Bob_Young
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2002
- Messages
- 1,244
- Location
- North of the Fingerlakes - NY
- Tractor
- Ford 4000; Ford 2000(both 3cyl.);JD40; 2004 Kubota L4300; 2006 Kubota B7610; new 2007 Kubota MX5000
As dependable as the weather, LBrown.
There have been days where being confined to a cab felt like being locked in a coffin. On those days, it was nice to have a cab that popped open on all four sides. Yeah, the dust and the noise got in; but so did that glorious fall air.
Other days I would've barely lasted 6 hours on an open station, where a cab let me work 10 or 12. And there have been a good many days where I thought I'd die from exposure or choke to death on the dust while working on an open station.
The extremes were always when doing 'real' farm work for the neighbor in open fields. Most of the time, the cab was very welcome.
On my own place, a cab would be impractical due to all the trees. Plus the place is small enough that only rarely would a full day be put in on a tractor doing anything. For my own work, I won't even consider a cab.
A few points to answer the O.P.'s question:
1) Hooking up the 3PH on a cab tractor can be tougher. You can't just reach over the fender and manipulate the control. The big iron often has an up/down switch on a fender. This helps a lot. Dunno about the Bs and Ls. Getting a top-n-tilt set right for hookup would pose much the same problem.
2) Standing up while operating relaxes some muscles and stretches some others. It can provide a welcome break during a long day in the field. It can also provide better visibility for loader operation. This usually isn't possible in a cab tractor.
3) Check that while seated you have a good view of the loader bucket in the fully raised position if you're considering a cab. If you're loading something on a truck or stacking you don't want to have to duck and weave to see what you're doing. Some of the new cabs on big tractors have a transparent section of roof for this.
4) If $ are an issue, I'd rather have MFWD or a loader or more HP/weight (within reason) than a cab. But, if these things are all covered and the money's available, go for it.
5) Too me, a cab is an almost required option on a tractor that's working day-to-day earning money to support itself and its owner. For the weekend warrior, not so much, unless there are special needs.
6) If working long days, a cab will keep you fresher and more alert. It could easily pay for itself if being alert (thanks to a cab) saves you from one expensive mistake or bad accident.
FWIW---sorry it's so long.
Bob
There have been days where being confined to a cab felt like being locked in a coffin. On those days, it was nice to have a cab that popped open on all four sides. Yeah, the dust and the noise got in; but so did that glorious fall air.
Other days I would've barely lasted 6 hours on an open station, where a cab let me work 10 or 12. And there have been a good many days where I thought I'd die from exposure or choke to death on the dust while working on an open station.
The extremes were always when doing 'real' farm work for the neighbor in open fields. Most of the time, the cab was very welcome.
On my own place, a cab would be impractical due to all the trees. Plus the place is small enough that only rarely would a full day be put in on a tractor doing anything. For my own work, I won't even consider a cab.
A few points to answer the O.P.'s question:
1) Hooking up the 3PH on a cab tractor can be tougher. You can't just reach over the fender and manipulate the control. The big iron often has an up/down switch on a fender. This helps a lot. Dunno about the Bs and Ls. Getting a top-n-tilt set right for hookup would pose much the same problem.
2) Standing up while operating relaxes some muscles and stretches some others. It can provide a welcome break during a long day in the field. It can also provide better visibility for loader operation. This usually isn't possible in a cab tractor.
3) Check that while seated you have a good view of the loader bucket in the fully raised position if you're considering a cab. If you're loading something on a truck or stacking you don't want to have to duck and weave to see what you're doing. Some of the new cabs on big tractors have a transparent section of roof for this.
4) If $ are an issue, I'd rather have MFWD or a loader or more HP/weight (within reason) than a cab. But, if these things are all covered and the money's available, go for it.
5) Too me, a cab is an almost required option on a tractor that's working day-to-day earning money to support itself and its owner. For the weekend warrior, not so much, unless there are special needs.
6) If working long days, a cab will keep you fresher and more alert. It could easily pay for itself if being alert (thanks to a cab) saves you from one expensive mistake or bad accident.
FWIW---sorry it's so long.
Bob
