Air conditioned cabs

MessickFarmEqu · Jul 14, 2016

F-series mowers are about the closest you can get to a ZTR with a cab. there are add-on air conditioners from red dot that you can bolt to the cab.

kthompson · Jul 14, 2016

I would think if your ztr has roll bars you could mount a canopy top to it. I know that make a world of difference compared to the sun on my tractors. (I do have one with cab and a/c and appreciate it right now.) Fan would no doubt help with the dust. Look around for the lowest lift blades and that will help cut down on the dust. Also raising the deck.
But the other day was talking with a friend of mine and asked something that I think would be a big help, whey is there no seat with cooling built into it for open equipment? If the seat was cooling your back, butt and some of the back of your legs it would have to really help cool you. As to hp requirement think my Ferris has plenty for that, 37 hp on 60 inch deck. Never seen a tree it did not try to climb, lol.
Okay my brain did finally remember, look to the sports industry such as auto for cooling suits. Here is one link but do a search and you can find cooling solution, go with the a/c helmet and maybe it will also solve the dust issue.
air conditioned race suit - Google Search

CCWKen · Jul 14, 2016

Those Red Dot a/c units draw a lot of current. So would any application where you had to run a condenser fan as well as a blower fan. Usually in the 30-40A range. A little lawnmower battery won't handle that for very long. You'd need an alternator and larger battery.

The newer auto a/c compressors don't draw much hp--About 1-2hp at most. The little Sanden SD508 is pretty compact too. I know of a guy that installed a/c in an antique Model T car and they only have a 20hp engine. He says he can't tell it's running but the Model T has lots of torque too.

Found a picture of his install.

pmsmechanic · Jul 14, 2016

A model T with air co. Now I've seen it all.

Just because a new mower costs $45000 just to get A/C doesn't mean you need to buy one. Used units work very well and are a lot cheaper.

kthompson · Jul 15, 2016

No idea what unit is a red dot and have NO experience with any of these units but would think if motorcycle battery and alternator could handle it a proper powered lawnmower could but hey I am not a motorcycle person at all.

On different thought here: saw a side by side yesterday oh 100 or so yards away from the side and it looked like a early 50 model ford a lot. Enough I studied it for a few minutes before asking my friend what he thought it was. By then had figured out what was looking at but it stumped him also but it was a side by side with enclosed cab. You may find an enclosed cab built for something else that would work but really doubt it. You have to have sealed floor and all.