Buying Advice Cab or No Cab

[mjncad]

Go for the factory cab as it's designed for the tractor. A good quality aftermarket cab (e.g. Jodale-Perry or Laurin) will cost you about the same as the factory cab, and not quite be as good of a fit. Curtis is a budget cab and a waste of money in my opinion.

Heat in the winter, AC in the summer...no snow or dust in your face...get a cab.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I don't think anyone who has a tractor with a cab, said it was a mistake. In addition to what everyone else said, it keeps the biting bugs out in the summer. I would not get an aftermarket cab, if a factory one is available. It is going to be designed to work perfectly with your tractor.

 

[AKfish]

This summer is gonna be a very bad Yellowjacket season! They're everywhere and building nests under the eaves and in the rafters of nearly all my outbuildings! Dang things!

Oh, did I mention that I just got a CAB tractor?

Poor stingers are bouncing on the windows trying to get me when I pull into park!

Have had 3 open station tractors these past 8 years... Tired of freezing in the winter and eatin' dust in the summer baling hay.

Finally got a cab tractor.

AKfish

 

[TripleR]

What about your BX's?

Actually the BX is my wife's tractor and I haven't been married 44 years by being stupid.:laughing:

I won't buy one, but she might. :laughing: Seriously, we have discussed it and we are leaning towards a B3030/3000 or maybe even a F3080 as our next machine.

Keep in mind, we are in our mid sixties and what is essential now wasn't a consideration years ago.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I hope the OP is convinced by now to go with the factory cab. Snow blowing alone is enough reason to spend the extra dollars...especially if the tractor is kept outdoors. If you intend keeping the tractor for years, you certainly won't regret the extra comfort, reduced fatigue...the drawbacks (including cost) are small in comparison.
BOB

 

[Jay4200]

3) Those of you that bought open tractors and live in the colder climates, do you regret the lack of a cab?

Yes, for the love of gawd...yes.

JayC

 

[grsthegreat]

Actually with all the features and benefits i have with the cab tractor, i can not believe that they can wrap all that glass, radio and a/c-heat for that little additional money. Oh... i stirred up some yellow jackets today...could care less. i did notice that they follow the orange paint more than the old green paint though.

 

[mjncad]

A quick digression if I may; but what is it about hot sun heated metal that attracts wasps, and other assorted stinging pests?

 

[TripleR]

I did a bit of mowing in a wooded section with literally thousands of mosquitoes due to all the rain this year; no bites, cool and comfortable.

 

[AKfish]

A quick digression if I may; but what is it about hot sun heated metal that attracts wasps, and other assorted stinging pests?

Good question... I noticed when parking the tractor inside a shed with a new Yellowjacket nest - they flew right to the hot exhaust pipe first! Of course, it was TOO HOT and once they bounced off it a couple of times, they headed for the cab windows.

If I had to guess; it'd be the wasps ability to track warm blooded critters thru infrared.

AKfish

 

[charleyfarmall]

There are some times when having a cab is a pain in the neck. If you are moving frequently and getting on and off, it's a pain. This is true when cleaning the barn, and going through gates.

However, when mowing, blowing, pasture dragging, the cab cannot be beat.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Actually the BX is my wife's tractor and I haven't been married 44 years by being stupid.:laughing:

I won't buy one, but she might. :laughing: Seriously, we have discussed it and we are leaning towards a B3030/3000 or maybe even a F3080 as our next machine.

Keep in mind, we are in our mid sixties and what is essential now wasn't a consideration years ago.

:laughing::laughing::laughing: I would take the cabbed B over the F any day...:thumbsup:

 

[wedge40]

Isn't this like asking a kid if he wants Liver or Ice cream. Every now and then you get the weird one who wants the liver (no cab), but for the most part they'll choose Ice Cream (with Cab).

Wedge

 

[TripleR]

:laughing::laughing::laughing: I would take the cabbed B over the F any day...:thumbsup:

Funny thing, when we went looking for our next to last tractor, I was looking at open station machines because of the $$$$, but she kept saying how nice a cab would be and actually picked the L5030 out. It had just come in and she homed in on it. I wouldn't even look at it and told her it was: 1 Too big. 2. Too expensive.

This was on a Sunday and when I called the following day to check prices on the Grand L's, she insisted I ask the price on the 5030. Well you know what happened and we even bought a M8540 a few months later.

When I talk to her about a cabbed B3030/3000, she says, but we would keep the BX too...:laughing:

 

[bigbull338]

your wife sounds like my mom.when i was buying the MX5100 HST 4x4 i wasnt getting the loader because i was being cheap.an my mom talked me into putting the loader on it anyway.an boy am i glad i did.we can move hay twice as fast now.

 

[TripleR]

your wife sounds like my mom.when i was buying the MX5100 HST 4x4 i wasn't getting the loader because i was being cheap.an my mom talked me into putting the loader on it anyway.an boy am i glad i did.we can move hay twice as fast now.

Sounds like we know some smart women and the good sense to take their advice.:thumbsup:

 

[peter_vii]

Hi once again everyone,

Thanks to you guys that have answered my questions before. I got some great advice and thought I was ready to go on buying the tractor I wanted. HOWEVER I made the "mistake" of visiting the dealer this weekend and now I'm faced with a new problem.

Because of dealer location and reputation I have decided on a Kubota.

I thought a B3300SU would be good, quoted at $16800 with FEL.

Then I thought a B3200HSD due to the mid-PTO, quoted $17700 with FEL.

So I mosey on down to the dealership and see the B3000CAB and B3030HSDC. I sit in it, I'm immediately in love with comfort level, I start thinking "do i need a cab?".

B3000CAB quoted at $24500 with FEL, and B3030HSDC at $24100 with FEL. not sure if these are good prices or not..$7k difference from a 3200??

I live in MA and we get a fair amount of snow. I plan on installing a snow blower on the tractor as it will take over from my walk-behind. I also plan on brush cutting and clearing land, grading driveways, and keeping animals (goats, horses).

My dilemma would be whether to buy a B3200, and add an after market cab... or just pony up for the factory cabs on the B3000/B3030.

I guess the questions that I have are in an effort to convince me that this tractor is NOT a toy, but a workhorse that I will use for years to come. if I can convince myself of that... I dont have any problem spending the money

1) Are prices in the $24k range for the 3000/3030 tractors good?
2) Are after market cabs Curtis, Sims, comparable? when spec'd out don't they hit the $4000 range?
3) Those of you that bought open tractors and live in the colder climates, do you regret the lack of a cab?

Look forward to your opinions

Would you buy a car without AC or heating? If you drive around in the winter time without turning on the heating, buy a tractor without a cab.
Dress appropriately, have few drinks and enjoy the snow blowing in your face.

 

[Ductape]

My free advice:

Buy the B3030 or B3000 with the factory cab and enjoy mowing / bush hogging all summer. Enjoy snowblowing all winter.

I play some good rock mucic while blowing snow in 18 inch storms, and love it. Its so comfortable in my tractor, I could do it in boxer shorts and a tank top.

Aftermarket cabs certainly have their place. The problem is that the cost is too close to the factory cabs, only they have no A/C and don't have the fit and finish of the factory cabs..... nor the resale value.

Pricing an aftermarket cab for my old B2400 is exactly what led to purchase my B3030 w/ factory cab. By the time you add the options ..... things like a heater, headliner, etc... you will be within a grand of the factory cab.

 

[rider9403]

I've had my Case IH DX45 with a factor cab for 18 months now. When people ask me what I like about the tractor it's the CAB! No more snow in in the face, wet from the melting snow and freezing in the winter. In the summer the bugs and bees can't get you. If it's Rainibg you can still work and or play with the tractor. I say get the cab. I love mine. Mark

 

[srs]

on my last pass before finishing i seen a dead tree limb laying at an angle so it looked rotted to me and thought i could push it and it would break using my brush guards in the front of the tractor, well the limb bent back and then few up over the front of the tractor slaped me in the face so hard it broke by nose and needed 7 stitches.
my wife wants to know why i didnt use my new cab tractor today and i wouldnt be banged up. but somehow i think its cheeper to loose some blood than to replace a broken window on a CAB. any way ive learned my lesson about tree limbs.

You're lucky you didn't lose any teeth!