Quick Soft Cab

[Barryh]

Doing some work on my old Power Trac this weekend ... I redid some of the wiring for the Lights and wired in a separate switch for the Hydraulic cooling fan.. The thermostat was bad when I bought it ..

I could have ordered another one but like the idea of knowing exactly when it's on or off. These machines get so hot in the summer time. When doing heavy work I like the idea of being able to leave it on ...

Tested it this morning it was around 20 degree's, at first I noticed the hydraulics running a little slow with it on.. But as I did some plowing it warmed up and it ran perfect ..

I put in a new gas petcock while I was at it. The old petcock was hard to use so now it stays in the open position. The new one works much better. Put some powerful magnets in the oil tank strung on a wire. I'll be curious to see how much metal I collect after using it for a while.


I also bought a Golf Cart cover a few years back it was stored in the garage.. Decided with the freezing temperatures around here this week I would rig it up.. As you can see the clear window is still wrinkled pretty bad but I'm sure as it sits in the garage a lot of that is going to relax and smooth out. The pictures don't really tell the story..

It's very easy to see everything outside from the inside just the way it is.. Of course when the snow fly's things will get a little bit blurred but I am counting on being able to see out just fine...

Wishing everyone a happy 2018 ..

 

[MossRoad]

Nice job on the cab. That'll keep the wind off you nicely! :thumbsup:

What's the wiring and device in the first picture?

 

[Barryh]

Nice job on the cab. That'll keep the wind off you nicely! :thumbsup:

What's the wiring and device in the first picture?

Thanks..

Cab easy on, easy off and easy to store until next winter. Doing snow removal last year got old with the sideways wet snow. By the time I was done, I was soaking wet from the waist down..

The wiring is just a central Terminal Block connected to the Battery with protective fuses and tucked away with a rubber cover .. Screws in the middle make it fast and easy to wire in any new switch's accessories etc ..

 

[MossRoad]

That terminal block is a good idea.

 

[Barryh]

That terminal block is a good idea.

:thumbsup:

 

[Langanobob]

Your cab looks very functional if not quite elegant! I’ve been wondering about flexible vinyl windshields, no way to rig up a wiper? Seems like snow would want to stick, at least the heavy wet snow we sometimes get here.

 

[aczlan]

Your cab looks very functional if not quite elegant! I’ve been wondering about flexible vinyl windshields, no way to rig up a wiper? Seems like snow would want to stick, at least the heavy wet snow we sometimes get here.

I have one on our Kubota L3830 (which has a 7' front mount snowblower), I haven't used it in heavy wet snow yet, but I think I should be able to tap it from the inside and have it all fall off.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

I've got soft vinyl windows on my portable ice fishing shanty. Nothing sticks to them much, as far as snow goes. However, if it gets above freezing inside, the snow on the outside melts, and the water droplets form on it, yes, just a quick tap and off it goes. Sure beats getting your upper thighs soaked sitting in the tractor seat, I'd bet.

 

[Barryh]

Time will tell ... :drink:

 

[majorwager]

I am surprised at your result, Have several friends who discarded the soft plastic side panels because they claimed the view was distorted, affectedted depth perception. They changed front panel to glass.

 

[jfh28]

thanks for posting this barry.....I am seriously considering doing this.......since I sit up high the roof hits the overhanging branches full of snow and dumps it all on my lap......plus the frigid blowing snow was a real pain recently.......do you know what manufacturer of cart enclosure you have?.......also any concerns with the heat of the lights against the vinyl?........Jack

 

[Barryh]

thanks for posting this barry.....I am seriously considering doing this.......since I sit up high the roof hits the overhanging branches full of snow and dumps it all on my lap......plus the frigid blowing snow was a real pain recently.......do you know what manufacturer of cart enclosure you have?.......also any concerns with the heat of the lights against the vinyl?........Jack

Unfortunately this soft cab has been sitting in my garage folded up in a zippered bag with no label for about 5 years now so I don't remember which manufacturer I ordered it from. I think they are all pretty much the same in size as it was intended for a golf cart..

As for my lights they are Led so they give off very little heat.. The homemade roof keeps the lights around 6 inches away from the heavy plastic window. So it works out great for me ...

After seeing how this works out the only thing I might add is a small fan over the window on the inside, to help keep away any fog build up. I anticipate the small amount of heat coming off of the lights may also help keep the inside window clear ..

 

[aczlan]

Here is our golf cart canopy on our L3830:


Aaron Z

 

[Barryh]

:thumbsup:

 

[jfh28]

thanks barry......I think I will need one that zips at all the corners due to the irregular shape of the tall pt I have.......so I can roll up the bottom at the sides to clear the wheels as well as keep it away from the exhaust pipe that runs right under the side step which can get pretty hot.......since I sit on top of the engine I'm thinking I will have plenty of heat inside but I will have to think about the fresh air intake for the engine....these soft enclosures are not exactly air tight but it would be draping right over the side vents to the engine compartment.....I guess I could always just roll the bottom up some more at those locations......you got the old brain thinking.....lol.....Jack

 

[woodlandfarms]

So let me ask the question... why try and enclose the cab on a machine never really designed to have an enclosed cab. One of these has got to be a lot cheaper and much safer option...

Stohlquist EZ Drysuit

 

[MossRoad]

So let me ask the question... why try and enclose the cab on a machine never really designed to have an enclosed cab. One of these has got to be a lot cheaper and much safer option...

Stohlquist EZ Drysuit

They are made for PowerTrac owners.... per the description:

Articulated armored knees

 

[jfh28]

So let me ask the question... why try and enclose the cab on a machine never really designed to have an enclosed cab. One of these has got to be a lot cheaper and much safer option...

well there's a lot of things these machines are used for that they were never designed for :laughing: just because PT decided that it wasn't worth their while to come up with an enclosure option doesn't mean there shouldn't be one......granted the amount of owners who would opt for one is probably pretty small and I'm sure thats why there aren't any third party ones either....there just isn't enough volume to make it cost effective for a manufacturer to do......I'm an ex-skier so I've got all the proper winter wear and thermals and what nots but let me tell you when it's -5F with a 10 mph wind blowing snow in your face you get freaking cold......haha......you haven't lived until your eyelashes are frozen shut and you have snotsicles hanging from your nose......it's just not a pleasant look......lol......some of these golf cart enclosures go for $50 so if there's a way to make it work it's worth a shot to me......Jack

 

[jfh28]

They are made for PowerTrac owners.... per the description:

Articulated armored knees

except when you run into something and your knees smash against the front!......haven't done that this year yet but we're only a couple of weeks in......lol......Jack

 

[MossRoad]

I've never hit my knees. I'm 6' tall. But I have hit things like stumps and put the steering wheel in my gut! :shocked: