Regret a cab tractor?

[mvoght]

On a typical winter morning, it's -40F out (not windchill, but real ambient temp), the wind is blowing 30-40 mph, it's 5am, and the driveway must be opened up to get out to work (workday).

Here, we just call that another day.

I'm quite happy with my cab.

But your location explains that! I'd want a cab tractor if I lived in ND too!

I personally like to live where things shut down for the idea of a snow storm because if they don't shut the schools down when it snows, that means it snows way too often for me to want to live there! Once very 7 to 10 years, we have a winter of snow storms. The rest of the time, a snow is usually under 4", and we can either drive it down or it melts pretty darned quick.

 

[tjandrews]

Lol, yes perhaps. I don't know or care since I'm not a pu$$y and thus don't need a cab for winter or summer (j/k, j/k! haha).

While a cab sure seems nice sometimes, it really wouldn't make sense for me. I only need to plow snow 5 to 10 times per year here, and rarely during a blowing storm or under 15 degrees F. Shoot it hardly snows when it's any colder than that, for most of us in the continental US. And in the summer, I am constantly on and off the tractor when using it (I don't mow pasture or do real farmer stuff). Having no breeze of fresh air, and having to open and close the door constantly seems like a crazy pain in the rear.

Why are the cab doors not easily removable? Should be like a jeep wrangler, just pull the pins and pop the whole door off. The rear glass panel, too. Then you're most of the way to convertible.

I'm in Central NY, near Syracuse, where the wind can blow in up to 200 inches of snow off Lake Ontario in a single winter. Back during the Blizzard of '93 in March, we got around five feet of snow. When it finally stopped, and we started digging out with an old Case SC and a homemade plow, it took us four hours just to work a single path the 100 feet or so from the barn to the road. The house is on the other side of the road from the barn, and the county plows had piled the banks up at least ten feet high at the entrance to the driveway.
Yes, with the aid of several shovels that little old tractor did eventually clean everything out. But, it would have been a LOT quicker, easier, and less uncomfortable if we had had the blower, bucket, tractor, and cab we do now. I'm 72 now, and while old age isn't for sissies, it isn't for the intelligence-challenged, either. We'll stick with the cab.

 

[metalbender]

Here in Saskatchewan the weather is quite similar. I'll take that over earthquakes and hurricanes any day. You can dress for the weather, not so for an earthquake.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I live in north Central Minnesota. Occasionally Moorhead by heat index is the hottest place on the face of a planet, and where I'm at, we are regularly the coldest place in North America—presumably because we are the furthest away from an ocean. Anyway, cab wise, I regret nothing.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The only visibility issues I have with my cab are when I'm working with the forks at max height. Its sometimes difficult to see the fork tips.
It's also difficult to line up FEL SSQA attachments. With an open station, you can just stand to line up the SSQA with the implement.

I'll put up with these minor inconveniences so I can plow when it's -10F and mow when it's +95F in perfect comfort.

 

[MechE1]

No regret on the cab. Worked hard this summer putting in a pool and a lot of drainage/water line. On and off the machine quite a bit. That does get annoying. However, if not for the break from the heat in the A/C I wouldn't have been as productive. There is no doubt those breaks were refreshing and allowed for more work-time before getting worn out. If I was on a open station w/o air, it would have been even more of a struggle. There were a few days where, mentally, I would have thrown in the towel earlier in the day if it were not for the A/C. Personal fatigue is a factor at times.

 

[grsthegreat]

ill take snow over heat,earthquakes, hurricanes,tornadoes, volcanoes, forced brownouts anyday......and i mean any day.

 

[RoyJackson]

I live in north Central Minnesota. Occasionally Moorhead by heat index is the hottest place on the face of a planet, and where I'm at, we are regularly the coldest place in North America—presumably because we are the furthest away from an ocean. Anyway, cab wise, I regret nothing.

You've also got some great videos on YouTube!!

 

[Milo]

I just feel blessed to not need a cab on my tractor or SxS. Winter here involves maybe scooping 1 foot of snow off the 900' drive and parking area in temps seldom below 10 degrees, I just bundle up and have fun. Summer is generally mid 80's we seldom see 90, jeans, t-shirt, and a hat are comfortable and being hilly here insects are never a problem. I enjoy being in the outdoors, that's why I bought my property to begin with. (I also prefer riding a motorcycle over driving in a car.) I work a lot in the woods so not only would I not want to be inside a cab, it'd often be a hindrance.

Were I working all day in a dusty Oklahoma field in 95 degree heat or blowing snow for months, hours at a time, in Minnesota, etc. I'd probably consider a cab, but I'd sure miss being out in the open on the nice days.

 

[5030]

My philosophy is... Haying on a hot humid day, nothing beats cold ac. Conversely, raking on a hot humid day with the OS and a roof on it to keep the sun off my bald head and a cold drink in my small cooler is just fine with me.

 

[Milo]

That's true, out in the open in hot sunny conditions just having a roof for shade would help a lot.

 

[PeteN]

I've been on a search this year for a 4WD tractor and was on a path to an open station version. Various members on TBN have swayed me to the cab version and I'm almost there. With 4WD I believe I will use the tractor year round instead of storing it during the winter like I do with the JD 2020. Just to give me a view of something I haven't thought of, has anyone gone back to an open station after getting a cab tractor?

Just an update. I did buy an LS MT357HC (hydro cab model) earlier this month. I already have an open station JD tractor so now I have a choice. No problems with having the cab but it seems a little more cumbersome to get on and off when you are working in the woods. One thing I did notice that I didn't think about is that dust seems to just cling to the windows and there is more sun glare than I expected. No big deal but never had to deal with that on the JD. It is really nice as fall moves into winter in WI to be inside the cab. What I really appreciate so far is the 4WD. Even with the R4's I'm not having any issues getting up and down the hills in my woods without tearing them up like I did with the ag tires on the JD 2WD tractor. I think if I didn't have the cold winters to deal with I may have stayed with an open station tractor since it just seems like you are driving a tractor. But to answer my own initial question, I don't regret getting this tractor with a cab.

 

[Milo]

Sounds like you have the best of both now Pete, congratulations!

 

[rScotty]

Regret a cab tractor? Not one bit. But we also have a similar size open station

We do use the open station tractor ten times as much as the cabbed tractor. That's because most days here are nice, and the open station is more of why we got the land in the first place. And it is so darn maneuverable & convenient - AND because it has a big 4 post insulated canopy with some overhang to keep the sun and weather off my head.

There are definitely some days in the winter when I am very glad to have a old cabbed tractor to use. No regrets on that. I plug it in for a couple hours, then start it up with heater on high for half an hour, and go back inside until the cab looks toasty. Those are the days I would stay inside if the only option was open station. Brrr.... But it's not.

Owning one of each on a limited budget means taking the time to buy wisely, and buy used. Lots of good used equipment out there these days.
rScotty

 

[4570Man]

My philosophy is... Haying on a hot humid day, nothing beats cold ac. Conversely, raking on a hot humid day with the OS and a roof on it to keep the sun off my bald head and a cold drink in my small cooler is just fine with me.

A canopy makes a huge difference in hot weather use. I’m surprised they’re not more common. A good 4 post canopy is a literal life saver. Even a sunshade that’s not impact rated could still save you from a smaller limb that would otherwise sour your day.

 

[Boss 302]

Anything to help shade the sun, it sure is good to be able to rare back with the AC blowing.

 

[rScotty]

A canopy makes a huge difference in hot weather use. I’m surprised they’re not more common. A good 4 post canopy is a literal life saver. Even a sunshade that’s not impact rated could still save you from a smaller limb that would otherwise sour your day.

Amen to all that.
I'm surprised that canopys aren't more common too - especially the 4 post type.

And there's no reason why a 4 post canopy couldn't have a fold-down windscreen. Or at least the same sort of protection that is common to skid steers. I'd buy one of those. Either one.

Maybe they will someday.
rScotty

 

[5030]

Here you go.. Both ways... I like the ac but I also like the open air... Except in the winter time...lol

Besides, I have a hairless head.

 

[Boss 302]

Good lookin stable of tractors there, 5030.

 

[5030]

Good lookin stable of tractors there, 5030.

No payments either. In fact the only payment I have is on my new round bailer and it's not much. I could pay it off tomorrow but why bother when Kubota is financing me at 0 percent.

If you didn't know how old they were, you'd never be able to guess their age. Aging gracefully at 20 years old. Too bad I'm not.