Curtis cab info with BX2200

[Anonymous Poster]

Some folks have asked me for more info and pictures of my Curtis cab on my new BX2200 so I thought maybe a new topic would be in order.

This cab is the softsided model with the two speed heater. I think list for this package is about $1800 not including installation, which I'm told is a lot of work. For you big guys, the seat DOES go all the way back with some room to spare behind. The cab is wider than the original deck width by a couple of inches on each side so I doubt that would be an issue. The roof of the cab is slightly higher than the ROPS bar and when measured from the deck to the head liner you have 55 1/2". From the middle of the seat to the head liner you have 38 1/4". I'll leave it to you to figure out if that's sufficient for you. Exiting the cab does call for you to have to lean forward some and duck.

Everything on the tractor appears to function just as it normally would, including opening the hood, except that I realized yesterday that taking the loader off may be a bit trickier because of the hydraulic controls. The cab "wraps around" the joystick and the cab has a solid cross member mounted in front of it. It appears that only three bolts hold the joy stick assembly on the loader frame so it adds a step for removal but not a major one.

The heater is GREAT! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I didn't ask if the alternator or battery had been upgraded to accomodate the extra electricals in the cab but it doesn't show up on the invoice so I suspect not. The heater, BTW, is tapped into the cooling system like your car heater so all that needs power is a two stage fan. The heater has a water shut off for the summer when you might not want hot water flowing through the core! Included is a shroud to cover the radiator grille so the engine fan won't suck all the hot air out of the cab.

If there is something I missed in my description feel free to ask.

Here's a picture looking in to the cab facing back.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

And a closer look facing back....

 

[Anonymous Poster]

And looking forward into the cab. If you want a specific picture that you didn't see let me know and I'll see what I can do.

 

[ralph47]

Hi Bob,
Great post, great cab. I have a BX2200 also and have a soft side cab from some model of Kioti on it that I got from a tractor salvage yard. It was new in the box, and they wanted to get rid of it bad, $75! I needed to make some slight changes, but it works great. I have been toying with the idea of a heater and was wondering what sort of plumbing is under the hood? I was also able to see from your post the cowl cover under the steering wheel to keep the air in the cab. Do you think that item can be purchased seperately from curtis or somewhere else? Thank you.
Ralph

 

[Anonymous Poster]

HI Rbarker,

Just a curiosity question. Can you remove the doors and back panel easily for hot weather use?

Thanks for posting the pictures and description!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

>>>Can you remove the doors and back panel easily for hot weather use?<<<

Henro, from the looks of rbarker's second attachment photo it appears the doors would just lift off the pins for summer time use. (If that season ever gets here!) /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[LarryG]

I also have the Curtis soft side cab on my BX2200 and I love it! It is great in the rain or snow and when warm weather arrives, the doors come off the hinge pins and the "windows" are Velcroed on to the framework of the cab and come off easily. I don't have the heater on mine but did install a set of lights on the roof and a rear window blower defogger for the windshield. The headlights don't do a thing with the loader on. I plan on pulling out the rear defogger and getting a heater for a company called Mill Supply. (www.millsupply.com) It looks like the same heater and costs about $120. The cover on the screen around the battery is velcroed on as well so that you can take it off in warmer weather. I did check on the high output alternator at my dealer and they said it was around $165. I am 6' 4" and have all kinds of room in the cab.

 

[kevkubota]

Great post and information Bob.....much appreciated! I have been tinkering with the idea of soft vs. hard cab.....It sure looks and sounds like the soft is sufficient? Did you look at and consider the hard cab? If so, why did you go with soft? Thanks....Kevin

 

[Anonymous Poster]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hi Bob,
of a heater and was wondering what sort of plumbing is under the hood? I was also able to see from your post the cowl cover under the steering wheel to keep the air in the cab. Do you think that item can be purchased seperately from curtis or somewhere else? Thank you.
Ralph
)</font>

Good score on the cab for $75! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I was going to take some pictures of the plumbing for you but it's kind of extensive. Two heater hoses come off the core and go through the wall of the cab down under the hood assembly. One goes back up inside the hood area by the radiator and attaches to the gooseneck through a seperate port. It looks like it may be an after market thing that comes with the heater. The second goes all the way down under the tractor frame and comes back up the other side in the engine compartment and hoks into a "T" fitting on the bottom radiator hose.

As for the heater, it can be purchased seperately from Curtis for $300 but I'm told that J.C. Whitney may sell the same thing for a lot less? You could check.

I didn't see the cowl as a seperate item on Curtis's web site but it's easy to check. www.curtiscab.com

 

[Anonymous Poster]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( HI Rbarker,

Just a curiosity question. Can you remove the doors and back panel easily for hot weather use? )</font>

Yup! The doors come right off on two pins and the rest looks like it comes off with velcro. The frame itself should probably stay on but I guess you could remove it if you wanted to badly enough. I figure it will make a nice sunshade.