How many of you guys wish you did not purchase a cabbed tractor?

[blackdog2086]

I purchased my cabbed M with the intent of selling my open 4720. I live on pretty heavily wooded property and find that I can maneuver much better on the open tractor, so as of now I kept them both. In my case it isn't just the open/cabbed issue, but the fact that the cabbed is a larger series tractor. I use them both but find the smaller open gets more use unless the weather is bad or I'm working in a relatively clear area.

I wasn't really looking for a cabbed tractor but actually found a deal where it was cheaper than the same model open station.

 

[Gary Fowler]

While mowing a ten acre tract that has been planted in pines about 10-12 years ago, I was very thankful for my cab. Without it, now way could I have passed between those rows of trees without the protection of the cab. In most cases the pines were planted 10-12 feet about with some areas the trees were just barely 7 feet apart and all the limbs were interlocking from row to row.
By raising the FEL so the lift arms stared bending the limbs forward, I was able to drive thru with the limbs scraping along the cab windows. If not for the cab, they would have been slapping the driver off the tractor.

In most instances, cabs can take a pretty good force from limbs along the side. You just have to watch for large limbs that may impact the top which could damage it. My cab top is steel so it takes a good amount of force to do any damage. I think some cabs might be a fiberglass top which could be damaged more easily.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I have a couple of door glass gaskets peeled up from stiff branches skidding across. On routes that I travel often, I like to get the lower branches cut back enough to let me through unobstructed. Still, there will always be places, particularly back in the woods, where I have to slide through and hope the foliage is soft and flexible enough not to do damage.

 

[FatTire]

Purchased cab tractor earlier this year. In summer I prefer the open station, but I got sick of being hammered by wind last winter. I also want to start doing a substantial amount of my plowing in the evening or pre-dawn, which I can't imagine actually getting done on the MX5100.

If you've ever heard of the US Forest Service's old "10am Policy" (all new fire starts extinguished by 10 AM the next day), I am going with a "7am Policy" for winter of 2017-18 (everyone who needs out of their place is opened up by 7am.) This can take up to several hours depending on the snow and how many driveways, or as little as 20 minutes if I just do a hack job on our own driveway on a day with easy snow.

 

[tjflicek]

While mowing a ten acre tract that has been planted in pines about 10-12 years ago, I was very thankful for my cab. Without it, now way could I have passed between those rows of trees without the protection of the cab. In most cases the pines were planted 10-12 feet about with some areas the trees were just barely 7 feet apart and all the limbs were interlocking from row to row.
By raising the FEL so the lift arms stared bending the limbs forward, I was able to drive thru with the limbs scraping along the cab windows. If not for the cab, they would have been slapping the driver off the tractor.

In most instances, cabs can take a pretty good force from limbs along the side. You just have to watch for large limbs that may impact the top which could damage it. My cab top is steel so it takes a good amount of force to do any damage. I think some cabs might be a fiberglass top which could be damaged more easily.

Why are you mowing it in the first place? Just have to ask.

 

[mike69440]

One of our tractors is cabbed, another is open, and the third one - the M59 - has a rather large insulated canope made out of tough plastic. For our use, that canope is the best compromise. It keeps the rain and sun off our head, but doesn't have the downsides of the cab.
rScotty

I finally wised up and can plow without frostbite. Once the motor heats up it is 40-50 F in the cab. No howling wind is the big advantage. Wish it had a windshield wiper better than my mitten.

 

[TomSeller]

Nough said

Yes but at 8% humidity that is dry heat.

Of course so is my oven