Cab or Open air??

[sacarmic]

Looking at a new 5075e or 5085e to replace a 5303. Kicking around getting a cab this time. Never owned one before and would like to get some options on owning a tractor with a cab. The three things I am concerned about are:

1. having to constantly clean the cab from dust or dirt to see good.

2. having to getting in and out a lot when adjust 3pt high to connect equipment. (I don't use iMatch)

3, breaking or scratching from limbs it when bush hogging.

Thoughts or am I overthinking it?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[George2615]

Not sure where you are located or if you need a cab.
I've only owned 4 tractors but have driven more than I can count. The first 3 were open station. I bought my first cab tractor in Feb. 2014 and I'm wondering why I didn't buy a cabbed tractor sooner.

Most of my tractor use involves winter use and plowing snow. Its so much nicer having a heated cab.

Inside the cab is fairly easy to clean. The floor mat comes out and can be washed off. I usually don't do that till spring. Outside cleaning isn't much different than cleaning a truck. A little soap, water, and windex and you're done.

Getting in and out isn't any different than a non cab tractor to me.

Worried about breaking glass, get insurance. I have insurance that covers glass breakage, theft, tractor damage etc. at a reasonable price.

A cabbed tractor is great even in spring, summer, and fall. Keeps the dust outside when working in those conditions. Also quieter in a cabbed model. Can listen to radio and hear yourself think. If I lived in the south I may not need a cabbed tractor unless I worked in dusty conditions.

Any tractor is going to get scratches, cab or not.

 

[CCWKen]

If I lived in the south I may not need a cabbed tractor unless I worked in dusty conditions.

Dust is only one factor. I wear a dusk mask sometimes but not for the dust. Pollen can make it hard to breath. Down here where mid-day temperatures hit 100 and humidity not far behind, a cab with air conditioning is a must for us old folk.

I hope to be building a cab in the spring--After I finish some restoration and repairs on the 3910.

 

[George2615]

Dust is only one factor. I wear a dusk mask sometimes but not for the dust. Pollen can make it hard to breath. Down here where mid-day temperatures hit 100 and humidity not far behind, a cab with air conditioning is a must for us old folk.

I hope to be building a cab in the spring--After I finish some restoration and repairs on the 3910.

I didn't want to get too long winded in my first reply but you are correct. A cab does help keep out pollen and most other debris and the A/C is nice too. I didn't think much about the 100 degree days as we don't have to many of those but A/C is nice on our many 80 plus degree days.

 

[Wagtail]

Geographic/environmental location of your working area is a key factor. We need to know that to offer proper advice.

My 4105 doesn't have a cab option. However, UV rays can be (and at my present location [summer], are) one of those factors. Even on extreme UV days I 'rug up' with long trousers & long sleeve shirt, gloves & my Akubra... + sunscreen.

Other than that, being 'retired' I'm mostly a fair-weather tractor operator, so a cab isn't really a necessity.

 

[tempforce]

i used to have a L3200 without a cab for my fire cleanup and logging. the tractor was pretty bad looking after the cleanup was done. dents in the engine cover and the sun roof attached to the rops. dents on the hood, the grill and headlights were damaged, front drive line ended up bent and hydraulic lines dented. falling tree limbs are hard on equipment..
i had it repaired... all of the damage items replaced, but didn't need that sized of a tractor, now that the cleanup is finished.
if the L3200 had a cab, it would of been wasted.
i now have a B3350, with a cab. and yes it's more work. getting in and out. but having filtered air, with a/c, heat and a radio, is worth the wait.

 

[sacarmic]

Thanks everyone, I live in the middle of Indiana. I love the open air in the spring/fall weather, but the summer humidity can be rough.

 

[4570Man]

Open air for me. If you gave me a cab tractor I would go trade it in for another open cab. Actually, I would trade in my current tractor and the new cab tractor for a M59 hopefully without a cab. My tractor stays parked for the winter. We don't get enough snow to bother plowing, and it is too muddy to do anything else. If I did do snow work I would want a cab. I rarely use my tractor for mowing. Now, an air conditioned cab on my ZTR would be nice.

 

[DK35vince]

Cab.
If I ever replace my current tractor my next will have a cab.

 

[TripleR]

We have cabbed and open station, but I don't even use the open station ones, I leave them on another farm where my brothers live. My allergies have gotten so bad over time, I often wear a pollen mask in the cab.

I don't have guards on our M8540HDC yet, but my brother fabbed some up for my L5740. Cleaning is not a problem nor is getting in/out of the cab and we haven't broken a window yet.

 

[jenkinsph]

Looking at a new 5075e or 5085e to replace a 5303. Kicking around getting a cab this time. Never owned one before and would like to get some options on owning a tractor with a cab. The three things I am concerned about are:

1. having to constantly clean the cab from dust or dirt to see good.

2. having to getting in and out a lot when adjust 3pt high to connect equipment. (I don't use iMatch)

3, breaking or scratching from limbs it when bush hogging.

Thoughts or am I overthinking it?

Thanks,
Scott

Just my observations having cab tractors.

1. When the dust is bad you will need to clear the glass of dust more often. The upside is you will stay clean including your lungs. I use a leaf blower to clean off the dust for the entire tractor, very quick.

2. I don't see the doors as an obstacle but I do use iMatch, I can raise the implement and easily reach the levers through the rear windows. I also use topntilt hitch makes everything easier imo.

3. I trim the limbs below 8' on my properties but for some of my customers places using a non rops mower saves a lot of grief. I don't drive through heavy branches with tractors anymore, I did when I was a kid, tractors cost too much to tear them up. Can be dangerous for the operator too. Glass is difficult to scratch but can be broken, while tempered glass is tough judgment is required.

I have had both open station and cab tractor and prefer cabs.

 

[jenkinsph]

Larry,
Nice job on the limb risers.

 

[square1]

For now I'll stay open for therapeutic reasons, If I ever disturb a nest of ground wasps I'll probably change my mind!

 

[TripleR]

Larry,
Nice job on the limb risers.

Thanks, they sure help, we got the idea from another member. My brother put in a lot of work getting it all right; had to take them off a couple of times to move attachment points and use rubber spacers to eliminate resonance, but very well worth the effort.

 

[fishheadbob]

I do fine with an open station. About 10 or 20 hours plowing snow anywhere above zero degrees , some time in the woods, and some open field time. A cab would be bad in my woods. I've been whipped in the face with saplings a few times and survived.
I brush hogged some yellow jackets 35 years ago and survived. I dress warm for snow plowing, not a problem.
It doesn't hit 100 degrees here so air isn't necessary, maybe I wore shorts and t shirt on very warm days.
Downside is that after a lot of years in the sun I see the dermatologist every 2 years or so to get the pre-cancerous guys frozen off for a $40 co-pay. And my hearing has tanked, a problem with a lot of old guys, but definitely helped along by some extra loud equipment over the years.
Make the choice that works best for you.

 

[RoyJackson]

I traded an open station Deere 4400 for a cabbed 4520 after two winters in Vermont. It was snow blowing that pushed me into looking for a cab. That, and getting older (I turn 66 in a week and I can't hack the cold like I used to).
It's a Curtis cab with heat, but no AC. The doors and front/rear windows can be removed, so it's the best of both worlds.I like the heat, but don't miss AC.

As others wrote...really depends on your circumstances.

 

[labhaven]

If it was in the budget, I'd go for a cab tractor in a heartbeat.

 

[KubotaToy]

If you are like most people I know, once you own a cab'ed piece of equipment, you wonder why you would ever own something without a cab. That being said, cost, potential breakage are concerns, but I have yet to break anything that would have not caused a lot of pain to me if I did not have a cab. I love AC and heat, period. I just sold my open cab loader and bought a closed cab version, so much nicer not eating dirt and listening to a music while moving dirt.

If Kubota ever makes a cab version of the L45 or L59, I will sell my L45 and get one asap.

 

[check]

The biggest problem with the cab in my view, is the huge cost.

For example, a Kubota B2650 costs a whopping $10,000 more with the cab than without the cab. Wouldn't you rather spend that $10,000 getting a bigger tractor?

 

[k0ua]

I don't have a cab, but there have been times I sure wished I did. Those times so far have been on very cold days pushing snow. When it gets really hot with high humidity, I just park the tractor and go inside. I do have a canopy, and that helps a lot with preventing the sun from beating down on you. It makes a huge difference. But it does not help a bit in the cold, and maybe even hurts some from not allowing the sun to shine on your body. Another reason to consider a cab are stinging insects. They can kill you. Of course with a cab you can laugh at them on the outside of the windows.