Are tractors with cabs becoming the norm?

CobyRupert · Jan 4, 2015

Open station would of made a difference as he wouldn't of went down with it and been trapped inside when it landed on the door side.

I don't know the outcome, I don't want to know the outcome, Doesn't look good landing door side down, but I'm hoping somehow he made it. ick out a window or something. Until I know otherwise, I'll stick with that.

TSO · Jan 4, 2015

CobyRupert said:
Open station would of made a difference as he wouldn't of went down with it and been trapped inside when it landed on the door side.

I don't know the outcome, I don't want to know the outcome, Doesn't look good landing door side down, but I'm hoping somehow he made it. ick out a window or something. Until I know otherwise, I'll stick with that.

I disagree. That tractor went down fast. It likely would have pinned him anyhow. I think his retardation left him screwed, whether he was in a cab OR an open station.

bigcut · Jan 4, 2015

Geez CT,
The dash in your cab looks like command central for NASA !! What a nice rig you have. In Louisiana I'm sure you need that AC in the summer and it does get cold where you're at. I've been to NO a couple of time in the winter. Saw some snow flakes.
Enjoy the LS safely.
John

PatMcD · Jan 5, 2015

Without having read through all 150 replies, I'll add this:

With the way I use my tractor, I think a cab would be huge pain in the ***.
On and off a lot doing woods/logging work having to open/close the door all the time. No to mention damage from tree branches.
Hooking up implements needing to tap the 3pt hitch lever up or down would be a real *****.

For a dedicated snow removal rig or field work, a cab would be worth it's weight in gold.

CobyRupert · Jan 5, 2015

TSO said:
I disagree. That tractor went down fast. It likely would have pinned him anyhow. I think his retardation left him screwed, whether he was in a cab OR an open station.

I don't want to argue for the sake of arguing (ok, maybe I do

), but I don't understand how you could get trapped in an open station tractor that sinks underneath you. If he could swim, he's wouldn't of got trapped. What am I missing?

MinnesotaEric · Jan 5, 2015

I have been lucky with weather so far. The only time I really needed the cab was when a thunderstorm blew up. I stopped trimming trees with saws, jumped in my cab and started clearing material with my rotary cutter. Meanwhile the wind went sideways. I wasn't too concerns about trees falling as I was working in a brushy area topped at 20-25 feet.

I have enjoyed my cab using the rotary cutter when it is dry out as it raises a lot of dust, even in a forest setting.

Downside, the cab isn't nearly as quiet as I hoped and I'm disappointed by the fact that I'm wearing hearing protection in my cab (I have sensitive hearing).

TSO · Jan 5, 2015

CobyRupert said:
I don't want to argue for the sake of arguing (ok, maybe I do ), but I don't understand how you could get trapped in an open station tractor that sinks underneath you. If he could swim, he's wouldn't of got trapped. What am I missing?

It would all depend on the depth of the water and the tractors rate of decent. If the water was deep enough to allow time for him to get out from under it before it hits bottom and pins him, then I suppose he'd be able to escape around it and swim up.

The relatively short distance from shore would suggest that the water wasn't dramatically deep, but then again, apparently it was deep enough to submerge the tractor. But, as the tractor took an immediate and violent dive to the left, he would still be holding the wheel, in a seated positron, with butt on seat, and get on the floor (or pedals). The average person takes between 2 - 2.5 seconds to perceive, recognize, formulate a response, and react to an unexpected stimuli. Even giving him the benefit of the doubt, suggesting his response time was closer to 2 seconds... That likely would not have been enough time to intelligently escape from the tractor in a direction that would not collide with, or pin him under, the falling mass.

I'm not trying to root against the guy, and I don't know the outcome... But it seems to me that he was screwed either way.

doxford jim · Jan 5, 2015

You guys with new fancy tractors and cabs sure make me envious

I have an open station tractor and probably use it for 60 or 70 hours a year - not too much. I bought the open station as it was the cheapest plus I never even thought about having a cab before. Now, after clearing 24" snow in -15C weather, using a rear push snow blower, I can see the need for protection in very cold weather. I have soldiered on and dressed up etc. but I still end up with being covered with snow and ice (if there is any wind) and very cold after doing the snow clearing. At 70 I just ain't getting any younger and would love a new cab tractor if I had the money.

Next summer (2015) I will be building a cab for my tractor just to keep the winter weather at bay. Hopefully I can do it in sections (panels) so that panels can be removed or added as the need arises. I know it will be cheap enough to do and well within my capabilities. Winter last year was bad here (my greenhouse collapsed from the snow ) and so far this winter has been ok - but still blooming cold. I have been procrastinating for seven years and now see a cab in my future.

If I win the lottery a new cab tractor would be at the top of my shopping list, but for now I will just have to make do.

txdon · Jan 5, 2015

CobyRupert said:
I don't want to know the outcome.

Stop now!
Don't read this link.

That car in the background was his first failed attempt to cross the water.

Drunk Man Dies After Tractor Fell Through Ice - Video | KillSomeTime.com

Utopia Texas · Jan 5, 2015

PK

PatMcD said:
Without having read through all 150 replies, I'll add this:

With the way I use my tractor, I think a cab would be huge pain in the ***.
On and off a lot doing woods/logging work having to open/close the door all the time. No to mention damage from tree branches.
Hooking up implements needing to tap the 3pt hitch lever up or down would be a real *****.

For a dedicated snow removal rig or field work, a cab would be worth it's weight in gold.

My younger brother's John Deere has two toggle switchs on the rear of his unit that raise and lower the lift arms and also creeps the tractor forward or backward to assist connecting implements without having to get in the tractor.
My new New Holland T4.75 has extendable lower arms and a hydraulic handle at the rear of the tractor to lift and lower the arms while attaching implements without having to get in the tractor.
Problem solved......

I have had 6 open tractors in the past 50 years and bought both my closed cab tractors last year and wished I had done it years ago. No more mowing in 100 degree + weather, no more carrying firewood in below freezing weather and still able to work comfortably in rain. I will agree with your concerns in forest/wooded area. I have 22 acres in the East Texas Piney Woods and a cabbed tractor can be a hassle there to work in extreme close quarters and under brush. I take one of my open tractors there to work...