Optional operator equipment :)

[StrangeRanger]

Got in a fair amount of seat time this weekend, cleaning up after the last snow storm. And I've decided Kubota needs to sell a new piece of optional equipment, a heated steering wheel
My overalls and boots do a great job of keeping the rest of me OK if not warm, but my hands were absolute blocks of ice. It was about 3*F with a stiff wind all weekend and I could do nothing to get my hands warm.
Sure a cab would be the cats meow, but well out of my budget. Hmm... maybe I'll put my hands in some of them thar heated socks that use batteries

 

[Dominique01149]

There's nothing worst then cold hands or feet. I often had a spare set of gloves hidden inside my jacket so I could switch to warmer gloves while working in winter (very helpful with a set gets wet). That was in the JD 1070 open cab days, now I'm spoiled with a heated cab.
Sorry, I had to rub it in. On another note, I have to widen all my trails so the cab doesn't snag anything. I need to setup my chainsaw with heated handles.

 

[DraftHorse]

I use a set of motorcyle heated gloves that will run off a battery pack or direct from the battery when I ride. Work really good.

 

[bandit67]

You may need to invest in a new pair of gloves, but some of them now come with 'sleeves' that you can slide the small hand warmer packs into. You can get the hand warmers at Walmart, or any outdoor or sporting goods stores.

We use them when it gets well into below zero temps when we are out running the sleddogs - works pretty well. If you ziplock them properly when you store them after use, you can get a number of uses out of them, too.

 

[ronjhall]

Kubota is not about to give us a heated steering wheel. Unless you go with a heated cab.
I use a pair of snowmobile mittens. They keep my fingers warm but still allow operation of controls.

 

[escavader]

Heated seats are options in cars,mabey they should be on tractors.Would seat pucker factor be better on a warm seat or a cold one?
ALAN

 

[jimainiac]

Kubota is not about to give us a heated steering wheel. Unless you go with a heated cab.
I use a pair of snowmobile mittens. They keep my fingers warm but still allow operation of controls.

That was going to be my suggestion, snowmobile mittens. Snowmobile suit or insulated coveralls is my choice of attire when moving snow around.

 

[HappyHillFarmer]

Down filled mittens are my choice. I spent over an hour plowing snow yesterday in -5 F (no cab) and my fingers never got cold.

 

[rdsaustintx]

What we got here is a clear case of regional bias. Always happens this time of year.

Nothing to to down here in BubbaLand. It ain't snowing but the grass ain't growin either.

A heated steering wheel is not half as essential as a PTO-operated margarita mixer.

 

[WayneB]

Maybe someone should come up with a way to add some heaters like on the snowmobile or 4-wheeler to keep one hands warm while plowing snow with the tractor.

Semtec makes a kit for adding heaters to handlebars so I would think one could add them to a tractor steering wheel... the heaters themself sell for around $40.00 then one would have to get the switch and a few other small items. Heck I might go ahead and get a set and try them.

Symtec, Inc Grip Heater Kit : Heat Controllers, Adaptors & Grips

 

[megaboz]

Maybe someone should come up with a way to add some heaters like on the snowmobile or 4-wheeler to keep one hands warm while plowing snow with the tractor.

Semtec makes a kit for adding heaters to handlebars so I would think one could add them to a tractor steering wheel... the heaters themself sell for around $40.00 then one would have to get the switch and a few other small items. Heck I might go ahead and get a set and try them.

I like the idea, but with hydraulic steering, you may have to make it a plug and play kinda deal when the cord gets wrapped around the steering wheel so you can unwrap it.

 

[RadarTech]

Megaboz,
There is a way to do this without the winding up of the cords..
The part is called a slipring..
It has contact rings and "fingers"
Slip ring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am sure there is someone that makes one the size of a steering wheel rod......

thoughts?

Later,
J

 

[StrangeRanger]

I was joking. I had no idea so many folks would seriously think about this

 

[Harvest Moon]

Semtec makes a kit for adding heaters to handlebars so I would think one could add them to a tractor steering wheel... the heaters themself sell for around $40.00 then one would have to get the switch and a few other small items. Heck I might go ahead and get a set and try them.

Symtec, Inc Grip Heater Kit : Heat Controllers, Adaptors & Grips

Put them in here:

http://www.shearcomfort.com/images/accessory/SteeringWheel/steering-wheel2-s.jpg

 

[megaboz]

I was joking. I had no idea so many folks would seriously think about this

Heck I thought it was a grand idea.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Maybe someone should come up with a way to add some heaters like on the snowmobile or 4-wheeler to keep one hands warm while plowing snow with the tractor.

Semtec makes a kit for adding heaters to handlebars so I would think one could add them to a tractor steering wheel... the heaters themself sell for around $40.00 then one would have to get the switch and a few other small items. Heck I might go ahead and get a set and try them.

Symtec, Inc Grip Heater Kit : Heat Controllers, Adaptors & Grips

Couldn't you just use some heated socks inside your mittens? I think I've seen heated socks for like $15-$20

 

[jgrreed]

Heck I thought it was a grand idea.

Me too!!

I've been thinking about getting heated seat kit and having an upholsterer put it in for me. They're about $100. They're sold in pairs, so if anyone wants to split it with me, lemme know. My only concern is that it if it's snowing out will I have a nice warm, but moist, bum from the falling snow melting on the seat??

-Jer.