Cab or Open air??

[Boondox]

Spent three hours in my cabbed JD 4044R clearing snow yesterday. I was listening to music and wearing a t-shirt. My previous five tractors had all been open station Kubotas, but I'm liking this cab a LOT! Comfort (and protection from stinging insects) is part of it, but something not yet mentioned is how easy it is to keep it and myself clean. With the open station tractors dust, chaff, and windblown leaves were always collecting under/behind the seat, around the controls, and would pack around wiring harnesses and connections. It seemed like I was constantly cleaning debris using compressed air or tools, and if I didn't rust would start in those hidden spaces.

As for stability, Vermont is all hills and I've really not noticed much difference aside from the psychological feeling of being enclosed when the whole rig is running at an angle. The Deere is significantly heavier than any of the Kubotas I ran in the past, and with the aggies set wide it feels well planted.

 

[CCWKen]

What I don't understand is the excuse given for not having a cab because they person driving the tractor isn't capable of not running into trees and branches. I've never hit a branch or tree that wasn't intentional. If I do not want to hit something, it's pretty simple to just steer around it. I hit them because I'm trying to get as close as possible and I'm too lazy to trim every branch that grows in my way of mowing. I trim some of them, and I will trim more of them, but it's not like I don't know they are there.

Ditto 100%. Kind of makes you wonder how some stay between the ditches on a road.

 

[kco]

Ditto 100%. Kind of makes you wonder how some stay between the ditches on a road.

If I had a cab I could not access over half the work I do now. I'd love a cab for winter snowblowing and mowing the pasture and wider trails, but I would not be able to mow my small walking paths. I don't want long sight lines so I built winding paths and try to clear only what is necessary to walk. It is the same for gathering firewood. I don't want to make large clear paths to access trees, although I do have minimal "main" trails for hauling wood. I also harvest wood on a couple of neighbours' properties and am sure they would not appreciate my clearing more than necessary to get the wood. I also mow on of those neighbour's paths and I know he has the same "winding" trail with minimum clearing philosophy. I do have some narrower paths that I clear only by hand.

It is not just the cab. I removed the ROPS (please let's not start a discussions on that--it has been discussed in other threads) and the round turn signal lights above the fenders of my DK35 so I can thread through the bush. I also remove the entire loader for mowing the narrower walking paths.

 

[kco]

Ditto 100%. Kind of makes you wonder how some stay between the ditches on a road.

If I had a cab I could not access over half the work I do now. I'd love a cab for winter snowblowing and mowing the pasture and wider trails, but I would not be able to mow my small walking paths. I don't want long sight lines so I built winding paths and try to clear only what is necessary to walk. It is the same for gathering firewood. I don't want to make large clear paths to access trees, although I do have minimal "main" trails for hauling wood. I also harvest wood on a couple of neighbours' properties and am sure they would not appreciate my clearing more than necessary to get the wood. I also mow one of those neighbour's paths and I know he has the same "winding trail with minimum clearing" philosophy. I do have some narrower paths that I clear only by hand.

It is not just the cab. I removed the ROPS (please let's not start a discussions on that--it has been discussed in other threads) and the round turn signal lights above the fenders of my DK35 so I can thread through the bush. I also remove the entire loader for mowing the narrower walking paths.

 

[peabody]

I run both.. new holland tn60a 4x4 with loader.
Open station.
My other is a john deere 5093e 4x4 with cab and loader.
For feeding the cows. And normal everday things you do with a loader.
90% of the time. I jump on the open station. Its faster. I can see better. And lots easier to get on and off.
I basically just use the cab to bale hay.
That's nice to keep the dust off.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have both. Sure for snow and cold, nothing beats a cab. But I have a hard time driving into a lit building at night with a cab and seeing much of anything due to glare. Lately, I had to stip work because the sun was too low, the windows of my cab were too dirty and I was just destroying my pallets and lawn with my forks, not being able to see a thing!

Usually, I don't do much with my (open station) tractor anyway, unless the weather is nice and I enjoy having a feel for the environment.

 

[CCWKen]

I have a few narrow paths through the thickets and near trees. When they need cut I use the lawnmower. :confused3:

 

[CCWKen]

Lately, I had to stip work because the sun was too low, the windows of my cab were too dirty and I was just destroying my pallets and lawn with my forks, not being able to see a thing!

Really? You blame the cab for that? :laughing:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Hey, I don't blame the cab, I blame my cleaning lady that hasn't been here in a good long while. Would be a good thing to add to her list of unconventional things I have her clean. Get her to repair the lawn in the spring while she's at it.!

 

[Rustyiron]

Ditto 100%. Kind of makes you wonder how some stay between the ditches on a road.

Not everyone works the fields with their tractor. Among other "woods" work, I bush hog & keep open miles of various size (width) logging roads on my 700+ ac. They all don't get mowed every year and there's allways something pushing up over my sweeps. Factory mirrors & lights would get ripped off fast, not to mention those $700 glass doors.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My thinking exactly. When you have a hundred acres, not everything is trimmed nicely.

 

[jenkinsph]

There have been so many threads about open station and cab tractors. It really boils down to a choice the buyer needs to make for themselves. Cabs are a large part of a small tractors cost and is best decided on a personal basis.

 

[joefromga]

If I had a cab I could not access over half the work I do now. I'd love a cab for winter snowblowing and mowing the pasture and wider trails, but I would not be able to mow my small walking paths. I don't want long sight lines so I built winding paths and try to clear only what is necessary to walk. It is the same for gathering firewood. I don't want to make large clear paths to access trees, although I do have minimal "main" trails for hauling wood. I also harvest wood on a couple of neighbours' properties and am sure they would not appreciate my clearing more than necessary to get the wood. I also mow one of those neighbour's paths and I know he has the same "winding trail with minimum clearing" philosophy. I do have some narrower paths that I clear only by hand.

It is not just the cab. I removed the ROPS (please let's not start a discussions on that--it has been discussed in other threads) and the round turn signal lights above the fenders of my DK35 so I can thread through the bush. I also remove the entire loader for mowing the narrower walking paths.

I hope you have a Master Blaster helmet!

 

[Citydude]

I hope you have a Master Blaster helmet!

View attachment 452680

Nice

 

[CCWKen]

I don't care about snow and cold. It doesn't happen down here. What I care about is the 105-110 degree temperatures during the spring, summer and fall months. Heck, it hits 100 before lunch down here! In any case, I can't imagine owning a huge spread and not owning more than one tractor or maintenance tool. If for nothing else but to use as backup. I have what I consider a "lot" and have four tractors and three ride-on mowers. I even have a few push mowers and trimmers. I can't, and don't expect to, use a tractor everywhere. Get off your seat and walk the ground once in a while! Or if it has to be cut, make it so it can be cut.

I'm not saying that everyone needs a cab. Shoot-fire, some of the townies on this forum don't even need a tractor. What I am saying is don't discount the need for a cab just because YOU can't maintain your property with a cab. I had three bouts with heat exhaustion last year and each one came on faster than the previous. I plan to work in air conditioning as much as possible from now on. If I can't do that, the job will just have to wait until cooler times. Night work isn't all that great around here. It can still be in the upper 90s at midnight. Besides, there's things out back that will eat you if given the chance.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Getting in and out of an A/C cab on a hot day can't be good for a guy either. Not too bad if you spend hours during field work. I used to work at a job where we were always walking from one A/C building to another in the summer heat. Used to get nasty strep (sp?) throat.

 

[Rustyiron]

I don't care about snow and cold. It doesn't happen down here. What I care about is the 105-110 degree temperatures during the spring, summer and fall months. Heck, it hits 100 before lunch down here! It can still be in the upper 90s at midnight. Besides, there's things out back that will eat you if given the chance.

I hear ya Ken, I've always wanted to visit down your way, but the older I get, the less patience I have with the heat. I spent a long time living below the Mason - Dixon line and we headed north. I got plenty of clothes to keep me warm:laughing: Like jenkinsph said above, it's personal need's & preference.

 

[Rustyiron]

I don't care about snow and cold. It doesn't happen down here. What I care about is the 105-110 degree temperatures during the spring, summer and fall months. Heck, it hits 100 before lunch down here! It can still be in the upper 90s at midnight. Besides, there's things out back that will eat you if given the chance.

I hear ya Ken, I've always wanted to visit down your way, but the older I get, the less patience I have with the heat. I spent a long time living below the Mason - Dixon line and we headed north. I got plenty of clothes to keep me warm:laughing: Like jenkinsph said above, it's personal need's & preference.

 

[lipancreek]

Having used an open station, non-ROPS tractor for years, I'm still amazed at how often the ROPS on my new tractor gets in the way, much less a cab. Obviously for row crop, hay, or all day shredding, I want a cab. And my friends who farm for a living all have both... lots of cab tractors for real work and some open station to do odd jobs. But back in the brush and trees for keeping roads open through mesquites, a cab would be basically useless on my farms. If had to choose one tractor it almost couldn't be a cab tractor. That said, I'll change my mind on this post in July.

 

[jdtractor]

Hi I have had several open station tractors and IMO finally got smart and bought a cab tractor. I have seasonal hay fever and I wouldn't be with out a cab. I custom bush hog and the filth is over the cab sometimes as high as 2-3 ft. Very heavy. I also have a FEL on 1 tractor and that helps push filth over etc..... But the cab ,air ,radio and air ride seat makes a tough job easy and comfortable ! Its all in what you want and can afford ...... they are not CHEAP! BUT they pay for them selves many times over. Again just my opinion. Have a good 1