Cab or no Cab

[vtsnowedin]

Has anybody ever heard of a person who had a cab tractor, sell that tractor to buy one without a cab?

Eddie

Sell one? No. But I do know farmers that have both and prefer the open station when haying and doing other field work for the visibility and to better hear the implement. Of course you need AC about two days a year here up in the hills so Texans are entitled to a completely different view on AC.

 

[TJP89]

Has anybody ever heard of a person who had a cab tractor, sell that tractor to buy one without a cab?

Eddie

Not get rid of, but I think there are a few on here who have picked up a second OOS tractor for various reasons. But nobody completely leaves a Cab and goes to a OOS.

 

[Sysop]

Not get rid of, but I think there are a few on here who have picked up a second OOS tractor for various reasons. But nobody completely leaves a Cab and goes to a OOS.

There are also those who would never own a cabbed tractor to begin with. What is boils down to for me is:

If you can do your work with a cab without working around it, and you can also afford a cab without sacrificing other needed features or quality of implements; a cab is generally the way to go.

If it is going to create additional work or limit what can be done, it's a bad choice.

If it is going to cost you other features or the cost affects the purchase decision of implements to lower cost implements, it is a bad choice.

Primary goal is for the machine to do the work so you don't have to...

 

[charles todd]

I can honestly say the advantages of a cab far outweigh the disadvantages. They do require more care and upkeep. If you are the type of owner that just uses and abuses and doesn't believe in maintenance; then an open station is a better choice. A pole saw is a cab tractor owners friend.

I grew up on and up till October 2014 had only operated old, worn, open station tractors without a canopy. October 2014 I bought a LS P7010C. This was a drastic change! I'm not as old as some of the others giving advice. I'm 34 and this tractor is for our 50 acre hobby farm. Is it excessive? Probably. Do I enjoy it, definitely! In the first week, I ran over a large yellow jacket nest while bush hogging. It was pretty neat watching them hitting the glass and me looking back at them in cool, dustless comfort.



I still use both of them. But which one gets more use??

CT

 

[nybirdman]

We have it covered,one of each.I would never give up my cabbed tractor.

 

[vtsnowedin]

What if you had to choose between an open station with a loader and a cabbed tractor without any loader?

 

[TJP89]

What if you had to choose between an open station with a loader and a cabbed tractor without any loader?

Would depend on use of course, but in my case there is no question, I'd go with the OOS loader tractor. Loader is more important than a Cab.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Would depend on use of course, but in my case there is no question, I'd go with the OOS loader tractor. Loader is more important than a Cab.

I agree. The first function of a tractor was to pull something such as a plow. A mechanical team of horses if you will. The next function was to run a machine by supplying power, first by pulleys and a belt which soon evolved into the PTO shaft. The next function was to lift objects with hydraulics both the 3PH and the loader replacing the man with a shovel. All very useful functions doing work that needed to be done. A Cab just makes the operator more comfortable and actually detracts a bit from the total work a tractor can do on a gallon of fuel.
But more then worth the cost when it is below zero and snowing with a good stiff cross wind.

 

[charles todd]

What if you had to choose between an open station with a loader and a cabbed tractor without any loader?

This is not a question... And is unfair to even assume a cabbed utility tractor has no loader! Open station with the loader wins hands down. Unless you already have a loader tractor, then the cab is the wise choice.

CT

 

[TJP89]

This is not a question... And is unfair to even assume a cabbed utility tractor has no loader! Open station with the loader wins hands down. Unless you already have a loader tractor, then the cab is the wise choice.

CT

Unless you're OOS is small, and you need a bigger tractor for more loader capacity. vt's right. You get a tractor for its function. The cab does not increase function, unless you count the incentive to actually go do something in nasty weather. I would never give up function for a cab.

Let's ask another question. You're looking at 2 Kioti DK45s, equally equipped, both new, and same money (one can dream). If one has a factory cab, and the other doesn't, which would you get?

 

[holzboat]

Let's ask another question. You're looking at 2 Kioti DK45s, equally equipped, both new, and same money (one can dream). If one has a factory cab, and the other doesn't, which would you get?

That's easy. I'd have to take the cab. If I brought that home I'm pretty sure I'd be living in it as soon as the management found out about it.

 

[vtsnowedin]

This is not a question... And is unfair to even assume a cabbed utility tractor has no loader! Open station with the loader wins hands down. Unless you already have a loader tractor, then the cab is the wise choice.

CT

Life is not fair. Lets say you had enough for the base tractor fitted out but only $7K left in your budget. Both the loader and the cab cost $7K. You must choose.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Let's ask another question. You're looking at 2 Kioti DK45s, equally equipped, both new, and same money (one can dream). If one has a factory cab, and the other doesn't, which would you get?

Now who is being unfair? Asking your poor Kioti dealer to sell a cab tractor for the same money as the OS is very unfair.

 

[peterc38]

Let's ask another question. You're looking at 2 Kioti DK45s, equally equipped, both new, and same money (one can dream). If one has a factory cab, and the other doesn't, which would you get?

Hmmmmm, let me ponder this for .0000007 seconds. Yup, made up my mind, I'll take the cab

 

[DABSGT]

. A Cab just makes the operator more comfortable D

And a comfortable operator will be able to work longer with out fatigue or inclement weather.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[vtsnowedin]

And a comfortable operator will be able to work longer with out fatigue or inclement weather.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

Yes but tractor productivity is usually limited by the width and weight of the tool that can be pulled. You can change operators mid day but you can't throw on extra horse power or bigger tires.
Operator comfort and or fatigue is a real factor but usually not the limiting one.

 

[charles todd]

Operator comfort and or fatigue is a real factor but usually not the limiting one.

August... Louisiana... 100+ degrees, 90+% humidity... Daylight till after dark, hayfields, open station tractors without canopies. Discomfort and fatigue set in before you run out of fuel. I'd rather not do it like that anymore.

CT

 

[vtsnowedin]

:hot: I-89 In New Hampshire. Cant see to cant see, 95 in the shade but there ain't no shade.3500 tons of mix at 305 deg F. They don't make cabbed pavers or rollers. I am not going to do that any more!!!

 

[crazyal]

Have both and I still like the open station over the cab. As far as removing limbs goes, that's fine if you only have a few trails you drive on but I log the trees that are in distress for firewood. If each time I did I cut a path so a cab could get there it would double or triple the time it takes. Plus low branches, fallen branches, and ground cover make for a much healthier forest. Lots of small animals need it to live. But my biggest reason for not liking a cab is the type of work I do usually requires me to get in and out (or on and off) the tractor often. I find doors just a pain. If they could be removed on a cut then I would me much more open owning one. Of course I really don't mind the cold weather so snow removal in freezing temps is not an issue for me. Another pain that only cabs have is mice. The dam things love to find the duct work and make nests. Nothing is worse than 100º heat cooking mouse p^ss.

Now if I was plowing a field, brush hogging, or any other type of work where I was going to be exposed to heat, insects, and the other nasty things mother nature will throw at you I would have a cab. If I had a logging winch I also would be more open to having a cab (assuming I could remove the doors). But $5k plus for a cab and another $3k for a winch is quite a bit of money. If I was to buy another tractor it most likely would be a cab.

 

[Professor Marvel]

For me a cab in the woods is a problem. I will probably not get another one for the woods (and most of my property is woods). However, for pushing snow you can't beat it. I have torn off a door and broken 2 windows not to mention the bent cab panels. You start out careful and with each incident you care a little less. Its like a new truck that you use in the woods. If you have 2 or more tractors and are going to be in the woods a lot I would get 1 without a cab.
Also, one more thing to consider is the added effort of climbing around the door and out of the cab each time you adjust the blade angle etc. To me it adds up.
If you are working in the open in the heat, cold or rain they are a great idea.