Cabs are for wimps

[radman1]

I believe that cabbed CUT will become more and more popular. The skid steer industry has made a huge change in the past 5-7 years. The majority of skid steers now have cab a/c and heat. Several years ago SS owners said that a/c robbed power, cost too much, had to open/close door etc. Now, my local bobcat dealer sells over 75% of new SS with cabs and older units with a/c just have better resale. Granted, the SS already had the cab sort of in place already.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I think once you try a cab on a non-perfect day (either cold or hot), you'll never go back.
I know that's what happened to me.
Now, many CUT's are barely used, but for people who really use them, yeah it will be worthwhile.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Back when I was trying to expand my farm a bit, I bought cab tractor #1. (Deere 4250) LOVED that cab! It had its assets and liabilities, but for a big "field tractor" where I spent a lot of LONG days, there were far more assets. After 8+ years with too much tractor for the work I had for it, I sold that one. Never looked back. Open station tractors aren't the end of the world. In fact I preferred them 90% of the time. And being a tightwad, I can't see the added cost for most chores.

When we started getting busy with the mowing business, and my son needed a bigger tractor for round baling on his farm, we bit the ol' bullet and bought cab tractor #2. Another Deere coincidentally. (6430) I've managed to bump the boys (son & SIL) out of the seat MAYBE 50 hours of mowing time. It's S.W.E.E.T.

I STILL like my open station tractors too.

If you can REALLY REALLY afford one, and you REALLY REALLY want a cab, why not? If I was a young man in a start-up business situation, or with only limited savings, OR, if I had a $2000 a month mortgage payment, I'd rather keep that 10 grand in the bank and sweat a little while I was mowing, as opposed to sweating a LOT when payments are due. But that's just me and my 60 year old opinion.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Now everything is so high tech, and it shows up in the grocery store.

What grocery store and what are you shopping for??? Food is ridiculously cheap in the US. Have you ever looked at how much money a farmer doing row crops makes per acre? It might be like $200 per acre if he's really, really good and lucky. Around here you can't rent out your land as farmland for even the cost of property taxes at the agricultural rate (which is our lowest, save perhaps forestry).

 

[WhyNot]

I didn't read through all the replies so I am not sure if some one has mentioned it but, a cab tractor is nice only if the a.c. is working. If it is broke you might as well forget trying to work that day because all that glass is like a big old greenhouse. As far as an open station, I would much prefer no canopy to one with a canopy. When I was doing the farm thing all hay tedding and raking was done with open station tractors. Had our choice of 2 4020's with no canopy and a 2640 with a canopy. It was a race to see who could get to the 4020's first. That 2640 was a nice tractor but, that canopy just trapped the heat in plus, I'm in N.J. and you can't spend your nights down the shore with out a nice tan.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

As far as an open station, I would much prefer no canopy to one with a canopy.

This may be true somewhat when comparing the old yellow canvas canopy to nothing but I can tell you that here in Texas, the newer canopies that have a 1" thick black insulation that acts as a radiant barrier are far, far superior to nothing more than a hat.

It is this reason I plan my mid day mowing on the 5420 w/canopy and morning mowing under my yellow umbrella 4310.

Count me in with the cab wannabees...Kyle

 

[texasjohn]

I consider a cab to be a largely unheralded safety device.

Rear view mirrors..less back/neck strain
cooler in summer... no heat stroke
less dust.... better lungs
warmer in winter... no pneumonia
less fatigue when working long hours... reduces significant accident factor
door handles... safety entering/exit/better seat control
glass surrounding... no brush in face
dry in rain.. less pneumonia, allows critical work to proceed in some comfort
place to keep supplies, driinks, etc.
less noise... less fatigue, better hearing
barrier to stuff falling from FEL
roll bar always up
keeps rain off instrument panel... reduces failures
UV and sun protection... reduces seat weathering, redneck and cancer

I suspect I've forgotten something....

 

[lawn_king]

After getting caught in a torrential rainstorm, core aerating a large youth soccer complex (6 fields). I called my dealer and ordered my 1st cab (curtis). I lost my cell phone & most of the contents of my wallet to that downpour, not to mention it was a cool september day. I recall driving the tractor to the truck/trailer when i finished and thinking, this is not going to happen to me again!

 

[patrick_g]

To bad the Myth Busters wouldn't tackle the myths of open station vs cab with heat and air.

1. Can't use a cab because I have trees.
Gee, do you crash right through them? I get pretty aggressive around trees (with cab.) I do trim the lower limbs to give clearance to get under larger limbs but that would be even more important to me it I were using my body to move branches out of the way.

2. Tractors under (pick one: 60Hp, 100HP, xxHP) can't run an A/C effectively.

I have 39.5 HP at the PTO and although I can sense the A/C compressor engage or disengage, it is NOT much of a factor regarding tractor operation and getting work done. The A/C has never put icicles on my ear lobes but it is way better than heat and humidity. There are two little rubber tubes to drain the condensation and they run solid streams when there is much humidity. Lowering the humidity is about as important as cooling the air.

3. You can just put on proper winter clothing and you won't need a heated cab.

I have seen a neighbor have to go to the house 3 times in a day to put on dry clothing in light winter drizzle (he has a good canopy.) I feel restricted in motion and comfort if I am bundled up sufficiently but with a cab I can go to the tractor with a medium jacket and after the tractor warms up I can peel off down to a T-shirt. My heater can literally drive you out of the cab even at ZERO F if you turn it up. Don't know how low the outside temp can go and still get ample heat in the cab for shirtsleeve operation since I haven't had sub zero temps to test it.

It is quieter in the cab than open station and that reduces fatigue.

Check the stats, farmers have a higher incidence of cancer and other disease related to chemical exposure. Do you ever spray ag chemicals? A cab is NOT hermetically sealed but will protect you from an accidental wetting with whatever you are spraying. Sure you might want to use an approved canister in your mask but with an open station tractor you can take a shower in the chemical with a small error of judgment or a little "flaw" in the wind.

Stinging and biting insect encounters are virtually eliminated. Driving open station through high weeds or near brush can get ticks on you or maybe chiggers.

I wanted an open tractor and didn't see the need for a cab but my wife absolutely insisted on a cab for protection against chemicals. It was the best argument I ever lost!!!!

I have since analyzed the situation more thoroughly and although there are valid reasons to have an open station tractor most of those expressed by the majority of open station tractor owners are BOGUS. Not all arguments for open station are specious but many definitely are. The percentage of folks who have experience with both open and enclosed with heat and A/C and who prefer open are definitely in the minority (I was tempted to say lunatic fringe but every so often there is appropriate justification.)

I don't know the lower limit to HP to have practical A/C and not unduly reduce tractor performance but from my experience I can say with properly engineered equipment it has to be somewhere significantly below 40HP.

I just love going out on the tractor in the winter, the worse the weather the better. Cold with blowing snow, a big round bale up front on the hay spike and all the stock eagerly following me to get at the hay. I don't spend a lot of time out of the cab but some is required, it makes you appreciate the little environmentally benign bubble.

When it is too hot and humid to enjoy working outside I try to find something I can do with the tractor and let the A/C make tractoring fun or at least much more tolerable. I have A/C in my shop but like to get out and about and do OUTSIDE work even if from my environmentally controlled bubble/tractor. A cab and A/C keeps me from retreating inside to get some A/C and relief from the heat and humidity.

For the many folks who don't really have to get something done (stock MUST BE FED and have the ice broken so they can drink) and whether the grass gets mowed today or the day after tomorrow it just doesn't matter or who can mow at night to beat the heat, that is fine. A cab is not absolutely required for anyone. If economic reality forces you to skip the cab there are lots of strategies to lessen the impact of environmental exposure. Times were when folks walked behind a pair of horses to plow or drove an open wagon to town, rain or shine. It was not a preference, not a macho statement, just a reality.

When I see folks driving around winter and summer in top down convertibles, braving the rain, snow, sleet, hail, heat, humidity, dust and wind then I will appreciate their decision to have an open tractor. Until then I will be at least slightly suspect of their motives, not condemning them but at least slightly suspicious.

If your tractor is really just a boy toy or a lawn mower and mowing lawns is not a for hire or livelihood activity then you are excused from any and all comments above.

I have never advocated an enclosure with A/C for walk behind lawn mowers or the little ride on lawn mowers made to resemble a tractor.

Pat

 

[texasjohn]

Well said, Pat. I'm a 6th generation Texas.... we got that way by being tough..and smart I claim that the tractor makes me tough and the cab makes me smart!