Cab or no cab?

[Farmer495]

I think cab is generally to way to go, I operate all open stations all year around from haying to snow removal. Dress appropriate and it's tolerable.

Considerations:

1) Can you afford the extra cost including maintenance of extra electrical, climate control and glass etc.
2) Are you spending long periods of time day after day on the tractor in hot sun, pouring rain, blowing wind, snow etc.
3) Do you need the tractor to fit somewhere with low clearance (building, tree limbs etc)
4) Do you need to get on and off frequently (door open and close, gates, chores etc, and IMHO running with door open good way to spend $1500 on a new one)
5) With frequency in getting on and off in mind, do you care about getting the platform, seat and controls dirty.

I use tractor to do livestock chores, I can be up to the tops of my boots in mud & manure with mud on my coveralls and not care about getting on and off the open station because I can hose it off real easy. I could not do that with a cab tractor.

I plan to get a cab next time....to make point 2 more enjoyable, but I will be keeping the open station for points 3,4,5.

 

[LouNY]

Cab all the way, if I'm doing something that requires frequent up and down I leave the door open with either the heat or the AC going.
Mud will wash out I stomp my boots off on the step and scrape the tops under the step.
I can be out in a feed lot covered with mud and manure If it is going to be real bad I toss in a couple of garbage bags to use as seat covers.

 

[RjCorazza]

I'm in the cab camp. I froze on an open station for too many years doing snow plowing. The later years of plowing I was picking up more and more work, so getting out of the weather for hours at a time was a big deal.
I occasionally mow my 6 acres with the cabbed tractor when I want to stay cool and listen to Abba and The Beach Boys.

 

[Hay Dude]

Cab or no cab?

What did you do, and what were your reasons?

I'm shopping for a new tractor addition and see a lot of advantage with a cab and AC/ Heat. But I also see some disadvantage in that the only heated workspace I have has a 7' door.

Tell me your thought process and long term, are you happy?

I see your quandary. Are you sure new tractor >7 feet tall?
What is the feasibility of increasing door height to 8 feet? I have done that job for quite a few customers.

Cabs are awesome. Newer cabs are even more awesome. It extends the hours which you can use your tractor. Keeps you clean and safe.

 

[Citydude]

For those with cabs, is there a way to operate your tractor with the door open or removed?

You could run with the doors open but they are prone to get caught on something if your not constantly aware.

However, having them open or taken off kind of defeats the climate controlled cab.

 

[RjCorazza]

For those with cabs, is there a way to operate your tractor with the door open or removed?

Cabs with small corner windows will let a lot of air in, particularly when moving even slowly forward. Look up a picture of the Kubota L60 series to visualize.
I would not drive with the doors open, and I also close the door each and every time in or out of the cab.

 

[Citydude]

Cabs with small corner windows will let a lot of air in, particularly when moving even slowly forward. Look up a picture of the Kubota L60 series to visualize.
I would not drive with the doors open, and I also close the door each and every time in or out of the cab.

Yeah, I learned my lesson with busting out the left hand door on my pole barn lean to post.

 

[workinonit]

Cab all the way, if I'm doing something that requires frequent up and down I leave the door open with either the heat or the AC going.
Mud will wash out I stomp my boots off on the step and scrape the tops under the step.
I can be out in a feed lot covered with mud and manure If it is going to be real bad I toss in a couple of garbage bags to use as seat covers.

I bought a mat at the parts store that was really close to the size of my cab floor. Trimmed it down and all I have to do is slide it out and hose it off. Not sure if it was a trunk mat or what but it worked perfectly. Almost the exact same pattern as my cab mat.

 

[workinonit]

One thing I added that I didn't think about when I bought it is the right hand door. I don't use it much for entry but it is invaluable when I'm attaching and detaching the loader and other implements. I can open the door and get to all of the controls. I bought the door and installed it myself.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Cab was the only choice I'd even look at.

Reason?

Winter. We get -40 F and 40-50 mph winds every winter but this one. Normally it can go for a month straight and not get any warmer than -30 F.

Cab.

p.s. I also really enjoy mowing in summer 90-95 F with A/C, radio and cruise control.

 

[riptides]

Cab. And if your looking....windows that open and doors that open on both sides. Makes for easier access for throttle, pto and some creep movement when working with attachments.

 

[nybirdman]

Thanks for the comment.
Looks like tractors are not our only common interest.

View attachment 682135

For sure;ran English Pointers for a lot of years on our preserve;only have one left and he is 14 years old.Switched to German Short-hairs for water work and uplands.

 

[LouNY]

One thing I added that I didn't think about when I bought it is the right hand door. I don't use it much for entry but it is invaluable when I'm attaching and detaching the loader and other implements. I can open the door and get to all of the controls. I bought the door and installed it myself.

My Branson has the right side door also, when I first saw it I thought what a waste even a skinny kid would have a hard time using that door.
That said I use it frequently when switching out the front loader attachments and to access the hydraulics for the rear and to turn the pto on and off from the ground.
And even to start it, open the door flip the switch on when she starts go back were it's warm for a few minutes till shes ready to go.

 

[Hay Dude]

I cant believe a door on the right side is an option. Thats shameful. Should have 2 doors STANDARD.

 

[buck12]

I decided I wanted a cab when we decided to build a cabin on our rural property. I wanted to keep the area around the cabin clipped somewhat regularly. I work full time and will continue to do so for about seven more years. The cab gives me flexibility with my time off. I can mow no matter how hot and humid it is. What I have found is a cab has turned what used to seem like work into a pleasure. I mow and don稚 need a shower from the dust.

I knew I would have to buy another shipping container to park a cabbed tractor because my other container is a regular height container. I factored this into my purchase.

I kept my open station tractor thinking I would still need it to work in wooded areas but I found after eight months I just was not using the open station tractor and sold it.

In addition to AC and heat, the cab provides protection from dust, bugs, and briars.

 

[buck12]

My Branson has the right side door also, when I first saw it I thought what a waste even a skinny kid would have a hard time using that door.
That said I use it frequently when switching out the front loader attachments and to access the hydraulics for the rear and to turn the pto on and off from the ground.
And even to start it, open the door flip the switch on when she starts go back were it's warm for a few minutes till shes ready to go.

Another use for the right door is the occasional entry and exit when close to a tree or structure on the left hand side. Although it is not the easiest thing to do I have a few times exited and entered using the right door to hook up a chain when I couldn’t open the left door.

 

[Hay Dude]

Long term inhaling dust and diesel exhaust (especially older units) is bad for your health. So is skin cancer.

 

[RustyA]

20 years of snowplowing and grading with open station in the rain. Better half asked what I wanted for 60th birthday. Told her cab tractor. Plowed yesterday in sweatshirt listening to football game. Rh door and rear quarter windows are great to have.

 

[Cycledude]

I have 3 tractors, 2 are open station and the newest one has cab with heat and AC, the main reason for the new tractor is for plowing-blowing snow and so far I’m loving the cab, yes it is a little more difficult to get on and off with the cab but I’m willing to deal with that. I prefer not to take the cab tractor in the woods because of concerns about possibly accidentally damaging something but have 2 open station tractors to use for that type of work.

 

[PILOON]

For those with cabs, is there a way to operate your tractor with the door open or removed?

Yep but my cab is a DIY.

To keep me cool (and bugs out) I mounted a pair of computer 'muffin fans'.
Light insulation under roof helps as well as keeps sound levels down.
While I hinged the rear window for easy removal I never found a need to do so.

I put more hours doing snow removal these days since I'm retired but my CUT did earn its keep doing odd jobs when I did renovations.
It was great being so compact/agile around lakeside chalets.