To cab or not to cab?

[MMagis]

but I cant recall any "I'm tired of my cab and gonna trade down to an OS" posts....

I'm not sure how often you log on, but I remember some.
Even if money were no option, I probably wouldn't want one. They don't go through the woods well, and they limit my vision in some situations. A cab would be nice for certain things, and ideally I could have a tractor for each task. Until that happens, I'll go without a cab.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

They don't go through the woods well

Another one of the popular excuses. If cabs were such a hinderance in the woods I'm sure a MFG out there somewhere would offer a cabless/low profile Skidder....but I know of no such animal. If a cabbed behemoth skidder can do it, a tiny cabbed CUT can too. While I dont do any logging with my 3520, I have pulled my share of trees with a Kubota L2900/Laurin Cab. Working in the woods is really simple with a cab when you clear an adequate twitch road. You just can blindly stuff a cabbed machine in the woods and break trail.

 

[om21braz]

IMHO if you have the need for a tractor period and have the funds, it's a no-brainer - Check the cab box. As for me, I just was'nt willing to ante up - it might have been a mistake in the long run.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

IMHO if you have the need for a tractor period and have the funds, it's a no-brainer - Check the cab box. As for me, I just was'nt willing to ante up - it might have been a mistake in the long run.

I'm gonna have to copy that quote for future use :thumbsup:...or we make a sticky at the top of the forum saying "Thinking about a Cab/No Cab...read this".

Thank you for being honest....I think alot of people werent willing to ante up in the beginning...and now are spinning the "cabs are for girly men" tales to convince themselves they made the right choice back when.

 

[rekees4300]

If you have the money and its presence doesn't cause a problem then I say go for it and get a cab. The entrance to my shed is too low for a cab or I would have gotten one a long time ago. It would have been nice snow plowing the lane at minus zero wind chills or when the yellow jackets get POed in the summer or when you get caught in the rain.

 

[MMagis]

I'm gonna have to copy that quote for future use :thumbsup:...or we make a sticky at the top of the forum saying "Thinking about a Cab/No Cab...read this".

Thank you for being honest....I think alot of people werent willing to ante up in the beginning...and now are spinning the "cabs are for girly men" tales to convince themselves they made the right choice back when.

What is your problem? Its honesty if someone agrees with you, but the rest of us are stupid? You don't know how I use my tractor, and I'm not sure how you can tell me what would work and what wouldn't. Clear the woods out for my tractor? That sounds like quite a waste of time. I'm glad you like your cab, but get off your high horse. If every tractor needed a cab, they would be as standard as ROPS have become. I don't need a cab, and I really don't need you insinuating that I'm stupid or cheap because I don't.

 

[dmay]

Another one of the popular excuses. If cabs were such a hinderance in the woods I'm sure a MFG out there somewhere would offer a cabless/low profile Skidder....but I know of no such animal. If a cabbed behemoth skidder can do it, a tiny cabbed CUT can too. While I dont do any logging with my 3520, I have pulled my share of trees with a Kubota L2900/Laurin Cab. Working in the woods is really simple with a cab when you clear an adequate twitch road. You just can blindly stuff a cabbed machine in the woods and break trail.

The cab on a tractor is for operator comfort. It offers marginal protection from the woods or falling objects. All nicely painted fiberglass and safety glass. No one wants to incur scratches, dents or glass breakage in a tractor cab.

The cab on a skidder is for operator comfort + protection. Cabs are typically a reinforced steel shell with polycarbonate windows protected by metal screens, all painted a flat black. One rarely cares if their skidder cab is scratched, dented or has a broken window. Just makes your skidder more manly.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

What is your problem? Its honesty if someone agrees with you, but the rest of us are stupid?

Nope, never said anyone here was stupid....and its not that its honest if someone agrees with me. We CAN agree to disagree.
All I was trying to point out is that more often then not the true driving force betwen cab/no cab is purely financial. Period. I know it for a fact because I tried selling myself mentally on an O.S. with the same reasoning and thoughts because I wanted to save a few bucks...My father being older and wiser (been there, done that) set me straight.
And to clarify...by financial motives, I mean much more then the actual cost of the cab itself.....

The cab on a tractor is for operator comfort. It offers marginal protection from the woods or falling objects. All nicely painted fiberglass and safety glass. No one wants to incur scratches, dents or glass breakage in a tractor cab.

You're absouletly right, I was merely trying to illustrate that large objects can go thru the woods. I would say my cab would provice near zero protection from a falling tree. I have a trail cut into my "woods" to a little open parking zone where I park my attachments out of view...

 

[RoyJackson]

...and now are spinning the "cabs are for girly men" tales to convince themselves they made the right choice back when.

The "girly man" comment was, obviously, a joke... The serious part was the second paragraph.

In my circumstance, a cab would be more of a hindrance. Too sloped and too many low hanging branches (which I'm not going to trim...I like 'em).
Also, I'd definitely not like the tippyness of most CUTs with cabs.

As far as a couple hours out in the snow...no problem, I get cold, I take a break (but I do have the correct clothing for outdor use). If it's too hot...take a break! Dirty? well, a nice shower fixes that, doesn't it?

Now, if I made my living on a farm or tractor usage for 6-8 hours a day...then it's a worthwhile cost. For a residential owner who cuts his grass and some loader work or snow removal...doubt it's worth that extra several thousand (I doubt you see that when you sell or trade).

But it's your money...spend it as you please. You cab guys sure don't need to justify how you spend your $$$ to anyone on an internet forum (might have to explain it to your wife though!).

So...all you guys justifying a cab...just go buy a cabbed tractor. If we read about how tippy it is...well, you knew that before buying, right?
Trust me...I love checking out and posting on TBN...but when it comes to making a decision on a tractor, I make my own decision. And, you guys got to do the same...

 

[wolc123]

I dont have anything against cabs on larger tractors, just on smaller ones, especially those that see a couple hundred hours or less of usage per year. When it comes to sun-protection, I think that most folks think its just cab/no cab without recognizing the effectiveness of a good canopy. Have any of you cab proponents ever tried a good canopy under the hot sun? I have spent many hours operating larger, cabbed tractors and, based on this experience, I can tell you that a good canopy is much closer in comfort to a AC-equipped cab than an open station, but offers many advantages over the cab (ability to quickly remove, lighter weight, cost, no hp robbing, etc..) As far as woods usage, you got to be kidding me. I would have several loads of wood up at the barn with my open tractor before you got your "twitch path" cleared. I do apologize to you CUT cab folks, and I understand your frustration and heated responses. I would also be a little agitated if someone told me I had frittered away that much cash when a much better solution existed - CANOPY.