You Have a Cab?

[Complete Turf Care]

Four of my 5 tractors have cabs. The one without the cab rarely gets used.

Several years ago, I was laser grading a football field with an open station tractor. Every time I got a phone call, I had to stop so that I could take the call. Not long after that, I traded the open station for a cab. Now, I can conduct business without having to stop each time a call comes in.

We don't get much winter down here, so cold is not much of an issue. But heat and dust is a big deal.

I prefer a cab.

 

[rScotty]

So glad I got a cab. Helps a lot whether it's cold, warm, dusty, or raining.

Yet, I use the little tractor that only has a canopy a lot more often...when the weather permits.

Same here. Most of the time I prefer the 4 post canopy. The cabbed tractor just sits a lot except in the worst of the winter.

We do have an old completely open station tractor. It runs OK, but gets the least work of the three. I'm often not sure the battery is charged or fuel is fresh in it.

 

[jdtractor]

I was a cab tractor guy for several years.. mowing filth and baling hay… I switched tractor brands and went to 1 cab tractor instead of 2.. The non cab was used for just about everything I did concerning hay and mowing filth.The bigger cab tractor was for baling and using my batwing. I regretted the os tractor after 1 year of owning it… I went back to another cab.Once you have a cab tractor you will never go back… and yes I know guys out there say no woods work and the cab doors are a pain!!! But I’ve been doing it for years and I’ll never go back! The reality is they are like a pocket on your shirt! Come in real handy!!!!! Real comfortable!

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Same here. Most of the time I prefer the 4 post canopy. The cabbed tractor just sits a lot except in the worst of the winter.

Well, in my case it's largely because it's quicker to hop on the little cab-less one since it sits outside...and it is quicker for many small tasks.

No point in getting the larger one out of the garage if the weather is decent, there won't be any dust, and there's no need for its superior capabilities.

 

[Williy]

Up in Northern Wisconsin many years ago people with
cabs on their equipment work in the woods every day
with no problems and it was rare if you heard that someone
broke a window on their cab.

willy

 

[5030]

I have one of each of the Kubota M9000's. One cabbed and one open station and they each do certain jobs on the farm and yes, I broke the left hand side door from my stupidity and it cost me just under a grand for a new one and I paid for it out of pocket because my farm policy has a 1000 dollar deductible on it. Amazing when they shatter how a small of a pile of shattered glass there is... I don't leave my door open when putting them in the big barn now.... I caught the metal door frame and POW was all she wrote.

The movie 'gone in 60 seconds' applies, more like 1/2 a second actually.

here you go...

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Somebody mentioned that without a cab it's easier to hear what the tractor is doing, or something to that effect.

Well, I'm used to a perfectly quiet environment so when using the small open tractors I wear ear protection. And I can still hear (and feel) if everything sounds right.

When in the cab I also often use ear protection when mowing, if for no other reason because the engine runs at 2,000 to 2,100 rpm. But I can still hear/feel what's going on.

For other tasks with the cabbed one I listen to music, and...you guessed it.

 

[EddieWalker]

I started with open station tractors and like most of the comments on here, I felt that a cab wasn't something that I needed. Two years ago, I bought a cab tractor and realized how wrong I had been.

The biggest surprise to me when I got the cab tractor was how much better I felt after mowing. I didn't realize it at the time, but when it's super hot and humid here, I would put off mowing because it was just to painful to be outside during the heat of the day. If I mowed in the morning, I was fine, but I would quit when the heat got to me. Then the rest of the day was wasted because of how drained I was from being out in the heat.

Now I work on my projects in the morning, and when it gets too hot to continue, or even to be able to think properly, I get in my cabbed tractor, and mow for a few hours. When I'm done mowing, I'm refreshed and feeling great!!!

Before the cabbed tractor, I was able to mow my land once a year. I did it in small areas, with the goal of getting that area done before heading in. My cabbed tractor is bigger, and I have a 12 foot batwing instead of a 6 foot cutter, so there's that. But I also have so much more power with my bigger, cabbed tractor, that I'm able to mow a lot faster. I'm not getting it done twice as fast with the bigger mower, it's more like three times faster!!!!

I'm currently mowing all the open areas on my 68 acres, three times a year now. My weeds have started turning into grass. The more I mow, the fewer weeds I have, and the easier it is to keep it under control.

Yesterday I got home at 4pm. I got in my cabbed tractor and I mowed along the creek. This is where most of my snakes are seen. It's very snakey there!!! I've seen them in the weeds, several feet off the ground, as I was mowing towards them. That freaked me out, so I stopped mowing, and went around that snake. When I came back, it was gone, so I mowed over that entire area real good. Another time, I ran over a snake with my open station tractor, but never saw it again. No sign of it's body. Then I spent the rest of the time on the tractor worrying that it was working its way towards me in the seat. My brain is my biggest enemy!!

I've been stung and bit so many times while mowing with the open station tractor that I kept Benadryl in my tool box. For some reason, the back of my neck is where they hit me the most often.

I understand not wanting a cabbed tractor because of the cost, and risk of damaging it, but after two years of having a cab, I also understand how much better it is to have a cab. I still have three tractors without cabs, and I use them all the time, but they are for special projects that are better done with those tractors. The deer has the hay spear for feeding the animals, the backhoe has the grapple for cleaning up trees and branches. When mowing season is over, I'll put the bucket back on and use the cab tractor to move dirt when it's too cold to be on the backhoe.

Overall, the cab allows me to be more productive, and get more done, then I was able to with the other tractors without a cab.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Now I work on my projects in the morning, and when it gets too hot to continue, or even to be able to think properly, I get in my cabbed tractor, and mow for a few hours. When I'm done mowing, I'm refreshed and feeling great!!!

The more I mow, the fewer weeds I have, and the easier it is to keep it under control.

Yep, both sounds very familiar to me.

 

[5030]

Just 'puree' those snakes with your shredder. I do by the creek, often. Pureed snakes make good fertilizer.

 

[JeepHead]

Don't know why ya'll are so scared of snakes for. They aren't the mean critter you make them out to be and are a living thing just as everything else is. The funny thing is that a snake bite doesn't hurt whatsoever, a chihuahua bites harder than a snake does. EVery snake just wants to be left alone and will only get defensive if not. Let them be to live their life.

 

[LouNY]

Don't know why ya'll are so scared of snakes for. They aren't the mean critter you make them out to be and are a living thing just as everything else is. The funny thing is that a snake bite doesn't hurt whatsoever, a chihuahua bites harder than a snake does. EVery snake just wants to be left alone and will only get defensive if not. Let them be to live their life.

As far as I'm concerned the only good snake is a dead snake. If I see them from a distance and can easily identify them I will not kill the "beneficial" ones, if it's a surprise encounter it is often difficult to put all the pieces back together to identify.

 

[EddieWalker]

Don't know why ya'll are so scared of snakes for. They aren't the mean critter you make them out to be and are a living thing just as everything else is. The funny thing is that a snake bite doesn't hurt whatsoever, a chihuahua bites harder than a snake does. EVery snake just wants to be left alone and will only get defensive if not. Let them be to live their life.

I've never been to Indiana, and I have no idea how many types of poisonous snakes you have there.

Here in East Texas, we have Cotton Mouth snakes, which are very common on my land. We have Copperhead Snakes, which I see every year. Some years I might just see a couple, other years, it could be a few more. There are Rattle Snakes here to, but they are very docile and from what I'm told, very rarely bit anybody. If attacked by a dog, they will bite the dog, and it's the only snake that is lethal to dogs if bitten. Dogs can handle Cotton Mouth and Copperhead bites naturally.

I've never been bit. The guy who hunts hogs on my land was bit last year. I probably know a dozen people that have been bit by either a Copperhead or Cotton Mouth. Half of them recovered without any long term issues. The other half have had a very bad time, including medivac helicopter flights, and where borderline on having amputation.

Common reason for being bit is walking in the grass. Moving a potted plant. Opening a gate. Feeding livestock. Nobody that I know of who has been bitten tried to handle or touch the snake. None of them even knew the snake was there!!!!

I also have rat snakes, racers and garter snakes. Those are probably not their scientific, actual real names, it's just what we call them. The rat snake is the most common of all the snakes I deal with. They love the eggs in my chicken coop!!! When coiled up in the coop, it is almost impossible to tell if it is a Cotton Mouth, or a Rat Snake. After I shoot it, I can tell. I shoot every snake I see. A few years ago, their numbers shot up to a crazy level. This year I've killed 6 snakes, and saw another six that where too fast for me, or I wasn't armed at the time. In the really bad year, I killed 30 snakes, my wife killed a dozen and my mom killed 6. A lot of them got away. Some of the got-a-ways where Cotton Mouths and Copperheads.

In my opinion, it would be negligent and dangerous to allow a snake to live anywhere close to my house.

Since the really bad year, I bought a bigger tractor with a batwing, and I've been able to mow my land three times a year. Short grass is not a snakes friend. Hawks and other wildlife kill them for me when the grass is short. I also have a lot of cats now. During the bad year, we also had some mice in the chicken coop. The cats killed all the mice. I haven't seen a mouse in several years. I haven't even seen any mouse poop in years. The snakes still come for the eggs and the baby chicks and ducklings, but not as often, and not as many.

Have you ever seen a Water Moccasin come out of the pond while on a zero turn mower, and stop right in front of you? It coiled up about ten feet in front of me, and all I could think of, if I tried to mow it over, it would come over the deck of the mower and get me.

My step daughter was on the zero turn a few years ago, and after she was done mowing, we found a Copperhead that she had killed with the mower that she never knew was there. That freaked her out!!!!

 

[deserteagle71]

Don't know why ya'll are so scared of snakes for. They aren't the mean critter you make them out to be and are a living thing just as everything else is. The funny thing is that a snake bite doesn't hurt whatsoever, a chihuahua bites harder than a snake does. EVery snake just wants to be left alone and will only get defensive if not. Let them be to live their life.

Try telling that to the parents of this little girl. Happened about two miles from where I live.

 

[KennyG]

All this is making me glad to live somewhere that virtually nothing is trying to kill you.

 

[JeepHead]

I've never been to Indiana, and I have no idea how many types of poisonous snakes you have there.

Here in East Texas, we have Cotton Mouth snakes, which are very common on my land. We have Copperhead Snakes, which I see every year. Some years I might just see a couple, other years, it could be a few more. There are Rattle Snakes here to, but they are very docile and from what I'm told, very rarely bit anybody. If attacked by a dog, they will bite the dog, and it's the only snake that is lethal to dogs if bitten. Dogs can handle Cotton Mouth and Copperhead bites naturally.

I've never been bit. The guy who hunts hogs on my land was bit last year. I probably know a dozen people that have been bit by either a Copperhead or Cotton Mouth. Half of them recovered without any long term issues. The other half have had a very bad time, including medivac helicopter flights, and where borderline on having amputation.

Common reason for being bit is walking in the grass. Moving a potted plant. Opening a gate. Feeding livestock. Nobody that I know of who has been bitten tried to handle or touch the snake. None of them even knew the snake was there!!!!

I also have rat snakes, racers and garter snakes. Those are probably not their scientific, actual real names, it's just what we call them. The rat snake is the most common of all the snakes I deal with. They love the eggs in my chicken coop!!! When coiled up in the coop, it is almost impossible to tell if it is a Cotton Mouth, or a Rat Snake. After I shoot it, I can tell. I shoot every snake I see. A few years ago, their numbers shot up to a crazy level. This year I've killed 6 snakes, and saw another six that where too fast for me, or I wasn't armed at the time. In the really bad year, I killed 30 snakes, my wife killed a dozen and my mom killed 6. A lot of them got away. Some of the got-a-ways where Cotton Mouths and Copperheads.

In my opinion, it would be negligent and dangerous to allow a snake to live anywhere close to my house.

Since the really bad year, I bought a bigger tractor with a batwing, and I've been able to mow my land three times a year. Short grass is not a snakes friend. Hawks and other wildlife kill them for me when the grass is short. I also have a lot of cats now. During the bad year, we also had some mice in the chicken coop. The cats killed all the mice. I haven't seen a mouse in several years. I haven't even seen any mouse poop in years. The snakes still come for the eggs and the baby chicks and ducklings, but not as often, and not as many.

Have you ever seen a Water Moccasin come out of the pond while on a zero turn mower, and stop right in front of you? It coiled up about ten feet in front of me, and all I could think of, if I tried to mow it over, it would come over the deck of the mower and get me.

My step daughter was on the zero turn a few years ago, and after she was done mowing, we found a Copperhead that she had killed with the mower that she never knew was there. That freaked her out!!!!

I have all of the same snakes as you (rattlers, copperheads, and cotton mouths) with the exception of the coral snake. I grew up in Florida where I had all the same as you. All snakes are fairly easily identified without seeing the head if you know what to look for.

Yes, I am knowledgeable about cotton mouths and have even been sent to the hospital to be treated from their bite. I have been bitten by numerous different snakes. I don't agree in killing an animal simply because you're scared of them or because you are unable to identify them. even the venomous ones are easily shewed away. If there are children around that could be harmed then that could change things.

No, dogs are not immune to the venom of copperheads or cottonmouths. They still pose a life risk to them the same as they do us.

Good observation that the copperhead didn't go out of it's way to bite your daughter. They do not have the brain capacity to be aggressive, just to defend themselves when they feel threatened.

 

[JeepHead]

Try telling that to the parents of this little girl. Happened about two miles from where I live.
View attachment 1075043

As unfortunate as that is, accidents happen. It's just a part of life. There are many animals on this planet that can take our lives but it doesn't mean we need to go around killing them because we are afraid. And the sad truth is that MOST doctors have zero understanding how to effectively treat a venomous snake bite. They're absolutely clueless and uninformed giving terrible treatment.

 

[bdhsfz6]

This thread keep's reminding me of the bonuses of owning a cabbed tractor.

I use a modified ag spreader to spread aggregate on my 1.25 mile private road in Winter. I used to have to wear a mask & goggles to keep the dust out of my eyes & lungs. I also had to blow my Carhart's off with the compressor to get the dust out afterward.

No more. Now all I have to do is change the cabin filter every year or so.

Big improvement!

 

[OzarkChris]

Everything I have has a cab.

This is just one of the many reasons.

Are you a cab, or open station type?

Best of both worlds, one of each. I've lost more mirrors, etc from my cabs when I decide it too hot/cold to use the open and do something stupid like bush hogging around heavy brush & tree areas.

my typical scenario looks like this: You watch to the left and at that very second a tree comes out and bites off your right mirror - still waiting to see that pesky tree do it (maybe I'll have to put video in the cab ). Then you back up to get close to the tree - because mamma wants that part of the field to look prettier, and as soon as to look through the back window another pesky tree sneaks up and hits your brush guard with a limb or something. I actually had a tree throw one of its limbs that was really high up in the tree at my door and broke the glass! There really ought to be a law!

Hey, I've got an idea, let's advocate for a bill to outlaw trees from bitting and/or hitting our tractors with any of their body parts. First offense could be No water for 30 days, 2nd offense would be removal by force numerous limbs and if it still doesn't learn it's lesson after that. It will be sentenced to death by woodstove or fireplace.

 

[CaptPat]

Hell yeah, I have a cab, it only took two NC summers to realize an open-station tractor was just stupid.