Cabs

[jwcinpk]

I've been kicking around buying a new cab tractor for the last year and a half. Now I'm in a position to make it happen. When comparing brands what are some things I should compare between the brands cabs.
Seems like someone mentioned the glass might be stronger on some than others. How about air conditioning systems? Are any brands substantially better/more dependable than others? Why do you see very few models available with a CD player and tons with cassette? Skipping?

 

['Bota Fan]

I can only speak semi-intelligently about my Kubota B3030. I found an excellent deal and didn't actually test drive other brands.

The A/C is phenomenal. I've mowed for several hours at a time in 90 and 100 degree temps and usually have to turn the fan to low to keep from freezing inside. No exaggeration.

As for negatives, I wish it were quieter inside. As I said, I didn't try other brands, so they may all be that loud, but when the RFM is running, it's pretty noisy. For many reasons, I have to keep my cell phone with me all the time. I can't understand what people are saying on the other end and they tell me they can't understand me when the mower is going. Also, don't know why, but there wasn't a power port in the cab, but my dealer added one. Seems like that would be a given in a cab.

Hope this small bit of information is helpful.

 

[BizDoc]

I will concurr with Bota Fan. I also have the B3030 W/Cab. I love the cab, the air is cold and can direct the air to where I wish. but also as Bota Fan States it is noisy. I have tried twice with two different types of ear phones to listen to music but it is too noisy inside to hear the music, even with ear phones on and up as loud as I can turn it. I am considering the cab installed radio this fall/winter. It will have to be turned up rather load to get over the engine, Hydro tranny, and PTO noise.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

jwcinpk, I'm assuming that you are going to stay with the same size or bigger than what you have. If you can, go to an Ag show, great place to shop. As far as glass being stronger than others, not really enough to matter. The glass is a bit stronger when it is curved.(sharper curve = stronger glass) It might even be a little quieter being curved, (sharper curve = quieter glass) but how well it fits at the seems will keep out more noise than the other stuff.(any place that you can see through is a place noise can get through) Maybe ask while shopping if and how much and what kind of insulation is installed. It all makes a small difference and every little bit adds up. I'm sure that that is why some cabs are thousands less than others.

 

[Trac-Tech]

Depending on the type of tractor you are wanting, if you want an ag tractor, you would be hard pressed to get better than a McCormick CX with a deluxe cab (noise wise).
If it is a compact you are after, then they will mostly be of a muchness amongst the more major brands and your own personal choice of what you want will be the main factor. I think this just boils down to a case of economics and physical room. As mentioned in other threads, curved glass will supres noise better, a smaller cab will be easier to keep cool. The strength of the glass is mainly dependent on the shape as with noise, curved will take more of a knock than flat etc. This forum will help you find out about reliable A/C systems.
I hope this helps and all the best with your search.

 

[MFRED]

Almost any cab is better than no cab when buying a new tractor. I still should have ran my old junk another year and saved for a cab. I think they all are now but, I would make sure your A/C and heat are engine driven. They will give you better performance. I don't know Mahindra numbers but, if you are looking for a tractor in the 65 pto hp range the MF 3600 series has a pretty nice cab, or a 5400 series will make you drool.
Do they still make tape players? Man, I thought those were outlawed.
I can say it would take alot to make a new CD player skip. If your CD skipped I would guess you wouldn't even notice because you would be hangging on and looking to see what you hit!

 

[rvaitor]

Almost any cab is better than no cab when buying a new tractor. I still should have ran my old junk another year and saved for a cab. I think they all are now but, I would make sure your A/C and heat are engine driven. They will give you better performance. I don't know Mahindra numbers but, if you are looking for a tractor in the 65 pto hp range the MF 3600 series has a pretty nice cab, or a 5400 series will make you drool.
Do they still make tape players? Man, I thought those were outlawed.
I can say it would take alot to make a new CD player skip. If your CD skipped I would guess you wouldn't even notice because you would be hangging on and looking to see what you hit!

I spent 6+ hours in my tractor on Sunday - got started and wanted to get it all done - anyway, tried my ipod and cassette adapter in my Kioti DK55 and wow it was great. BTW, Kioti justed announced a 90HP Cab at Moultrie - understand it is nice. I've been happy with mine but am thinking a 15 ft mower is in my future so a 7520 Mahindra Cab or a the new Kioti or the one of the others will be getting some scrutiny up in Louisville in Feb. My cab seems to be fairly quiet - the dustfree environment is what really helps me keep going.

 

[slowzuki]

In the world of ag, the new machines from the major players have some good cabs but there are some cheaper cabs on cheaper tractors. The best bet is to try them out and see what you think.

Older tractors with cabs tend to be louder and are missing lots of the sound deadening material they used to wear.

 

[jwcinpk]

I'm looking in the 65-80 hp range, mfwd, with a loader. Use it mostly for the hay (round and square) and for feeding in the winter.
My question about air conditioning was more to do with dependability than it's actual performance. A friend at work bought a used Kubota 9000 and it's ac has gone bye bye. John Deere dealer says their air consitioning system is far superior to others. May just be sales talk?
I have also been told that the glass on some of the non big 3 isn't nearly as strong. I see a lot of broken glass out there and that scares me. Could just be that people are hitting stuff, but I know broken glass costs money.

Unless one stands far apart from the Mahindra 7010 I will more than likely buy it, or wait on their new bigger tractor.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Unless one stands far apart from the Mahindra 7010 I will more than likely buy it, or wait on their new bigger tractor.

A guy that I know bought the Montana version, it is one nice tractor.

 

[D7E]

You are talking about ag tractors (this is an ag tractor forum) ...Why are people talking about kubotas"s .....1976 ,2 companies had good cabs..Ford and JD ,Q cab ford and Sound guard JD and IH soon followed and MF took over in the 90's and today they are all the same ..Cheap and plastic ?

 

[slowzuki]

Kubota make ag machines too in that range. Their older stuff used flat glass which is cheap to replace. This new rounded stuff is the pricy stuff. Some of the low end MF's have pretty cheap cabs on them but still light years ahead of the chinese and russian cabs. Also still better than aftermarket cabs.

The ac is the weak point on all manufacturers cabs, they all use the same components. The JD's are know for lots of capacity in their older machines. The old Kubotas are known for weak ac in their earlier glassy cabs. In the south it is just too much for the ac without tint. They all leak out badly when old. The seals dry up and out it goes.

I know there are lots of kits to charge them with propane to get you by a season if it leaks badly. Really the leaks should be found and fixed.

 

[D7E]

Kubota make ag machines too in that range. Their older stuff used flat glass which is cheap to replace. This new rounded stuff is the pricy stuff. Some of the low end MF's have pretty cheap cabs on them but still light years ahead of the chinese and russian cabs. Also still better than aftermarket cabs.

The ac is the weak point on all manufacturers cabs, they all use the same components. The JD's are know for lots of capacity in their older machines. The old Kubotas are known for weak ac in their earlier glassy cabs. In the south it is just too much for the ac without tint. They all leak out badly when old. The seals dry up and out it goes.

I know there are lots of kits to charge them with propane to get you by a season if it leaks badly. Really the leaks should be found and fixed.

I was just talking cab quality and driver friendlyness ,Kubota do make ag tractors now but still are not as heavy built and will never be recognised as true"AG tractors" with front axle design and placement of hyd pumps which stem from utility tractors .Instrument location and functions on MF is the best ,Trouble some in other areas but "carpet " cab lining ,Almost air tight seals ,Lowest sound rating ,Big doors ,Flat one-pice glass (cheap to replace ),Narrow cab pillars (good vision)and easy access roof flap to (fan ,radio,and switches ) ....Air con varies with brands .But all quality cabs were started by Ford's "Q" or "Snow on the roof" .."Bubble cab ",1976+ ,4600,56,66,76 and TW's
and JD's Soundguards .

 

[Bob_Young]

Cabs are certainly nice, but can cut both ways.

Quiet is nice, but you can't use your ears to detect a problem with your implement.

Cool is nice, but the air conditioner adds another no-go item.

Inside out of the elements is nice, but it seems that structure always blocks the view of some critical area...sometimes at exactly the wrong moment. Think about how much you'll see through the roof with the loader near the top of its lift. You may want to "sit short".

Been "field testing cabs" the last few days. First on a NH TM115, then on a Case-IH MX110. They're still sort of a novelty with me. The NH cab was more elaborate, but I preferred the Case. Quieter, less structure in the way, better placement of the hydraulic controls, less reliance on multi-function displays controlled by buttons labelled with hieroglyphs. The Case seat was better too; but maybe something was broken that caused NH seat to bottom out. Case's new cab with the see-thru roof panel would be a big help for high-stacking with a loader...I would think.

I did like the fact that the NH cab was easier to open up to the elements (beautiful fall day here). You could pop open front, back, sides and top. I found that the sounds from the merger I was pulling gave me a much quicker indication of problems than watching the mirrors.
FWIW
Bob

 

[BarryinMN]

Don't know if you have visitors but the passenger seat in my Zetor cab tractor is the most sought after place to sit on the farm.

The Grammar seat is comfy, front & rear wipers & washers, built-in air compressor, good quality knobs, switches, etc.

I now schedule bushhogging for those 99F 100% humidity days & with stadium lighting clear snow on those -20 nights safely. The euro lighting has front running lights that let me watch the front wheels for slippage & steering.

I did not buy it with a radio but after discovering how comfortable it is I put in a Best Buy Pioneer 200W radio & speakers.

I did break the rear window this summer - always thought a bushhog or powered rock windrower would take it out.. Nope, the cultivator launched a melon sized rock at my head, I happened to be looking back & ducked but was showered with safety glass - the rock stayed outside the cab. Replacement rear window was $178 fedex ground to the barn door.

 

[D7E]

Don't know if you have visitors but the passenger seat in my Zetor cab tractor is the most sought after place to sit on the farm.

The Grammar seat is comfy, front & rear wipers & washers, built-in air compressor, good quality knobs, switches, etc.

I now schedule bushhogging for those 99F 100% humidity days & with stadium lighting clear snow on those -20 nights safely. The euro lighting has front running lights that let me watch the front wheels for slippage & steering.

I did not buy it with a radio but after discovering how comfortable it is I put in a Best Buy Pioneer 200W radio & speakers.

I did break the rear window this summer - always thought a bushhog or powered rock windrower would take it out.. Nope, the cultivator launched a melon sized rock at my head, I happened to be looking back & ducked but was showered with safety glass - the rock stayed outside the cab. Replacement rear window was $178 fedex ground to the barn door.

That was their strongest poin" Two seater zetor" ...Ha..Ha ?

 

[barrylndn]

As far as cabs go, I think what you will be doing with it will make a lot of difference. A no-brainer, as a couple of people have mentioned, is visibility. That one, obviously, is the most important. Look at how well you can see what you will be pulling, and around your front tires, assuming you will have a loader on it. Also to consider is instrumentation layout, and accessibility. I like the Kubota M series, however, the mount for the joystick to control the bucket is right in your way if you want to get out the right-hand door, whereas JD is all neatly tucked away, so you have easy access to get in or out without adjustment on either side. If you are going to be doing any applications where you might break glass (it can, and does happen) cost of flat pained safety glass is WAY cheaper than curved, and can often be custom made quickly, and fairly cheaply by any local glass shop. Figure out which designs have better airflow in the eventuallity that your air stops working while your in the middle of the field on a hot day. Also, though MO doesn't get super cold during the winter, something I'd make sure of is that it has a heater vent by your feet. You body can be roasting, and feet need thawing at the same time - run into that with my older JD, though the new one's have lower vents. Good luck with the choices!

 

[ddivinia]

You guys up north might can put up with not having a cab tractor. Down here in Texas I will live with something else to break. 100+ dirty work can really get old in a hurry. Cheap and plastic? I tell ya - the old cabs don't look that great anyway. I suspect my 5525 cab will look just as bad in 20 years.

John Deere cabs rock - period.

D.