Regret a cab tractor?

[Jac65]

I live in Michigan and have an open Tractor that I use year round. The snow blowing can get a little annoying when you have wind blowback, but if you dress properly it is not too bad. I would base my decision on how many hours you are going to be sitting on the machine. If I have to blow snow 5-10 times a winter, at an hour each time, I can't really see the need for the cab for 10 hours a season. Use it more in the summer but a sunshade takes care of the worst of it.

 

[finn1]

I live in Michigan and have an open Tractor that I use year round. The snow blowing can get a little annoying when you have wind blowback, but if you dress properly it is not too bad. I would base my decision on how many hours you are going to be sitting on the machine. If I have to blow snow 5-10 times a winter, at an hour each time, I can't really see the need for the cab for 10 hours a season. Use it more in the summer but a sunshade takes care of the worst of it.

Try five times a week and you’ll be singing a different tune.

 

[tjandrews]

60 years ago, when all we had to move snow was a home-built snowplow on our Case SC tractor, my grandfather bought an enclosure something like this, shown here on a Farmall H. Ours had a plastic windshield mounted on top. It did the job, cutting most of the wind and providing some heat back to the operator.

 

[RickB]

Try five times a week and you’ll be singing a different tune.

Or having to plow in the rain as the upper level atmosphere warms at the end of a storm.

 

[RoyJackson]

My only regret is that having a cab has made more work for me by forcing me to limb the trees I mow around far enough up that I don’t beat my cab to death!!

Same here, but can't say I regret having to do that trimming

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm just starting to look for a used cab tractor and every time I go out with my open station tractor, I wish that I had a cab. I was stung on my neck last weekend when I was drilling post holes. Having a cab tractor wouldn't change that because I'm still going to use that open station tractor for post holes, but it reminded me of the other times that I've been stung while out mowing. Here in Texas, I believe we have a lot of bugs that like to attack people. Several types of bees and some of the worse wasps ever created to cause pain!!!

In Summer, it will be too hot to do anything outside, so nothing gets done. If I had a cab with AC, I could be out mowing, or moving some dirt, or cleaning up down trees and branches. I would be productive instead of doing indoor stuff. Same in winter, when it's too cold to enjoy being on the tractor, I could be getting things done.

 

[RoyJackson]

I went for a cab after my first winter in Vermont...getting too damn old and cold. That was a Deere 4520 with Curtis Cab (heat, but no AC). Last year, I sold that tractor (private sale) and bought a Deere 4052 Cabbed tractor (factory cab).
As others wrote, downside of a factory cab is the necessity to limb all the trees where I mow. So, I got a pole saw to go with my chainsaw (both EGO battery powered). Have a chipper and, for the most part...life is good

Only two things I don't like about a cab tractor...the extra $10K for the cab (bought my 4052 used, so I didn't take all the hit) and all that very expensive glass, if I do screw up

 

[JethroB]

Compare a 2020 to a Ford 5000 or an IH 674 and it looks a lot better than comparing it to something 50 years newer.

And a 45 YO MF 135. I gave it some exercise recently and was happy to get back on the Kubota HST. That stiff, straight-down, dual stage clutch wears me out. And the diesel fumes wafting up from underneath the rear axle.

 

[IndyIan]

I'm curious what's the average tractor age is before the AC needs some work? Anyone ever fix up an old AC system that has sat for a few years?
My buddy has 3 cabbed tractors but only the one under 2000hrs has working AC. He's not in a hurry to spend the money to fix the other two as he doesn't need to use them too often in the summer.

For me, the tractor is more like a 4 wheeler that gets work done, and at about 80-100 hrs a year I'm not out in the hottest or coldest weather, or rain, and I park it in the shed so the operators station isn't weathering or wet.

For sure if you do alot of hours in a tractor or use it for a living, get whatever makes the job easiest. I find for me with a limited tractor/toy budget, I'd rather spend the money on more hp or weight or a back hoe or implements, than buy more complexity and less durability with a cab so I can wear a t shirt in winter plowing for a few hours, or not sweat a bit when its hot in the summer... Our weather is pretty temperate though and for the few ground wasp nests I've run over, none yet has actually stung me. I have fed a few mosquitos and black flies though but I'm not so worried about it even to put on bug spray most of the time.

 

[YanmarFever]

After running open station tractors for years, I got tired of the allergies, hornets and yellow jackets attacking me.
We bought a Mahindra 5010 cab and it was great with the AC going and parking the mower on top of the yellow jackets nest it was purely sweet revenge.
We had a spray arm mounted on the Mahindra, so we bought a Branson 5520 cab for mowing with a 10' bush hog pull mower.
Cabs have there place, but if you have low hanging tree limbs sooner or later one will get you....

 

[RoyJackson]

Cabs have their place, but if you have low hanging tree limbs sooner or later one will get you....

And that's exactly why I bought a pole saw!

 

[jonsstihl]

my only regret is the ten years I spent without a cab. I agree with all the others though. they each have pro's and cons.

for the expense often people don't realize you get some if not all of it back when you trade in or sell. How much less would you pay for the open station version of your particular tractor used.

 

[LouNY]

my only regret is the ten years I spent without a cab. I agree with all the others though. they each have pro's and cons.

for the expense often people don't realize you get some if not all of it back when you trade in or sell. How much less would you pay for the open station version of your particular tractor used.

maybe my estate will, I doubt that I do hopefully a long ways down the road.
It isn't one of my considerations.

 

[chim]

I'm curious what's the average tractor age is before the AC needs some work?

In my case, around 1,200 hours on the Kubota L4240. The TX valve failed and while it was pumped down, we also changed the filter drier. Whole works cost under $100 because we used "or equal" parts and I have friends in the business.

 

[AGreenFarmer]

I would definitely get a cab for cold weather work.

I would definitely get a cab for hot summer work, as well.

 

[RickB]

It takes a pretty big limb to break a secured, closed cab door or window.
a little situational awareness goes a long ways.

 

[mo1]

I have operated both cabbed and open station tractors. I much prefer an open station tractor for a general chore tractor.

- Visibility is much better on an open station tractor, particularly visibility of things right next to the tractor. This makes an open station much better if you are working close next to tall things like mowing along a fenceline, trees, buildings, utility poles, etc. It also makes it easier to back up to implements to hook up.
- You don't have to continually go dust off the windows on an open station tractor to be able to see when operating in a dusty situation. Likewise, you will never have fogged up windows in cool weather with an open station tractor.
- You don't have to go clean out the cab intake air filters every day or two if you are operating in a dusty situation.
- The cab will strike low-hanging objects and makes it difficult or impossible to work close to trees, enter into buildings such as barns with relatively low clearance, and similar situations. You can fold down a ROPS to make the tractor much shorter, but you can't do that to a cab.
- Much easier to get on and off of an open station tractor. This makes hooking up implements much easier as well.
- You can hear your implements working and can tell much more quickly that something is not quite right and correct the condition before you mess up the equipment, compared to if you run a cabbed tractor. Slip clutch equipped rotary cutters are a notable example here, better to raise the cutter or slow down when the clutch just starts to slip in a patch or thick stuff rather than keep going on until you see smoke billowing from the clutch.
- The inside of a cabbed tractor is generally dirtier than that of an open station tractor as the stuff you track in there stays in there. You also have to clean it with a vacuum like you would a car, you can't hose it off or use a leaf blower like you can an open station tractor.
- It is a whole lot easier to work on the rear half of an open station tractor than a cabbed tractor as components are much easier to access.
- Air conditioners seem to be a fairly common item to fail/require expensive repairs on cabbed tractors. A cabbed machine with a broken A/C is miserable, even with the doors open.
- Getting a tractor with a cab where that model is available in either open station or cabbed often mandates other options as well, which you may or may not want or need.
- You are actually outdoors when you are running an open station tractor while you are inside when you are running a cabbed tractor. Much of the appeal of having property is being outdoors, so why would I want to go inside of a cabbed tractor?

 

[PeteN]

60 years ago, when all we had to move snow was a home-built snowplow on our Case SC tractor, my grandfather bought an enclosure something like this, shown here on a Farmall H. Ours had a plastic windshield mounted on top. It did the job, cutting most of the wind and providing some heat back to the operator.View attachment 719237

I have something very similar for my JD 2020 except I also have a plastic windshield that goes with it. Closest thing to a cab tractor I ever drove until yesterday when I bought a LS tractor with a cab. I wasn't willing to pony up the extra cash for a cab but my wife chipped in the extra bucks for my birthday. Thanks for all the responses to my question. Still have the JD 2020 open station so I now can choose dependent on the weather and the job.

 

[MHarryE]

Air conditioner question - AC on m 29 year old combine still working although a previous owner did have it converted to 135a. The dealer left a tag by the compressor. AC’s are a lot more reliable today. However my BIL finally broke down and bought a tractor with air conditioning this year - 20 year old. Dealer didn’t check to make sure AC was working. After one month, he asked me how cool it’s supposed to get. I checked - AC wasn’t working. He was in a sauna. Determined a pressure switch had failed. Replaced that and he was very happy. Second most used tractor on their farm after his son’s loader tractor with cab, working heater and AC. My sister, who insists open platform only way, was chased out of the field twice this summer due to overheating misery.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have operated both cabbed and open station tractors. I much prefer an open station tractor for a general chore tractor...

Both open station and cabs have their advantages and disadvantages.
There are times I'd love an open station (again) for many of the reasons you wrote, but mostly because I like to be in open air during good weather.
Although I never used to mind being out in cold, snowy weather, my old body just can't handle that as well as it used to.

So! The real answer is have two tractors (one open station, one cabbed)!!