Cab or Not?

[Tractorable]

I guess it depends on where you live. Here in Virginia we have a goldilocks climate, not too hot not too cold, so a cab isn't really necessary unless you earn a living with your tractor and need to go out rain or shine.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I ended up with a cabbed tractor, I was about to sign on the dotted line for a shinny new open cab mahindra but bought a used cabbed JD.

I’m super happy that I got a cabbed tractor, in the summer it’s so so, it’s a sauna without A/C but pushing snow in a heated cab out of the wind is 10,000 times better.

Only downside is the height, I can only fit my tractor in one door of my buildings, it would be nice to be able to put it in different buildings when I don’t use it as much instead of my main shop that just happens to have a 98in door to fit a 96in tractor lol.

I would vote cabbed with AC and heat. Second tractor open station for diff tasks.

 

[TripleR]

Cab and get some protection.

 

[mikester]

If you can swing it and have no clearance issues you definitely won't be sorry getting a cab. It's easier to cool down the cab than warm up without one.

 

[RjCorazza]

The primary reason I traded my L3410 open station tractor in was for a cab. I should have bit the bullet 15 years ago and bought a cabbed tractor.

 

[rScotty]

I've got one tractor with a cab and one without. Otherwise they are equipped much the same. If the weather is good - and it usually is - then I prefer the one without the cab. In fact, that tractor probably gets used 10X as much as the cabbed tractor. Partly because I can see what I'm doing better, and partly because it is easier to get on/off of the open station tractor & it seems like I'm constantly always getting on or off to do something.
But mostly because I just prefer to be in the open air even if it is a touch less uncomfortable.
Now I will admit that the uncabbed tractor has a full 4-post canopy and having had that I wouldn't be without it.
rScotty

 

[Fallon]

I upgraded from my L3200 to my L4060hstc mostly for the cab.

I do a lot of mowing, some driveway work, horse arena work & snow clearing. Love not being hot & dusty or frozen.

The cab does limit how close I can get to trees. I missed the L3200 putting my new 1000lbs lathe on a stand too. Could fold the ROPS down & drive it into my shop or garage. The cab is just to tall for that. It's a little harder to jump on & off the machine if you are doing that all day. I hear people who do forestry work don't like constantly breaking windows, but that's not any of the terrain or work I do.

Despite the drawbacks I'd never go back to an open station machine. Well I keep thinking about a little B or BX "for the wife". She hates climbing on the L4060 a lot more than the old L3200.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Don't even consider buying a trator wthout a cab. I know the cab is always a money issue, but for health and safety you need a cab. Besides the obvious of being protected from weather, there are many other reasons.
Breathing is dust is a health concern, in the desert SW you can get Valley fever.
The things that sold me was the time I dropped into a hive of killer bees, that swarmed the cab I as in and made in seem like a solar elcipse at noon. Thousands of them attacked the cab I was in, had I been in an open cab I'd be dead right now.
There are far, far more positives than negatives FOR a cab.

 

[oosik]

Thirty six years ago - '82 - when I bought my first new tractor - it was money and the fact that the dealer didn't have a cabbed unit. I found that I liked being out on an open station tractor - most of the time. I don't do any brush hogging or other dust raising activities. If I REALLY need to plow the snow and its UBER cold - I've got a full set of Eddie Bauer down to keep me warm.

So in 2009 when I upgraded to my M6040 - I went open station again. Never have regretted the decision.

Now that I'm retired and don't need to be anywhere at any specific time - I'll plow snow when I'm dam good & ready and when snow conditions are perfect.

 

[chim]

I built my heated cab 6 years ago after too many times in the cold. It's glass and steel and I wouldn't be without it. There's no A/C and it's made so the doors lift off in a minute. With the doors off, the "school bus driver" fan running, shade provided by the top and tinted glass it's more comfortable than the open stations I've had.

Although my current tractor is just fine, if I'd find a buried jar of cash there'd be a larger cabbed tractor with full HVAC in my future.