Adding Cab and Air to Smaller Tractors

bob parker · Feb 12, 2015

Have to agree with the nay-sayers! If you need/want a tractor with a cab, trade off what you have and invest in a unit with a cab. I've seen several people try to cobble together tractor cabs and all their efforts have been unsuccessful in terms of results and/or costs. Also, after-market cab kits available tend to cost more than the additional cost of a factory installed OEM cab.

rswyan · Feb 13, 2015

Labrat said:
I would like to try one of these on my cab when i get tired of swapping it every spring and fall. It runs on 12v DC including the compressor, only thing is the alternator would need 50+ amps just for the A/C but it beats running any hoses and finding a way to mount an open drive compressor. weighs about 80lbs.

View attachment 406727

I have a similar rooftop AC unit on my van ... runs off a large battery bank to cool the van while the vehicle is not running and I'm in the bunk in the sleeper.

You are correct in your assessment of the power requirement (50+ amps) ... and it would likely do a fine job of cooling a tractor cab.

tman1020 · Feb 13, 2015

I wonder what they cost I don't see prices listed

rswyan · Feb 13, 2015

tman1020 said:
I wonder what they cost I don't see prices listed

They may be rather pricey still ...

I haven't price-shopped lately, but when I bought mine a few years back it was over $4K ...

Travelover · Feb 13, 2015

Some hybrid cars have electric AC. I wonder if one could buy a compressor from a wrecking yard.

Labrat · Feb 13, 2015

We don't currently sell these to the tractor market but if there was enough interest we could put some pricing together.

Jd5203 · Feb 13, 2015

Go to cabdepot.com. You can pretty much build it the way you want and keep it within a budget.

tman1020 · Feb 13, 2015

Yea that is a Bit pricey but I'm glad there is a option. Do you have to add a separate battery bank?

skytracker · Feb 13, 2015

It can be a hard choice for either the factory cab, aftermarket, or build your own. I got lucky and found an aftermarket one for a Ford 4000 made by a company in Traverse City, MI cheap, and am adapting it to my 3000. It came with an RV type roof mounted heater/AC unit, 12V. The fan was locked up and needed replaced. It has a 25 Amp circuit running it. Its 5,800 BTU AC and 1200W heat with variable settings. For the small area I think it does pretty well. We found one like it at an RV store for $485 to put on my neighbors Kubota Curtis cab.
I used the 3/8" closed cell brown foam for insulation and additional noise dampening. The OP is doing a great job with his.

chim · Feb 13, 2015

bob parker said:
Have to agree with the nay-sayers! If you need/want a tractor with a cab, trade off what you have and invest in a unit with a cab. I've seen several people try to cobble together tractor cabs and all their efforts have been unsuccessful in terms of results and/or costs. Also, after-market cab kits available tend to cost more than the additional cost of a factory installed OEM cab.

Welcome aboard, Bob.

Glad you didn't post that two years ago. I was able to build mine before being informed that it was impossible

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...b-finally-decided-time.html?highlight=DIY+Cab