Boondox
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 3,873
- Location
- Craftsbury Common, Vermont
- Tractor
- Deere 4044R cab, Kubota KX-121-3S
I live in New England where the weather is often pretty ugly, so on the face of it the decision seems like a no brainer. For reasons of comfort as well as protecting my investment from the elements it seems like a cab is the way to go. I didn't get the cab model on my L4630 for a couple of reasons, though:
1) I have a low breezeway the tractor can pass under only with the ROPS lowered; a cab would have made that impossible.
2) One of the primary uses of the tractor is to harvest firewood in our dense hardwood forest; the old timers advised me against going with a cab because they are invariably damaged by branches. In fact, the day I bought my tractor a cab model was returned with a shattered back window and that curved glass is EXPENSIVE!
Now that I'm in the market for a mini-excavator I'm facing the same decision. A cab would keep me much more comfortable in the cold and if it's not too hot (can't afford AC) it would keep the black flies and mosquitos at bay. It would also keep the rain, ice and snow off the controls.
Cons of a cab (for me): They cost an additional $5000 that could be better spent on a more capable model. Concerns about damage would make it less manueverable in the forest. My dogs often accompany me and are under voice control, but it's hard to call them from inside a cab. In the summer months without AC (remember I can't afford it) the cab would be like being in one of those coolers in a movie about a POW camp.
Would you go with a cab...or without and get a bigger piece of equipment?
1) I have a low breezeway the tractor can pass under only with the ROPS lowered; a cab would have made that impossible.
2) One of the primary uses of the tractor is to harvest firewood in our dense hardwood forest; the old timers advised me against going with a cab because they are invariably damaged by branches. In fact, the day I bought my tractor a cab model was returned with a shattered back window and that curved glass is EXPENSIVE!
Now that I'm in the market for a mini-excavator I'm facing the same decision. A cab would keep me much more comfortable in the cold and if it's not too hot (can't afford AC) it would keep the black flies and mosquitos at bay. It would also keep the rain, ice and snow off the controls.
Cons of a cab (for me): They cost an additional $5000 that could be better spent on a more capable model. Concerns about damage would make it less manueverable in the forest. My dogs often accompany me and are under voice control, but it's hard to call them from inside a cab. In the summer months without AC (remember I can't afford it) the cab would be like being in one of those coolers in a movie about a POW camp.
Would you go with a cab...or without and get a bigger piece of equipment?