Canopy Cab or no cab

[hayden]

I had some concerns when I bought my L5740 cab tractor 3 years ago. Now I love my cab in the winter, and I love my cab in the summer. I love my cab while mowing, and I love my cab while snow throwing. I bought a cab dozer, and I bought a cab excavator. I wouldn't even consider a non-cab ever again.

I'm in Vermont, very much like up state NY. Running through the woods and along tree lines I prefer the cab over an open platform. I'd rather have branches slapping the cab and windows rather than me, plus branches tend to brush up and over the cab. If the branches are so big that you worry about the glass, then you shouldn't be in there cab or not.

Branches have trashed the flasher lights at the top rear corners of the cab, but I'm never on the road so I haven't replaced them. If that's a concern, you could build a little cage around them. I also thought about simply flipping them upside down so the brackets are on top providing protection and the light is below. If I ever put them back on that's what I'll do.

So there is that one little down side, but it exists equally on a ROPS tractor, and is outweighed 10:1 by the advantages of a cab.

 

[WilliamBos]

Question; do you often break hoods and fenders? If your answer is yes, then I'd agree with you. However, since 80% or more of my tractor work if heavy brush clearing and bush hogging along with clearing trails through the woods and I have a cab tractor, I can tell you that the 'breaking a cab window' is highly overstated. It's a total joy to not get shredded by thorns or having a zillion bug bites while working in the bush.

All excellent and Valid Points Dargo. Also, not driving through the bush like you are on the Interstate is another good idea.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Only get a cab if you don't want to breathe dust all day, have debris hit your face, have branches kick back and take out an eye, be hot sitting in the heat, have the sun beat down on your nose and contract melanoma skin cancer, stay dry in the rain, and most of all be attacked by bees or wasps when you hit a nest, be cool in the summer, warm in the winter.

Other that that you don't need a cab.

Last time I drove a cab-less tractor I was in a thicket of trees with needles as long as your finger. I was stopped and turned my head and a spike with a needle was an inch from my eye. Had I kept turning my head I would be wearing a patch today. Then there was the time I was attacked by a swarm of bees. Nope, I will never drive a tractor unless it has a cab.

 

[TripleR]

In the interest of being "fair and balanced", I bought my lightly used 2003 L5030 HSTC when the owner, who put 100 hours per year bush hogging had it along with his Kubota ZTR and RTV brought in for their yearly service.

He saw a new L5740 open station on the lot and traded for it as he mowed around trees. Now mind you this tractor did not have a scratch on it.

For those who are on and off a lot a cab can be a real aggravation and others just like the open air and such.

 

[Dargo]

Also, not driving through the bush like you are on the Interstate is another good idea.

I was guilty of that with my air ride seat until I hit a hidden rut and bottomed out my seat so hard that I had to stop because, besides the pain, it blurred my vision so bad that I couldn't see well enough to drive. I go slow now. . Don't care if someone promises me it's smooth, I still go slow until I really get to know the land on a personal level.

 

[Kyle241]

Question; do you often break hoods and fenders? If your answer is yes, then I'd agree with you. However, since 80% or more of my tractor work if heavy brush clearing and bush hogging along with clearing trails through the woods and I have a cab tractor, I can tell you that the 'breaking a cab window' is highly overstated. It's a total joy to not get shredded by thorns or having a zillion bug bites while working in the bush.

I could argue this all day long because, yes I have broken things on my tractor in the bush, including: denting a fender, breaking lights, 'breaking' my radiator twice (the second time I needed a new core). As I stated, this is my personal choice not to have a cab because I WILL break a window and I don't want that. Considering both dealers close to me recommend NOT getting a cab based on the work I have described to them (including backhoe work), I'm not inclined to spend the money. I like cabs, I think they are great but just not for me. The OP needs to determine how they are with equipment and what the majority of their tractor work will involve.

 

[crazyal]

My Case is a cab and while it can be nice I find doors to be a pain. If I can I leave the left door open. If you are going to be doing work where you'll be sitting on the seat for hours at a time then they are fine. But if you will be getting on and off the tractor often opening and closing a door can be annoying. But I don't really need AC very often and if it's that hot then I just don't use the tractor.

As for woods use, around here you'll just break too much stuff on a cab. Once your up in the hills and driving on uneven ground it's not uncommon for the land to dip and the tractor lean into limbs. I could take my dozer and make nice even trails everywhere I need to go but I would rather not.

During the winter while snow blowing not having a cab on my 4240 is a little bothersome but I'm a duck hunter and if you hunt ducks around here you better love the cold weather. Maybe in another 20 years if I replace it I'll get a cab but for now I'm fine.

 

[suzy]

I have been enjoying the lack of a LH door since I exploded it several weeks ago. The perfect tractor would have an easily removable driver's door...there has been so much rain this year that there are no yellow jackets to attack so no external threats, on the other hand it is a bit noisier. Another good reason for the cab.

Am I the only one enjoying my stereo? That alone is reason enough for a cab in my book.
Anybody put any external speakers on their tractor? Once that door goes back on, there will be less music to listen to while fixing fence.

 

[rtimgray]

Having had both cab tractors and open tractors, I *generally* prefer open station tractors, with a couple of exceptions.

I like having a cab tractor to mow hay with. I do most of my bushhogging in the fall, and sometimes it's a little dusty, but overall, I prefer the open station to a cab.

I've got a fender mount radio and have no problem listening to the radio while either being on the tractor or near the tractor working.

In my ideal situation, someday I will have both, and will get to choose which one I want to use for a given application. Until then, I'm pretty happy with open station - I don't have to do too much in the winter, and our winters are mostly mild. Same for the summer - there are a few weeks of really hot weather, but other than that, it's not too bad.

I can't argue with the fact of keeping bugs/bees/wasps/etc off of you while working, either.

In the end, I would get the one that makes me happiest if I could only have one. In my case, it is still an open station - that may change if I get older.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My next tractor will be cabbed...
My next car will be a convertible...
Go figure...

 

[TripleR]

I may be the only person who does this, but in the winter, I will just drive my tractor out in the fields or up into the woods and watch animals just to get out of the house, cab sure is nice for that.

 

[hawkeye08]

We got a used Kubota L3130 last summer. No cab, slightly over budget with mower and pallet forks. If I ever buy another tractor (not sure I will ever need to, this one is plenty), but if I do buy another, I will look hard at getting a cab, only because of allergies. I wear a medical mask and do fine, but it would be nice to breath without the dust and not get hot. On the other hand, with the open station, if I am too hot, chances are the tractor is running warm also. It does not take long to cover the intake screens and the coolant temp to start to increase... maybe it's a good thing I don't have a cab after all...

If you can afford it (cab and extra hp to run the AC), I say go for the cab.

 

[brewdog]

Considering your climate, I would definitely get a cab with a heater. For woods work I would choose the Soft Sided Cab with a steel frame. Everything, (side curtains, rear curtain) all come off except the windshield. They are also slightly narrower than the all glass models. After having a cab, I won't go without one or a heater. I've had plenty of snowy days plowing snow when the snow is coming down sideways, ice is forming on your face, your hands are numb and you can't see out of your glasses. I love my cab.
Only my 2 cents.

 

[bigbull338]

I may be the only person who does this, but in the winter, I will just drive my tractor out in the fields or up into the woods and watch animals just to get out of the house, cab sure is nice for that.

i do the samething depending on whats hooked to the tractor.go out into the pastures an sitt an look at the cows.its a good way to unwind an clear your mind.

 

[crazyal]

I may be the only person who does this, but in the winter, I will just drive my tractor out in the fields or up into the woods and watch animals just to get out of the house, cab sure is nice for that.

I just walk the dogs. I do it year round even in the coldest temps. But because I'll walk them with just sweat pants on in -20 temps I'm much less bothered by blowing snow in cold temps. Over all anytime you can get out of the house and into a field or woods, no matter how, is one of life's hidden treasures most people never know.

 

[TripleR]

Yep, time in the woods and fields no matter how you get there is pretty hard to beat.:thumbsup:

 

[MHarryE]

This is an example of a pathway I brush hogged through some trees with my L5740 cab equipped. No problem, no scratches that bothered me, no lights ripped off, but I did fold in the mirrors.

 

[Agrantina]

Well for me- I think that real men do not have cab tractors.. Whats the fun with a/c, heater and NO dust? Thats what tractoring is about... Wait--- I wish I was a real man, becuase I SURE would like to have a cab! :thumbsup:


AndyG

 

[bigbull338]

i grew up with a cab tractor.the only goodthing about it was the radio an a/c.but personally i like being out in the open where i can see an hear things better.the only reason id consider a cab tractor is because im getting some great nephews an neices coming on.an i want them to ride the tractor with me.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive had cabless tractors in the past, but have a cabbed unit now. will never go back. After 1 day of limbing the trail on my 20 acres, i can drive it without worries of scraping metal or glass. Theres no comparison to working in the summer with the A/C on or the winter with the heat.