used it so seldom, we have moved it to another farm.

We have lost a light or two and have some scratches, but can usually maneuver through without contact and if not, there is always the chain saw and pole pruner.

For us a cab is the only way to go and we don't worry about a few scratches; beats a gazillion mosquito bites, ticks, bee stings, being covered in dirt and daily doses of Claritin D.

 

[bigbull338]

if your going tobe in thick heavy woods then get an open station tractor.because if you take a cab tractor in the woods you can do some heavy damage to the cab.

 

[electrarc]

I have my tractor picked out that I want to purchase. The L4240 but I cannot decide whether or not to get a cab. I have about 50 acres (15 acres are open and the rest wooded)here in northern NY. I will be plowing a long driveway, firewood removal in the woods, dirt and rock moving, and anything else a typical home owner would do. I know during times of the year I will be loving that cab when we have those - 20 degree wind chills and I'm out doing the drive....I'm just afraid with going down into the woods and getting caught on tree branches and having them come back and crack the glass. I understand I need to be more careful but I'm just really looking for advice and opinions on whether or not I should get a cab since we experience the extreme of all 4 seasons here in northern NY. All advice is welcome since this is my first tractor purchase and I plan to keep this for many, many years.

My new tractor has a cab. I find that there are days that I would not want to go out on the old open station tractor in the wind and cold. But with a cab no problem.

Here in Aust (QLD) we do not have a very cold winter (2.5 C) and I am using the A/C due to the amount of glass. My neighbor just got a new tractor with a cab and he is also using the AC in winter.

We are both asking ourselves the same question, will the A/C handle the 38 degree C summer with 99% humidity or will we be taking the doors off?

 

[savageactor7]

Unless you're a farmer that's working a tractor for 6- 8 hrs at a time I don't think a cab adds to productivity...just mho.

 

[MHarryE]

I had an open platform L3710 for 8 years and in May traded it for a L5740 HSTC. Last winter finally firmed the decision - moving snow in 10,20 below weather (real temp, not wind chill) helped me to convince my wife. The only problem I have really had in the woods is the mirrors getting folded back because I forget to swing them in. The glass is actually nice since I no longer am being swatted by branches. I expect the hit to break cab glass would knock you out on an open platform. You don't get the cold temperatures in NY that I get here in NE MN, but I expect you have more snow to move. That cab will sure be nice.

 

[ehchvac]

hate cabs in the summer,
love cabs in the winter.
i have had them both ways.
this time around i got a soft cab.
keeps the wind off of you in the winter, rolls up out of the way in the summer.

 

[Dargo]

Unless you're a farmer that's working a tractor for 6- 8 hrs at a time I don't think a cab adds to productivity...just mho.

As noted in other similar threads, this sort of comment is only made from people who have never had cabs. Spent most of my life with open tractors. After buying my first tractor with a cab, no way in heck, regardless of the conditions, would I ever even remotely consider an open tractor again. Productivity goes up ten fold or more for the occasional user. For example, if I don't plan on changing clothes and taking a shower would I ever hop on my tractor and mow an area that looks particularly bad, move that pile of debris, till a garden for the wife etc.? No, nobody would. With a cab, you can do whatever you want and then go on about your business without being covered with dust, dirt, mud and you won't have all those bug bites.

I can do the "Ben Franklin" method and make two lists; one with the benefits of a cab and the other of the drawbacks of a cab. The list will be about 100 to 1 in favor of having a cab.

 

[aczlan]

For example, if I don't plan on changing clothes and taking a shower would I ever hop on my tractor and mow an area that looks particularly bad, move that pile of debris, till a garden for the wife etc.? No, nobody would. With a cab, you can do whatever you want and then go on about your business without being covered with dust, dirt, mud and you won't have all those bug bites.

I have several places and methods of removign snow:
1. Inlaws with BX2660, power angle blade and cab - I have to put on a jacket and a hat until it warms up, then I just need a long sleeve shirt
2. Inlaws with open station B7500 and loader - Bundle up depending on the outside temps
3. Hotel with walk-behind snowblower - Bundle up (carhart overalls, jacket, stocking cap, gloves and a scarf
4. Hotel with a Cub Cadet GT3200 with a cab and power lift blade or snowblower - Cab is not here yet, but nothing more than a coat, hat and gloves should be needed.

Guess how I would move snow given the choice?

Aaron Z

 

[JimP]

I moved snow in New England for a few years in a small open station B2410. Thermal underwear, jackets, ski pants, hats and gloves and I was still cold and wet by the time I was done. Last year I went to a cabbed 5240. In the worst winter we have had in decades I was plowing snow for 8-10 hours in a tee shirt. This summer I was raking a newly cleared area with the AC on while watching dust floating around outside. I would never go back to just an open station machine.

The 5240 is much wider and taller than the 2410 so when I go into the woods I have to be careful and take it slow. So far I haven't broken anything. I am using the chainsaw/polesaw to widen and raise the trails to make working in the woods easier

 

[mmmm1178]

Hey guys...I really appreciate all the feedback. In some cases the cab would not be needed but seems in most it would be a nice feature. What about the options for the side and rear defogger...are they even necessary? What about the rear wiper....necessary or dont bother? Again I appreciate the help from everyone.

 

[512high]

hi mmmmm,

i bought a 2006 L-4330hstc last winter fro snow removal only, i live 40 miles north of Boston. I have ac/heat/stereo, rear wiper, rear defroster. the rear wiper/defroster came in very handy, as for the sides i had no problems, as long as i adjusted the heat flow downward, etc. good luck with your purchase!

 

[WilliamBos]

Get the cab. Coming from never having one, to having one, don't miss not having one.

You can walk ahead, or trim your way into the bush. Even with out a cab, I would do that anyway. Who wants they're face scratched by branches, or even worse.

Plus heat and AC rule.

 

[TripleR]

Hey guys...I really appreciate all the feedback. In some cases the cab would not be needed but seems in most it would be a nice feature. What about the options for the side and rear defogger...are they even necessary? What about the rear wiper....necessary or dont bother? Again I appreciate the help from everyone.

I just sent you some links to old threads. I don't have a rear window wiper on either tractor, but sure wish I did and I would also get the defogger.

 

[Rockgod]

I have my tractor picked out that I want to purchase. The L4240 but I cannot decide whether or not to get a cab. I have about 50 acres (15 acres are open and the rest wooded)here in northern NY. I will be plowing a long driveway, firewood removal in the woods, dirt and rock moving, and anything else a typical home owner would do. I know during times of the year I will be loving that cab when we have those - 20 degree wind chills and I'm out doing the drive....I'm just afraid with going down into the woods and getting caught on tree branches and having them come back and crack the glass. I understand I need to be more careful but I'm just really looking for advice and opinions on whether or not I should get a cab since we experience the extreme of all 4 seasons here in northern NY. All advice is welcome since this is my first tractor purchase and I plan to keep this for many, many years.

The fact that you are seriously thinking about getting a cab tells me you should get one! I'm someone who thought about a cab, bought an OS instead then regretted it.

I have a cab now but I also took the long way around. A very costly mistake. My advice would be to do it right the first time

I should have took a photo of all the bugs that attached themselves to the cab windows yesterday while I was out brush hogging. That alone might have convinced you

 

[JimP]

Hmm. The grand L cabs have a lot of adjustment in the vents. I don't have quarter window defoggers and I never had much problem with the rear quarter windows fogging. I used the rear window defogger a few times, nice but not required. Rear wiper is useful if it is raining or snowing or dusty.

Front and rear work lights are very useful when plowing in the dark as the headlights are useless with a plow. Have the rear tires set wide if you want to use chains. Other options I found useful: loaded rear tires, the 824 loader is strong and the rear end on the Ls is light even with weight on the three point; skid steer quick attach (!); front loader hydraulic controls for plow or grapple (but some people seem to have problems with the Kubota setup sticking); as many rear hydraulic circuits as affordable; a float detent for one rear hydraulic circuit. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[nybirdman]

My first new tractor was a L3130 HST,used it for 4 years.Primary was for snow removal,food plots etc.Like the tractor but traded for a L4240HSTC..like it alot.For my use the cab is great...snow,rain,heat ,bugs.Yes you will flop the mirrors back and put a few scratches in it but all in all the cab is the way to go.I am in Northern NY,right on the border..it gets plenty cold and a fair amount of snow.
Buy a pole saw and clear your woods roads.

 

[Kyle241]

To answer your first question about cab or no cab, I think you need to think about what type of work you will be doing in the woods. The cab is nice, no question about it and you will love it plowing snow and cutting grass/fields. In the woods however, hopefully you already have trails built and all you need to do is some limbing, you'll be fine with the cab. If however you are making trails with your new tractor, you will likely run into some branches and depending on things could do damage to the cab. It really depends on how you operate in the woods. For example, I for one go to the tree I am cutting down and do not haul it out by hand to the tractor nor have a winch. This means I go in between trees constantly and I don't have the time to limb every tree. If however you have a winch or are planning to carry out your firewood then you can leave your tractor with cab on the trail.

Personally I would love a cab for the winter but with the work I do which includes a lot of bush work, I would break a window or two and that is why I will not buy one. This is my situation only, you need to consider what you are planning to do with the tractor and how you operated in the bush.

 

[Dargo]

Personally I would love a cab for the winter but with the work I do which includes a lot of bush work, I would break a window or two and that is why I will not buy one. This is my situation only, you need to consider what you are planning to do with the tractor and how you operated in the bush.

Question; do you often break hoods and fenders? If your answer is yes, then I'd agree with you. However, since 80% or more of my tractor work if heavy brush clearing and bush hogging along with clearing trails through the woods and I have a cab tractor, I can tell you that the 'breaking a cab window' is highly overstated. It's a total joy to not get shredded by thorns or having a zillion bug bites while working in the bush.