cab build

[Drtumolo]

I am fairly new to the site and just picked up a 2007 John Deere 2305 loader. I am about to start the project of building a cab and was looking for any tips. I read many post here about building one but most of the post are a few years old. Any advice would be great.

 

[chim]

Welcome to the club. I wanted a cab for the first Kubota but never got up the nerve. After 10 years it was replaced with the current tractor and heading into the first winter with it (2012/2013) decided to go ahead and order some steel. It's coming up on 3 years since I finished my build and the cab still serves me well. It was chilly and windy here this morning at 09:00 when I started the last mowing of 2015, so I put the doors on it.

Roygage has an excellent write-up on his build and it was one of the most helpful for me. My advice would be to spend lots of time Googling any combo of the words build-cab-homemade-DIY-tractor-etc. You get the idea. There's value in reading about pitfalls to avoid, good sources for parts and much more.

Here's a link to Roy's info:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...t-tractor-cab-kubota.html?highlight=build+cab

Here's a link to my build:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...lly-decided-time.html?highlight=diy+cab+l3200

A couple of photos and a link to a real short video of the door latch:

http://vid1295.photobucket.com/albums/b628/jim_miller7/IMG_0812_zpshgtsabqx.mp4

 

[Humblebub]

I too considered building a cab but my fab skills are very limited. I found a small welding shop in Northern New Brunswick who makes custom cabs. His prices start at $2,750 CAD. I quickly decided that (for me) that was a far better approach. I have not regretted the decision. Last time I spoke with him he had 19 lined up on his build list. Just spent the morning swapping mower for blower as we get ready for the long dark period here in Eastern Canada.

 

[Drtumolo]

Chim, thanks for the reply. I had already read your build post. You did an awesome job with your build. I hope mine comes out even close to as nice. I see you live in Lancaster PA. I live about an 1.5hrs north of you.

 

[chim]

Howdy Drtumolo, are you from near Frackville?

We have a Montana at work that I ordered steel tube for not long after doing my cab. The weld shop has a lull right now and there's a guy we hired within the last year who is in the process of building a cab. It looks like he's going to do a terrific job. He's a real craftsman and I expect this build will make mine look more like it was done by the amateur I am. I'll get some pics.

 

[Drtumolo]

Chim, I am from Sunbury PA. Yours looks far from amature. Please post pics of the build going on in your shop. I would be interested in seeing it.

 

[chim]

Wifey and I were through your area a couple weeks ago. Made a Sunday trip to see leaves and hit a pizza place we like in Jersey Shore. I'll get some pics of the build going on.

 

[Drtumolo]

Chim, could you email me some pics of how you handled the foot area on your cab?

 

[Drtumolo]

Humblebub, that is a great looking cab that you had built. Unfortunatly no one I contacted local to me was willing to takle the project for a reasonable fee. Plus so far this has been a pretty enjoyable build.

 

[Humblebub]

Thanks. I love it and have not had a moment of buyers remorse. The guy that builds them loves his work and is proud of the outcome. A rare combo. He is not making a lot of money on each build but as he puts it, "I am happy and have no stress". If he was a little closer to me I would have him doing other stuff for me. It is a half day drive from my home.

 

[chim]

Chim, could you email me some pics of how you handled the foot area on your cab?

Here's how it was done. The tube steel trapezoid is part of the left cab wall. It's welded to that part of the cab frame, and isn't fastened to the tractor. Then the floor mat is a piece of cow mat from TSC that is sufficiently rigid to bridge the small gap.

The shape of the fenders and floor of the tractor is such that it narrows toward the front. I ran the cab walls straight for two reasons. The shape of the cab being tapered in on the top half already added a degree of difficulty for the door fab, and keeping the cab as wide as the outside of the fenders made it quite roomy. There are times I reach for the grab handles and with the cab walls outboard of the fenders they are still accessible.

 

[Drtumolo]

Thanks. That is what I was envisioning.

 

[PILOON]

My cab is also a DIY unit.
The floor boards were letting in more cold than I wanted.
My solution was to use the interlocking floor foam floor mats sold in Wallmart as they are about 1/2" thick foam rubber and easy to trim to fit. I made a paper pattern first.

 

[Drtumolo]

Ok after a week in the garage I have a cab framed up and almost ready for paint. I am getting a glass windshield cut by a local glass shop but think I am going with lexan or plexiglass for the other windows. Where is the best (cheapest) place to buy?

 

[chim]

I bought a piece of Lexan at a hardware store for the part of the cab that swallows the hood. It seemed like too much of a job to get glass cut into the odd shapes. I paid around $70 for some 1/8" that was around 16 square feet. I can't remember where the post was but I read one within the last day or two from a guy who bought some very thin Lexan and I think it cost about half that much for a 4x8 sheet.

EDIT TO ADD - Found post:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/348322-i-can-see-clearly-now.html

I like glass because of the scratch resistance. I can take a dry rag, glove or whatever and wipe dust off if it gets too hard to see through. If you have your mind made up to use a plastic material in lieu of glass, the guy at the hardware store told me that Plexiglass doesn't scratch as bad as Lexan, but it shatters easier. After using Lexan to cover a couple forklift roofs I was sold on its durability and decided to risk some scratches. We used our big hydraulic press brake to bend angled rain lips on the Lexan. We drilled it and bolted it to clips for fastening. The darn stuff is almost indestructible

 

[GPintheMitten]

We need pics. I got plexiglass at home Depot.

 

[Drtumolo]

I am not sure how to add pictures to this thread.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I am not sure how to add pictures to this thread.

Choose Go Advanced the choose Manage Attachments.

 

[Xfaxman]

I am not sure how to add pictures to this thread.

Here is another way: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/photos/107314-photo-posting-how-3.html?highlight=#post3967120

 

[Drtumolo]

I attached a few pictures. Still trying to decide between powder coat, paint or spray on bed liner for the finish. I am also waiting for glass prices vs lexan.