open station vs cab

[jlsmith]

I have both open platforms and cabs and feel safe in either one. Might take alittle while to get used to your cab but you will get to know it just like the other tractor. Each style tractor has both good and bad features.

 

[merrickvilleguy]

I'm not quite the width or height of the cab and am reasonably flexible to get out of the way.

wasn't trying to suggest that, however the very tips of branches tend to be light and easy to bend, the problems with glass would potentially be the larger diameters, and that would mean the branch has long since entered into the open station area and would not be fun

id think the big issue here is the 5-7k for a cab or put that to extra hp or implements ... ultimately its a personal, you'd be surprised what you can do with a cab before it goes over ... for me bugs and weather would limit my comfort and my operating time so it was a no brainer ... and i dont feel uncomfortable on hills or while moving loads

 

[TripleR]

wasn't trying to suggest that, however the very tips of branches tend to be light and easy to bend, the problems with glass would potentially be the larger diameters, and that would mean the branch has long since entered into the open station area and would not be fun

id think the big issue here is the 5-7k for a cab or put that to extra hp or implements ... ultimately its a personal, you'd be surprised what you can do with a cab before it goes over ... for me bugs and weather would limit my comfort and my operating time so it was a no brainer ... and i dont feel uncomfortable on hills or while moving loads

Pretty much my experience. I have open station tractors in addition to two with cabs, but with the exception of my 2660 or 2305, haven't used one in quite some time. I think I will use them to teach my grand kids how to drive, so they don't go to waste.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I'm not quite the width or height of the cab and am reasonably flexible to get out of the way.

Same here.

I find the "cab guys" just don't seem to understand that navigating a ROPS machine through realtively tight wilderness/trees is faily easy... whereas a CAB machine would either not make it or not make it without damage.

My property isn't really that challenging, however a CAB machine would get tore up. I mow around trees that would scratch, ding, dent and bust glass in a CAB. In a ROPS, I just duck a little and I am on my way. My ROPS hits the trees all of the time... but I am not worried about that.

ROPS or CAB... they each have their purpose.

I'm not earning a living with my tractor. I don't run my tractor "come rain or shine"... unless I want to. A CAB is way cool but makes no $$$ sense for me. Not to mention the navigation challenges mentioned above.

And last but not least... my tractor would not fit in my garage if it were a CAB.

 

[crazyal]

If needed I can flip the ROPS down and duck, not sure how to do that with a cab, lol. It's not the small branches but the big Beech limbs that are the problem for me.

 

[TripleR]

Same here.

I find the "cab guys" just don't seem to understand that navigating a ROPS machine through realtively tight wilderness/trees is faily easy... whereas a CAB machine would either not make it or not make it without damage.

Well, actually some of us do and ran open station tractors for years before buying a cab model.

I am however to that point in my life to where if it can't be done with a cab, it ain't gonna get done at least by me. That's why I have kids and grand kids.

Well that's not entirely true as I may run one in October or November when the temperature is in the sixties or seventies and all the biting insects have gone to sleep and the leaves are gone and...

 

[soulasphil]

1) we don't have any snow to plough
2) none of my doors will allow a cab tractor to enter the buildings and I'm not allowed to build anything else
3) we've got trees all over the place with nasty low branches
So the choice came easily really ......

 

[rjkobbeman]

Well, actually some of us do and ran open station tractors for years before buying a cab model.

I am however to that point in my life to where if it can't be done with a cab, it ain't gonna get done at least by me. That's why I have kids and grand kids.

Well that's not entirely true as I may run one in October or November when the temperature is in the sixties or seventies and all the biting insects have gone to sleep and the leaves are gone and...

I sure was wanting a CAB a couple of weeks ago. Was cutting my pasture in 98 degree heat. Between the sun, hot diesel exhaust, mosquitoes and fine poison ivy dust, I was envying the CABbies!

That reminds me. I found a cause of my recurring poison ivy: my armrests. Don't forget to wipe them down!

 

[jlsmith]

I sure was wanting a CAB a couple of weeks ago. Was cutting my pasture in 98 degree heat. Between the sun, hot diesel exhaust, mosquitoes and fine poison ivy dust, I was envying the CABbies!

That reminds me. I found a cause of my recurring poison ivy: my armrests. Don't forget to wipe them down!

Good advice, never thought of that.

 

[TripleR]

I sure was wanting a CAB a couple of weeks ago. Was cutting my pasture in 98 degree heat. Between the sun, hot diesel exhaust, mosquitoes and fine poison ivy dust, I was envying the CABbies!

That reminds me. I found a cause of my recurring poison ivy: my armrests. Don't forget to wipe them down!

That's for sure, poison Ivy will hang around for a LONG time. I keep some towelettes with me to wipe surfaces down.

Here is a picture of my "Woods Tractor".

 

[Mousefield]

I have never been in a tractor cab. I like the open platform, think if I was buying a tractor and cab or open was same price I would go for the open. I do go in the bush here and have lots of trees so feel much better without the cab. Even a couple of years ago, first year I had the tractor I spent a few hours clearing snow, didn't mind the weather at all. Of course it doesn't get that cold here, maybe a few degrees below freezing. Now if I was using it for hours on end then a cab with air and heat would probably be the way to go.

 

[lawn_king]

Everyone want an open station, that is until they own a cab machine. A cab machine is far safer and comfortable. You want to work a blizzard in a ski mobile suit or a tee shirt?

 

[rd_macgregor]

I take the mirrors off my Kioti DK45SC in the spring and leave them off all summer. I fold the mirror brackets in toward the windshield so they don't stick out to the sides. When the tractor was new, I was really paranoid about driving it in the woods; I wince less now when branches scrape the cab. A couple of weeks ago, as I was backing up on a narrow woods trail, a sapling maple was forced down onto the rear fender by being run over by the front wheel; this bent the slow-moving-vehicle-triangle bracket 90 degrees down..so I removed that bracket, too. (Moral: anything that sticks out to the sides gets whacked!)
Basically, I make my woods access trails somewhat more open/wider, and maybe a bit straighter, than I might do if I didn't have a cab...this works out well for my wife and daughter to use the trails for horse rides, though.
Working in a bug-free, dry, heated (or air-conditioned) environment makes all my tractor jobs, including my woods work, a lot more enjoyable.
BOB

 

[jlsmith]

Everyone want an open station, that is until they own a cab machine. A cab machine is far safer and comfortable. You want to work a blizzard in a ski mobile suit or a tee shirt?

I dont agree with this. I have both and lot of the time i would rather be in my open station than my cab.I fell just as safe in my op as i do my cab. :thumbsup:

 

[lawn_king]

I dont agree with this. I have both and lot of the time i would rather be in my open station than my cab.I fell just as safe in my op as i do my cab. :thumbsup:

When you are working in extremes, on an open station machine, be it heat,cold,wind,etc. You are not as focused on the task at hand. I make my living with my tractor & i ran open station internationals for 20 years, a cab machine is safer period!

 

[wny770]

Blowing 2 or3 feet of snow when it's 0 outside without a cab??? No thanks!

 

[Dargo]

I have never been in a tractor cab. I like the open platform, think if I was buying a tractor and cab or open was same price I would go for the open.

I can't say that I've ever heard anyone claim that before with a straight face. I probably still have a few thousand more hours seat time in an open station tractor, but that will even out and swing the other way before too long. Employers have found that it is far more economical to buy cab tractors for their employees since they get so much more production out of the operators. Other than just for that "cheapo" tractor to leave out in the field, a very warm place would freeze over before I'd ever consider a tractor without a cab again!

Reasons to love an open station:
- heat stroke in summer
- frostbite in winter
- bug bites most of the year
- interesting things come out of your nose at the end of the day
- grass trimmings blown into my ears and eyes
- ground hornets
- dust in my eyes and mouth
- skin ripped to shreds by thorns when rough cutting
- striped wing flies biting me on the head that won't go away
- gauges fogged over after a few years
- gauges that don't work after a few more years
- ripped seat that somehow allows the padding to hold water for months and keep my rear wet
- wasp nests under my seat
- (honestly) bird droppings in the face
- small limbs smacking me in the face
- etc. etc. etc.

 

[Don87]

I can't say that I've ever heard anyone claim that before with a straight face. I probably still have a few thousand more hours seat time in an open station tractor, but that will even out and swing the other way before too long. Employers have found that it is far more economical to buy cab tractors for their employees since they get so much more production out of the operators. Other than just for that "cheapo" tractor to leave out in the field, a very warm place would freeze over before I'd ever consider a tractor without a cab again!

Reasons to love an open station:
- heat stroke in summer
- frostbite in winter
- bug bites most of the year
- interesting things come out of your nose at the end of the day
- grass trimmings blown into my ears and eyes
- ground hornets
- dust in my eyes and mouth
- skin ripped to shreds by thorns when rough cutting
- striped wing flies biting me on the head that won't go away
- gauges fogged over after a few years
- gauges that don't work after a few more years
- ripped seat that somehow allows the padding to hold water for months and keep my rear wet
- wasp nests under my seat
- (honestly) bird droppings in the face
- small limbs smacking me in the face
- etc. etc. etc.

And here I thought I done a 'good thing' by getting rid of my old cub cadet.........Now I gotta sell my new Massey, and contract the work out.
Thanks for the 16,000 dollar loss

 

[jlsmith]

When you are working in extremes, on an open station machine, be it heat,cold,wind,etc. You are not as focused on the task at hand. I make my living with my tractor & i ran open station internationals for 20 years, a cab machine is safer period!

So not true. You get all nice and cozy in your cab, uve got the radio going and the ac blowing wide open and YOU cant hear anything going on with ur equipment and thats how stuff get tore up. Yes in the winter time i do like my cab and i do use my cab in the summer also when im baling but my rear window is open and there is no radio in it. I aso like to bale and bush hog with my op tractor also. I to make alot of money with my tractors i work them everyday and i too now about working in the weather 110 in the summer and low 20s in the winter. And i sorry but i dont c how a cab is safer than an op. But if you feel safer then so b it.:thumbsup:

 

[Mousefield]

I can't say that I've ever heard anyone claim that before with a straight face. I probably still have a few thousand more hours seat time in an open station tractor, but that will even out and swing the other way before too long. Employers have found that it is far more economical to buy cab tractors for their employees since they get so much more production out of the operators. Other than just for that "cheapo" tractor to leave out in the field, a very warm place would freeze over before I'd ever consider a tractor without a cab again!

Reasons to love an open station:
- heat stroke in summer
- frostbite in winter
- bug bites most of the year
- interesting things come out of your nose at the end of the day
- grass trimmings blown into my ears and eyes
- ground hornets
- dust in my eyes and mouth
- skin ripped to shreds by thorns when rough cutting
- striped wing flies biting me on the head that won't go away
- gauges fogged over after a few years
- gauges that don't work after a few more years
- ripped seat that somehow allows the padding to hold water for months and keep my rear wet
- wasp nests under my seat
- (honestly) bird droppings in the face
- small limbs smacking me in the face
- etc. etc. etc.

I have had this tractor for over two years and it is my first one. Now have 257 hours on it. I have never felt the need to have a cab. :tractor:

I did have this comment in my earlier post on this thread.
Now if I was using it for hours on end then a cab with air and heat would probably be the way to go.