Cab or Open air??

[ovrszd]

Having used an open station, non-ROPS tractor for years, I'm still amazed at how often the ROPS on my new tractor gets in the way, much less a cab. Obviously for row crop, hay, or all day shredding, I want a cab. And my friends who farm for a living all have both... lots of cab tractors for real work and some open station to do odd jobs. But back in the brush and trees for keeping roads open through mesquites, a cab would be basically useless on my farms. If had to choose one tractor it almost couldn't be a cab tractor. That said, I'll change my mind on this post in July.

Yep, I agree.

If I could afford a nice tractor just for those seasonal jobs it most certainly would have a cab. But for now, I can't.

Let's all remember that our uses are as varied as our locations. I can't use a cab tractor for most of my work because of beating it in the timber. Comments concerning my then ability to drive down a divided hiway are unnecessary and make no point.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I bought my LS with a cab for the conditioned air and wasp protection, then sold my open station. I trimmed up all the trees that I drive under so they are no longer a problem. The PROBLEM is that most of the work now required is using the B26 TLB which is open station. I only have a bit over 100 hours on the LS but close to 400 on the B26. I don't think I would want a cab on a back hoe due to visibility issues. The glare on the windshield on the LS at times makes work with the FEL all guess work. It sure is nice though to work warm and dry in wet and cold or cool in the hot weather.
As for limbs, my cab has shrugged off lots of small oak and pine branches with only the mirrors getting folded backward. They sure make it impossible to open the doors when they fold back though but with some effort the door can be opened by inching the mirror back into place thru the barely hand width that the door can be opened.
I wish I had a cab on my farm tractor back in the 60-70's because I spent 12-18 hours per day on them plowing in dusting conditions which clogged the eyes, ears and noes with dust. At the end of the day, my eyes refused to water anymore to rinse out the dust. I would dust off my clothes and apply a hose over my head and arms to rinse the dirt off before going inside the house.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So it's pretty much settled. A guy needs BOTH!

 

[ovrszd]

So it's pretty much settled. A guy needs BOTH!

Most definitely!!!

 

[TripleR]

So it's pretty much settled. A guy needs BOTH!

That is the ideal situation, our open station tractors are old, but they sure won't be going anywhere. Years ago, my father in law decided he needed a new cab tractor and against my advice traded his open station in for it. About a month later, he hot footed it to the dealer to buy his old tractor back. He told his wife, he had put it in the shop to get it worked on to avoid telling her how much he had to pay to buy it back.

If we didn't have both kinds, some things just wouldn't get done on our farms.

 

[sacarmic]

OK, so it is decided I need both, do I keep my 5303 (open) and get a new 5085e cab or do I need to sell the 5303 and get matching 5085e cab and a 5085e open ?????

 

[ovrszd]

OK, so it is decided I need both, do I keep my 5303 (open) and get a new 5085e cab or do I need to sell the 5303 and get matching 5085e cab and a 5085e open ?????

Only your budget knows for sure........

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe life would be simpler if you were a menonite around here. No personal choice. Some can't have any powered machine. Some can have a tractor but without cab. Some can't have a tractor but a skid steer (or forklift) is OK. The luckiest can have tractor, cab and skid steer but no car (yet)!

One of them showed up here with a huge JD tractor, cab and duals, pulling an old float with a good sized Hitachi excavator (parked with tracks sideways). I have a picture which is priceless, but won't post it as I don't want to violate the mans privacy.

 

[MechE1]

I'm enjoying my 1st purchase cab. Central Illinois so it's not much different than you scarmic. Seeing how we've had no snow or really cold weather I cannot comment much. I was able to use the heat for a short while a couple weeks back and it was very nice. Also, in August/September the A/C was wicked cool. I shouldn't say this, but watching the wife sweat doing some transplanting while I was chilled digging and moving was nearly worth the expense. The windows do get a bit dusty, but no more dusty than an open station would. You just notice it more. For me washing cab dust vs. open station dust make me feel better about NOT having to get controls all wet trying to keep things clean. As far as hills/weight and center of gravity, of course it's going to affect it. Proper ballast and you should be fine. My property is pretty flat so no worries for me really. I keep the loader low and the box scraper on most all the time. I could use a little more ballast but it works safely. I say go for the cab. I know it's a decision I will never regret. As far as enjoying the open station, I get that. With that said, I think bad days where a cab is useful (heat, cold, rain, snow, bugs, dust, noise) far outweigh nice days where I could enjoy being out. Also, the back window will likely open if you want some fresh air.

 

[sacarmic]

Thanks for the input everyone. I found a new 13 5085e cab I am purchasing. The price was too good to pass up.

Scott