Cab or No Cab?

[Ductape]

Get the cab now, add the backhoe later. You can reverse the process, but you'll regret it. Adding an aftermarket cab will cost nearly as much as the factory cab, but will lack A/C, any filtration, be noisier, less roomy, and not add much to resale value down the road.

 

[GinNB]

The backhoe is no help in the winter when you are blowing snow, but I haven't figured out yet how to dig a trench with my cab!

True dat!

Can't answer the cab/hoe choice without knowing how many shovels of theoretical dirt a cab would have to make up for. If I dug ditches for a living, well, guess what? I'd have an open-station with a backhoe. I have little use for a small backhoe myself, so I hire it out when I need something done. When I've got a use for a big hoe, I use the big hoe (JD690).

 

[bandit67]

If you had to choose between a cab or a backhoe due to financial considerations, which would the majority choose?

Only you can determine which option is more valuable to you.

Which will you get more work done with over the course of a year? Do you have a lot of backhoe chores lined up? Do you need to mow every 4 days in horrible heat and/or humidity, or clear snow for 3-4 months in frigid, windy temps? Do you need to log a lot of hours in drizzly conditions that a tractor could still get around in?

Now that I've moved away from the horrible 100+* summer heat, I can enjoy beautiful-weather open-canopy tractor work in the spring, summer, & fall.

I did a lot of plowing on the ATV this year, and even at -10, I was able to bundle up enough to not be too terribly uncomfortable. I don't mind the cold, and get acclimated to it in pretty short order. That first 20* day of the year is unbelievably cold, but within a week, the cold isn't that bad. The coldest day we went out on the dogsleds this winter was -24* - it was cold, but it was bearable. You just need the right gear.

I had a full size TLB for a few days last fall, and did not like the cab at all. I could see me only wanting the cab on the coldest of winter days. But I seem to be in the minority. The newer machines don't spit out anywhere near as much nasty diesel soot as the older engines seem to - I used an older L35 rental for 4 days last fall, and the black smoke was pretty bad - the new B7800 I rented was much, much cleaner, so for a new machine, there really isn't any choking on soot.

 

[froggy]

The only chore for the backhoe would be planting trees, but I figured I could do that just as easily with a hydraulic phd. The backhoe would be nice just to have, but figure the cab would be more handy in the future as I get older.

 

[radman1]

Been on both sides before. The significant reasons not to get a cab is because of additional cost or because of fixed cab height it will hit obstacles or won't fit in a place of storage.

The talk of smelling the air, experiencing mother nature, only needed by guys who make there living using a tractor, requires more fuel or hp, harder to hook onto equipment etc. are really poor arguments. I can leave my windows or doors open all day if I want that.

 

[ByronBob]

I'm 36 years old. My answer today is it's not necessary.

When I'm 56 I'll guarantee my answer will be absolutely.

 

[bandit67]

I'm 36 years old. My answer today is it's not necessary.

When I'm 56 I'll guarantee my answer will be absolutely.

I have a friend up here who's 59, and still clears snow on an open station tractor. In trying to determine if I should look into a cab yet, for when I get older and whimpier, I asked him if he ever found himself wishing for a cab, and he said no. I'm sure I'll start thinking about another machine in another 10-15 years, and I figure I can look into a factory cab at that point when I'm in my 50's.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

No one mentioned that a cab will also protect the "operator station" if the tractor can't be stored inside. Maybe why the value holds so well compared to OROPS. My IH 454 is parked under a carport but can still get covered in snow after a storm. Not fun cleaning all of the snow off the seat, dash, control levers etc. first before going out to blow out the lane.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm 36 years old. My answer today is it's not necessary.

When I'm 56 I'll guarantee my answer will be absolutely.

Im 58. If a cab didnt compromise versatility Id want one. I just wont put up with the limitations imposed by the cab. Now, a convertible would be nice if you could painlessly switch. Til then its just too easy and cheap to provide needed creature comforts on open station, and in some cases more healthful to do without.
larry

 

[GinNB]

Im 58. If a cab didnt compromise versatility Id want one. I just wont put up with the limitations imposed by the cab. Now, a convertible would be nice if you could painlessly switch. Til then its just too easy and cheap to provide needed creature comforts on open station, and in some cases more healthful to do without.
larry

??? This I don't see. I've spent thousands of hours on open station tractors and over a thousand in a cab and for what I do a cab is MUCH healthier.