To cab or not to cab?

[scrimshaw33]

I can get a cab on the desired tractor I want or I can get one without. Any reason not to get one? It's about $2500 more for the cab with heat and air. I like the open air feel of tractors and for me this would be the only downside, but I can see during hot days like we have now (and cold ones) where a cab would come in handy. Is this a no brainer...get the cab?

 

[MMagis]

With no mention of what you intend to use the tractor for (primarily), we can only leave it up to you. Personally, I would never justify $2500 for a cab unless it was used primarily for a row crop/hay tractor.

 

[scrimshaw33]

What I'll do with it...a little of everything like most people probably. Bushog, use FEL to move trees, plant food plots....etc.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I would have loved getting a cab. Heat and A/C during winter and summer would be great! I can always open the windows if I want fresh air.

Here were my reasons for getting a ROPS instead:

Money. I would have had to give up other options to pay for the cab.
Storage. I have to fold down my ROPS to get my tractor in my garage. Eventually I will have a shed, but for now I have to use my garage. Keeping it outside is NOT an option!

Now that I have been using it (I just bought it a few weeks ago), I am even happier I went with ROPS. I have to manuever around many trees and I wouldn't have been able to get into areas had I bought a cab.

If you can afford it, store it AND don't have obstructions in the way... I say go for the cab!

 

[nmu98]

For me, the dowside is missing out on getting real dirty every time I use the tractor. Or I could get cold and wet in the winter. Or I would have to worry about bees, or wasps, or allergies... Or I would have to listen to the radio while I work and be comfortable no matter the weater.. I would hate to miss out on all that, so I would never get a cab.

 

[rjkobbeman]

For me, the dowside is missing out on getting real dirty every time I use the tractor. Or I could get cold and wet in the winter. Or I would have to worry about bees, or wasps, or allergies... Or I would have to listen to the radio while I work and be comfortable no matter the weater.. I would hate to miss out on all that, so I would never get a cab.

Awesome!

 

[AKfish]

Personally, I would go with a cab.. However, I have nearly 600 hours on my 110 in 2 years use. And, I've just taken on an additional 10 acres of hay ground - that needs to be fertilized twice per season, sprayed for weeds 1-2 times per year and mowed, raked, tedded, and baled.

So, the tractor hours will be adding up..

If you can afford it and expect to spend a fair bit of time using your tractor when it's hot, dusty, or cold, wet, and windy - buy the cab!

You won't be kicking yourself every time you turn up the AC or dial up the heater! But, you will be grumpy every time you crawl off that seat and every joint is stiff with the cold or sticky with sweat!

AKfish

 

[xrjohndeere]

There is nothing like burning up or freezing to death! Speaks for itself.:thumbsup:

 

[dmay]

I can get a cab on the desired tractor I want or I can get one without. Any reason not to get one? It's about $2500 more for the cab with heat and air...

Switched around, do you have any reason to get a cab? Also what factory cab with heat and air is only +$2,500.00?

 

[RoyJackson]

Cabs, like HST, are for the girly boys...unmanly men who cannot hack real life.

Other then that, I'd be concerned about all that weight above the axle unless those tasks were as MMagis wrote...row crops and such like that which are on mostly level areas with no obstructions. The 3720 series machines (which is what I think scrimshaw33 is going to buy) are known for that tippiness.
So scrimshaw33, if you do give up your testicles and buy a cab (after all, it is your money)...get those rear tires filled and at the widest position.

 

[scrimshaw33]

Dmay a few tractors I found were $2500 difference b/t cab and no cab, used tractors though, not new. They were good deals, I believe, for these tractors with cabs, otherwise the others I found were a lot more for the cabs.

Does the cab protect the electronics at all compared to a no cab tractor? I know they (electronics) should be protected by the tractor shell or what not, but didn't know if the cab protected the electronics any more than one without a cab. The guy that timbered my property always would cover the electronic section of the tractor and the seat with plastic after a day's work.

Like most people I'd like to get a tractor that I can have for a LONG time if not my whole life, if I take care of it. I don't want to look back and wish I had gotten bigger or with a cab, if you know what I mean, ********-less or not.

 

[jenkinsph]

scrimshaw 33,

Sometimes you gotta have the balls to step up to the plate and get what you want. I vote for the ehydro and cab.:laughing:

 

[scrimshaw33]

...no doubt. :thumbsup:

Steve, do you like your MX6 bushog and 673 JD rototiller for the 4520 tractor you have? I'm also shopping for implements and if I go with a 4520 am debating whether to go with the six foot rotary cutter vs 7 ft and what size rototiller to get.

 

[jenkinsph]

Scrimshaw 33

I think if I had it to do over again I would opt for the 681 tiller slightly wider and about 1" deeper tilling depth, power isn't a problem.

If you are on reasonably flat land my dealer sells a lot of MX7 cutters with the 4520 and 4720 tractors. Says it isn't a problem as long as you have enough front weight. I had the MX6 before the new tractor purchase and I live in the mountains so I would stick with the lighter cutter.

Alot would depend on how much acreage you have to till or mow but if you are cutting a large area I would also consider the MX8 pull type too. At any rate I am very satisfied with the performance of the tractor and the MX6, 673.

 

[scrimshaw33]

Thanks!

 

[kromc5]

I have rented non cab tractors for many years for the jobs I needed. After riding in the 4320 with cab and air ride I was sold. My wife does all the mowing so she was instantly sold on the cab. Have you gone to JD dealer and tried a cab model? Did not see that in your previous post.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

With all other Cab/No Cab BS having been discussed in prior threads... one of my seriously biggest benefits is in winter, I can get dressed for work and then head out to snowblow and then come to work. When I was plowing with my F935, I'd have to wear work clothes, plow...come inside, change up and then head to work.
Its nice listening to the weather forecast on the radio in the heat, dressed nicely.

Just yesterday I spread 54 yards of gravel in the Air Conditioned goodness...its been humid around here lately. If I woulda had an Open Station, I prolly woulda stayed inside alot of these past days....

Girly man or not...I laugh my rear end off when I see one of my neighbors down the street looking like Frosty the Snowman snowblowing on his Mahindra open station...

 

[wolc123]

In my opinion, a good canopy is a far better option on a small (less than 100 hp), lightly used tractor. Check out the sun-shade post in the attachment section. The comfort level under a good canopy in the hot sun is much closer to that of an AC cab than an open station, and you get to keep most of your $2500, and all your hp. Remember, all work is done with the tractor moving, so you will always be sitting in the shade with a breeze. I have always said that occasional users with cabs would be better off getting a tractor computer game and just play tractor while sitting in thier air-conditioned/heated homes. Use your $2500 to hire the outside work done. You loose out on much of the "outdoor" experience with a cab, things like cool breezes, birds chirping, and unlimited visibility. The only reason I would consider a cab on a small tractor would be for snowblowing for folks with tight spaces who need a blower to effectively clear snow. I prefer to use a plow and an open station tractor for keeping several of my nieghbors and my own driveways cleared, but we all have lots of room for stacking snow so a blower is not necessary. I would hire someone to plow if I didnt like breathing that cool winter air.

 

[nmu98]

With all other Cab/No Cab BS having been discussed in prior threads... one of my seriously biggest benefits is in winter, I can get dressed for work and then head out to snowblow and then come to work. When I was plowing with my F935, I'd have to wear work clothes, plow...come inside, change up and then head to work.
Its nice listening to the weather forecast on the radio in the heat, dressed nicely.

Just yesterday I spread 54 yards of gravel in the Air Conditioned goodness...its been humid around here lately. If I woulda had an Open Station, I prolly woulda stayed inside alot of these past days....

Girly man or not...I laugh my rear end off when I see one of my neighbors down the street looking like Frosty the Snowman snowblowing on his Mahindra open station...

Right on brother! With a cab your options are endless. I have found i can work longer in both the hot and cold, and not deal with getting sick from either being wet and cold, or from my allergies.

In my opinion, a good canopy is a far better option on a small (less than 100 hp), lightly used tractor. Check out the sun-shade post in the attachment section. The comfort level under a good canopy in the hot sun is much closer to that of an AC cab than an open station, and you get to keep most of your $2500, and all your hp. Remember, all work is done with the tractor moving, so you will always be sitting in the shade with a breeze. I have always said that occasional users with cabs would be better off getting a tractor computer game and just play tractor while sitting in thier air-conditioned/heated homes. Use your $2500 to hire the outside work done. You loose out on much of the "outdoor" experience with a cab, things like cool breezes, birds chirping, and unlimited visibility. The only reason I would consider a cab on a small tractor would be for snowblowing for folks with tight spaces who need a blower to effectively clear snow. I prefer to use a plow and an open station tractor for keeping several of my nieghbors and my own driveways cleared, but we all have lots of room for stacking snow so a blower is not necessary. I would hire someone to plow if I didnt like breathing that cool winter air.

Lets be serious. Sit in the inside and play tractor games. You make this out like people who own tractors do not work with them? Thats like saying, who needs to have a car with a windshield... People with cabs can plow anytime without worry of dress, warmth, or sickness. When the wind is blowing at 50, they are comfortable and can work for long periods of time. Can you say that with an open station?

I would love to know how you can hear a bird chirping while you are working your tractor... That would have to be one quiet tractor.

Everyone does different things and has different needs. The name calling and justifications for a cab or not are all personal. Why call names and attack people.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

No offense to anyone here...BUT, IMO people try to justify NOT having a cab with the whole "I love the outdoors" theory...hey, I was doing the same thing until my dad "virtually slapped me upside the head"....for me I WANTED the cab but the additional cost for me meant doing without other things (mainly a garage) because I didnt finance my tractor.

Seriously, take the whole money thing out of the equation....lets say your local dealer swings by and says "hey you just won a cabbed XXXX tractor" how many of you are honestly gonna say "hey, can I get an open station instead".
Using the same scenario except you won an open station, how many of us would ask "hey can I pay the 3-5k or whatever it is to upgrade to a cabbed version"....

The only justification needed for a cab is actually owning one for a few weeks. I've seen a few "gonna upgrade to a cabbed machine" posts, but I cant recall any "I'm tired of my cab and gonna trade down to an OS" posts....