Cabs for winter use

Barryh · Oct 29, 2005

Bill,

Thought I would post this here per your request in case it may help other new members considering a canopy. Measurements are right on as near as I can figure. I would allow maybe a little extra for a pull over fabric cab.

Guessing this would be for a canopy as angle iron would not be strong enough for a ROPS system in my estimation. Good luck hope to see some pics of the finished cab.

<font color="purple"> </font> Stock Measurements for the PT-180 ROPS.

Height (from the bottom bolt hole to the top of the canopy) / 44 - 5/8

Length of canopy from front to back. / 36 Inches

Width of canopy from side to side. / Front 25 Inches tapers back slightly. Back 24 - 6/8

Width of front supports at there widest (the outward bended section)
On the button at 31- 6/8

Where do the vertical mounts attach to the canopy
(i.e. 8" back from the front edge) / 6-1/2 inches back something to consider pipe tapers back slightly at an angle so this was measured at the top cross section under the canopy. Hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

tracdoc · Oct 29, 2005

Bill,
I sent Beechwood a PM, and it was read. It would be nice to hear from him on this thread...

Beechwood · Oct 30, 2005

Tracdoc:
I haven't been on for a while, but I noticed with winter coming there is a renewed interest in the cabs for winter use. I used the hard cab I built right up until june then I took it off for the summer. The aux. heater I bought from Northern Hydraulics worked great. The only problem I had with the cab was not making the windows so they could open for fresh air! It got very hot inside the cab by June. I will be correcting that problem before I reinstall it for the winter.
Now that my Warranty has ended and I have passed the 100 Hr. mark I will be posting A few pictures of modifications and Attachments I have made for my 180 hopefully later this week. I will start a new thread for these.

Mini-hoe with 9" & 16" buckets.
Rear brush bar.
Beefed up Lift arms.
York rake attachment plate.
Mini-hoe grapple thumb.
Two spool OEM valve conversion to a Three spool valve to operate the curl functions on my Mini-hoe.

tracdoc · Oct 30, 2005

Beechwood,

I'm so pleased to see you back on the Forum.

Drool....drool....I for one can't wait to learn about and see pics of your mods and attachments. Perfect stuff for reading as the days get shorter and nights get colder. Did you get any "dusting" of snow on the Cape yet? I heard there was some this weekend in MA, but don't know if it was only interior.

Barryh · Oct 30, 2005

Mini Hoe wow ! pretty impressive. You can bet I will be watching since I have a 180 thanks for sharing your ideas with us. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

BillCroasmun · Oct 31, 2005

Beechwood,
Glad to see you back on the forum! As a fellow 180 owner I'll be very interested in seeing the mini-hoe, beefed up lift arms and the valve conversion threads. I've been contemplating building a 9" bucket arm with no curling ability for a while now.
(If I could just get rid of this day job I'd have so much more time for projects! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

BillCroasmun · Oct 31, 2005

Barry,
This is great info for me thanks!

The angle iron idea would be more of a FOPS (Falling Object Protective System) than a ROPS.

It turns out I lied to PT when I bought the 180. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I said I wasn't too interested in the ROPS as I didn't have any real steep inclines I would be on. Turns out I have areas of the property that my previous lawn tractors couldn't maintain so I never gave it any thought. Now I started mowing areas I didn't think would be possible to mow and climbing into areas I didn't think would be possible to get into! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My parents neighbor has a good sized farm and a few agricultural tractors (older Massey, newer New Holland and I think one of the Chinese variants). And he called the PT "a lil' green monkey" one day I climbed across some awkward land to pick up a downed tree. He didn't feel easy about his tractors getting there without feeling too tippy. He was going to drag it out but preferred not tearing things up that bad. The PT got another notch in it's belt that day! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Barryh · Nov 13, 2005

For anyone that might be interested I have completed my Winter Cab. I have set up a few Domain sites stemming off of my business site, since I pay for the server anyway.

So this is where I will put any PT-Projects in the future. As I only have 10 hours on the PT-180, there is not a lot to show for now. I am sure between this winter and next summer it will have grown immensely. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Winter Cab Link

ontheweb · Nov 13, 2005

Nice web site. Looking forward to more project pictures. What is the JD in the garage used for?

OnTheWeb

Highridge · Nov 13, 2005

Very nice!
Is there heat?

Barryh · Nov 13, 2005

That picture was the first fall I moved in. The old used JD was the first mower I bought for mowing down the tall grass and mulching leaves.

It was a tough old mower built like a tank. Hydrostatic drive. Sold it to my brother in law and he is still using it. It will probably out last my Craftsman. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Barryh · Nov 13, 2005

Thanks,

No heat, but would not take to much to put a small heater or defroster in of some kind. I know there are lots of 12 Volt accessories out there. As you can see I left the 55 watt halogens inside. I bought another set of lights just in case there had been a bad glare, but tested them last night. The way I have them angled I can see just fine.

I am hoping they might put off a little heat when I turn them on. I am banking on them working as a defroster or at least they should help some. I will have to see how cozy I am when the wind starts blowing. I really did not need the cab just getting spoiled in my old age. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Barryh · Nov 13, 2005

Highridge,

Not to get off topic here, but I see you have the same leave bagging system on your dgt6000, very nice looking GT. When the LT-1000 wears out, that will be my next tractor. I wonder if there is a way to rig my bagging system up to the larger 54 inch deck? I'm guessing you have the 54 inch deck mine is the 42. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Highridge · Nov 13, 2005

Barry,
I've got the 48" deck. Before I had the 6000, I had a smaller craftsman with a 46" deck. When I bought the 6000, I just ordered a new part that connects the bagger to the deck. I don't know about the 54" but I assume it will work. Also you might have to get a new mounting bracket for the actual bagger becuase your going from an LT up to a GT.

Barryh · Nov 13, 2005

Thanks for the info,

Sure beats buying a whole new bagger. I will be going with a 48 inch deck too if that is still an option when the time comes. I understand there were some problems with the 54 inch. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

BobRip · Nov 13, 2005

Do you notice any reduction in noise level with the cab. We noticed that a PT 422 without the ROP was a lot quieter than one with the ROP.

Bob Rip

tracdoc · Nov 13, 2005

Barry,

Very nice job on your winter cab. Looks like it will be quite comfortable and functional. I also like the aesthetics of it a lot---from the side, it has the look of an ol' time steam locomotive. With a few doo-dads, a plywood cow-catcher and some wagons to tow behind, you could have the first PT railroad. Fantastic! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks too for sharing with us the views of your lovely place. It is certainly bucolic and most inviting, and I know that you, your better half, Rocky, Ami and kitty enjoy it immensely.

Barryh · Nov 13, 2005

Yes there is some noise reduction inside. Although I am sure the ROPS does capture some vibration noise. I drove it around the yard a little more tonight.

Drove down by the road at the bottom of my yard and shut the engine off. It was also pretty windy outside. Was nice sitting inside looking out, the wind was hitting the cab but inside was nice. Sort of like sitting in your car. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Barryh · Nov 13, 2005

Well thanks Tracdoc,

We enjoy it. We have really improved the place inside since those pictures were taken. Our kids are grown so it is just the right size for us and our two dogs/cat.

Now with the help of my little green locomotive I can redo the outside. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif The cab is a little on the big side for a little machine, but I am cluster phobic I needed the extra space. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif