open station vs cab

[seca111]

Is it just me or do you feel more in control on an open station tractor?

I used to have a JD 301 open station tractor. I remember one day in the snow our power went out and I remembered that there was a downed tree at the bottom of the hill. Hill is a little steep but only about 20-30 feet high so off I went in the 2wd tractor and put it in low and creeped down the hill. cut up the wood, and then proceeded to take about 3 hours to get back up the hill. going front ways, back ways, and finally driving over a bunch of scrub oak to give me enough traction on the tires to get up and over and back to the house.

now I have a Kubota l3240 cabbed tractor 4wd and for some reason I just don't feel comfortable going down that hill. I don't really need to go down it, except I'd like to scrape up some rocks into a pile at the bottom because its hard on the horses, but still I keep thinking yup and I should go down and do that and then I don't.

I don't know if its the thought of being able to jump from it (which I don't think so because I was never ever worried on the old tractor) or just being able to see, hear everything made me more at ease.

 

[TripleR]

It may just be a personal thing or not enough hours in the cab compared to open station, hard to tell. I run cab and open station, but primarily cab tractors and I don't feel any different in a cab as to control.

Everyone is different though as I got a really good used L5030 HSTC when the owner traded it in on an open station L5740 open station, now we are both happy.

 

[whistlepig]

There was pretty lengthy discussion about this not that long ago on this forum. It was very objective with both cab an open station owners giving very good opinions. It was one of the better posts I have read on this forum.

 

[Don87]

What you are experiencing is the lack of 'hearing' what is going on around you.
The cab is totally different from the open station.
If you have any window in the cab you can open, it will help you to 'hear', but if it's any consolation at all...........it never was the 'hearing' as you were riding........it's actually the 'feel'.
You can feel what's happening with the machine, usually long before you ever hear much.
I've run car, truck, skidder dozer, tractor.....with and without cab.
Honestly...........it's the 'feel', not the 'hearing'.
By the way, the cab makes the tractor feel bigger than it actually is...........that works on the mind also.
Hope this helps

 

[brandoro]

One thing that I think makes the cabbed tractor 'feel' different is that you have a visual reference, the cab window frames, that the open tractor doesn't have. Until you get used to how much those frames can be off plumb without it being a problem the tractor 'feels' like it is leaned more. The cab does raise the center of gravity a little but that can be easily offset by an attachment carried low.

 

[E/S]

One thing that I think makes the cabbed tractor 'feel' different is that you have a visual reference, the cab window frames, that the open tractor doesn't have. Until you get used to how much those frames can be off plumb without it being a problem the tractor 'feels' like it is leaned more. The cab does raise the center of gravity a little but that can be easily offset by an attachment carried low.

This is exactly what I experienced with my M85 a year ago. Having always operated open station equipment, the addition of reference points and being closed in bothered me.
After 1 year/ 200hrs I have adjusted to it and don't want to go back
( especially clearing snow ).

E/S

 

[brandoro]

This is exactly what I experienced with my M85 a year ago. Having always operated open station equipment, the addition of reference points and being closed in bothered me.
After 1 year/ 200hrs I have adjusted to it and don't want to go back
( especially clearing snow ).

E/S

Especially clearing snow:thumbsup:
-20C (-4F), wind blowing, snow still falling and I'm in the cab with the heat on, jacket hanging open and gloves in my pocket. That is when you know you did the right thing getting the cab.

 

[sweettractors]

Going sideways on a hill a cab tractor is always going to be a little more top heavy than a comparable open station, If I am belted in my cab tractor, I feel pretty safe. In a open station, I have jumped out just before the tractor rolled over. If I had a seatbelt on that time, I would not be here today. NO ROPS :thumbdown: Ken Sweet

 

[MikeInEburg]

now I have a Kubota l3240 cabbed tractor 4wd and for some reason I just don't feel comfortable going down that hill.

Does your l3240 have rear wheels that will adjust to a wider stance? It's amazing what a couple of inches wider will do for the feel of stability.

Mike

 

[E/S]

Going sideways on a hill a cab tractor is always going to be a little more top heavy than a comparable open station, If I am belted in my cab tractor, I feel pretty safe. In a open station, I have jumped out just before the tractor rolled over. If I had a seatbelt on that time, I would not be here today. NO ROPS :thumbdown: Ken Sweet

Ken,
I think the not being able to bail factor was the hardest part to get over.
I have never owned a tractor with ROP, and never will.

E/S

 

[crazyal]

As odd as it sounds because the cab tractors feel higher (because of the roof) I feel higher off the ground. I always feel like I'm the center of gravity even though I'm not and feeling higher just feels like it can roll easier. That and when I drive over things that tilt the tractor and I unconsciously lean to compensate, lol, and with the glass and posts acting as a referrence I realize I'm doing this. Also the front posts serve as a rude angle guage when looking at things like trees.

 

[seca111]

I've found myself leaning as well, and then laugh at what little difference I'm sure that makes.

I don't think my tires go wider, but I am tempted to have them filled.
The only thing that holds me back is sometimes I don't want the extra weight when going over grass or other things.
it will be a decision for the spring.

and yes, I got a cab because i live at 6800 feet and when we get snow we get a bunch and its usually windy at the same time. before I would wait until it almost stopped, or I didn't think i would be able to get the 2wd JD through it before plowing.
now I'm just look outside and tell the wife if I don't go out now, you're going to be stuck tomorrow and then i go play for a couple hours in a nice toasty cab.

 

[jenkinsph]

Ken,
I think the not being able to bail factor was the hardest part to get over.
I have never owned a tractor with ROP, and never will.

E/S

I assume you meant without rops since your cab tractor is an enclosed rops?

 

[jenkinsph]

I've found myself leaning as well, and then laugh at what little difference I'm sure that makes.

I don't think my tires go wider, but I am tempted to have them filled.
The only thing that holds me back is sometimes I don't want the extra weight when going over grass or other things.
it will be a decision for the spring.

and yes, I got a cab because i live at 6800 feet and when we get snow we get a bunch and its usually windy at the same time. before I would wait until it almost stopped, or I didn't think i would be able to get the 2wd JD through it before plowing.
now I'm just look outside and tell the wife if I don't go out now, you're going to be stuck tomorrow and then i go play for a couple hours in a nice toasty cab.

If you have a fel I would really recomend the filled tires or wheel weights which are my preference, helps alot with the stability of any tractor.

 

[montelatici]

The way I use a tractor in the summer and the land/trees, a cab would be without glass and in pieces in no time. Would love the comfort though.

 

[crazyal]

The way I use a tractor in the summer and the land/trees, a cab would be without glass and in pieces in no time. Would love the comfort though.

I'll second that. I would love a cab for blowing snow but driving through the woods in the other three months dragging logs would mean either cutting lots of paths for the cab or plenty of broken glass. Besides on my 580K the dam doors are always closing when I want them to stay open, lol. If I get out for a moment to get a different view while working the backhoe I swear it always closes.

 

[merrickvilleguy]

the glass isn't all that bad ... so long as the branches are small enough and you take your time they will move out of the way ... I cant so much as think how much fun that would be sans cab ? anything that would break the glass would be uncomfortable to say the least if it weren't there ?

the problem I see with in the tighter areas is the mirrors/lights but if I twist them out of the way that's not much a problem either

 

[Marveltone]

the glass isn't all that bad ... so long as the branches are small enough and you take your time they will move out of the way ... I cant so much as think how much fun that would be sans cab ? anything that would break the glass would be uncomfortable to say the least if it weren't there ?

the problem I see with in the tighter areas is the mirrors/lights but if I twist them out of the way that's not much a problem either

While maneuvering through the Norway Pines the other day, I was ducking and swerving past little branches in an attempt to keep from getting too scratched up. I recall thinking how nice it would be to have a cab to take the scratches for me.

Of course, I really should just stop being lazy and trim those dead lower branches out of the way.

Joe

 

[karnsguy]

I think the reason you felt more secure in the JD 301 was because that is a very stable machine. I have one that I bought about 20 years ago and still use it today. It has been up and down hills, ditches, and woods in every direction and I've never felt like it was going to tip. I think the wide front axle, the filled 16.9x24 tires, and a lower center of gravity together made this tractor very stable. I have a new Kubota B7800 open station, and I hesitate to take it into places that I routinely will take my old John Deere.

 

[montelatici]

the glass isn't all that bad ... so long as the branches are small enough and you take your time they will move out of the way ... I cant so much as think how much fun that would be sans cab ? anything that would break the glass would be uncomfortable to say the least if it weren't there ?

the problem I see with in the tighter areas is the mirrors/lights but if I twist them out of the way that's not much a problem either

I'm not quite the width or height of the cab and am reasonably flexible to get out of the way.