Regret a cab tractor?

[jyoutz]

I had the salesman desperately wanting me to buy a cab, but then he was also convinced my husband might buy a tractor. End result, I'm fixing my old tractor, yet again.

I drove a neighbor's cab Kubota, and hated how stifling the inside is. Since you cannot really open the windows, there is NO WAY, I want to be stuck inside. But, I regret that I don't have a convertible car anymore. If I could have a cab for 2 months of cold a year, that'd be great, but I LOVE being outside...and being inside a cab isn't outside IMO.

I have 15 acres, not 150 or 1500, and there isn't anything I'll be doing that doesn't allow me to go inside to warm up...or I guess cool off, did I mention I like summer?

I feel the same way, but do enjoy a canopy on my tractor. I’m considering a soft cab that slips over the canopy for winter snow plowing.

 

[rScotty]

I feel the same way, but do enjoy a canopy on my tractor. I’m considering a soft cab that slips over the canopy for winter snow plowing.

With the 4 post canopy, a solft cab could even be easier. I've been wondering about a fixed wind screen - maybe one that folds forward in the summer like on some old convertibles cars.

Windows that don't open? Is that an option? On industrial machines like our JD310 yellow backhoe, all the side and rear windows open and fold out of the way. Same for the doors & their windows. Being an open station/canopy guy, I haven't looked to see if that's available on other tractors.

I guess I just assumed all windows open. Cars have had roll down windows for a long time. The technology is pretty well worked out.....
rScotty

 

[oosik]

I live in NE WA state. Our summers are hot and DRY. I've never had a cabbed tractor. First a 1982 - brand new - Ford 1700 - - then in 2009, I upgraded to a brand new Kubota M6040. I, also, do not use a rotary cutter of any type. No need, nothing to cut here on my 80 acres.

I've helped my neighbor to the south with his big cabbed tractors. Mainly till his enormous wheat fields. The cabs are nice when you have a following breeze or must till thru your own "dust storm". Otherwise - I'm glad I choose open station.

I was never able to get the AC properly adjusted on his big tractors. Feet and knees were always cold - head, shoulders & back were roasting. If the tractors were mine - probably some type of window shades to cut the sunshine. All that glass really tends to amplify the sun and heat. But, that's JMHO.

 

[kthompson]

I farmed small farm for several years. Tractors were open station. All I knew till I was in my 60's and bought my first. If using in the woods be very careful. Yes an open station is easier to get on and off normally. But the temp comfort is not the biggest reason I would recommend a cab tractor but safety. Wasp, bees, snakes, and so forth. But the most dangerous is chemicals you are spraying. No drifting back on you or busted hose spraying you and while not a poison would have been soaked with liquid nitrogen when the pressure hose on sprayer pump blew off. Noise level of equipment is lower so easier on your hearing. I am on my second cab and on either of them can use cell phone while the tractor is working hard.

One big plus if it applies to you with the cab: when my grands were small they could ride safely in the cab but not the open station and now my dog will ride in the cab laying at my feet but even he knows the open station tractor is not safe. lol

 

[EddinKY]

Yes I get it. A city raised gentlemen bought the farm next to me. He bought a brand new JD cab tractor and a 20 foot batwing. Every pretty day he was out mowing that farm. The noise was unbelievable. But he didn't hear it, 'cause he was in that cab listening to the stereo and letting the air conditioning blow cool. The John Deere dealer that sold him the equipment was a good friend of mine. I said , Paul, need to tell him to listen for the noise he's making, while he's destroying his equipment mowing off stumps and fenceposts and rocks and all kinds of bad things. My pal Paul, just said, please don't tell him anything. I am selling him parts and parts and parts and sending a repairman out day after day after day to fix what he can't hear and he won't slowdown.

 

[RoyJackson]

Yes I get it. A city raised gentlemen bought the farm next to me. He bought a brand new JD cab tractor and a 20 foot batwing. Every pretty day he was out mowing that farm. The noise was unbelievable. But he didn't hear it, 'cause he was in that cab listening to the stereo and letting the air conditioning blow cool. The John Deere dealer that sold him the equipment was a good friend of mine. I said , Paul, need to tell him to listen for the noise he's making, while he's destroying his equipment mowing off stumps and fenceposts and rocks and all kinds of bad things. My pal Paul, just said, please don't tell him anything. I am selling him parts and parts and parts and sending a repairman out day after day after day to fix what he can't hear and he won't slowdown.

You might want to approach the guy and advise him of what havoc he's doing to his equipment...

But, if he ignores you and if the guy is that much of a fool, let him destroy his equipment. Hard lesson, I know...but that's what it takes sometimes

 

[EddinKY]

Sorry, but you seemed to have missed my point. Farming with equipment involves hearing and feeling the performance of the equipment; how a plow turns, how a baler cycle sounds, how a mower drags down RPM's in heavy spots. If the driver is so isolated in the cab, by the blearr of the stereo and the whrrrr of the A/C, that he is immune to the sounds of the equipment, he deserves the cost of the repairs.

 

[RickB]

Sorry, but you seemed to have missed my point. Farming with equipment involves hearing and feeling the performance of the equipment; how a plow turns, how a baler cycle sounds, how a mower drags down RPM's in heavy spots. If the driver is so isolated in the cab, by the blearr of the stereo and the whrrrr of the A/C, that he is immune to the sounds of the equipment, he deserves the cost of the repairs.

90% of the farmers in the US are laughing hysterically.

 

[K5lwq]

When I was a kid on the farm I was given a new tractor that had a cab and radio. It was a International 5488. I was running a large land plane leveling a new field. I had it fairly level and was just working out a small mound where we had buried some stumps.

I set the land plane up and was just a cruising with the radio blaring. All of a sudden I felt the tractor load up. Without batting an eye I engaged the differential lock and poof she sat down. In a split second I managed to stick a 205HP tractor with duals in dry dirt.

I could spin the tires with my hand no problem. I started trying to fill the holes in by hand and then I heard my Dad coming. He was HOT. He said I know what you were doing! you were listening to that radio instead of paying attention. He then climbed up on the tractor and broke my antenna off and wore my back side out!

It took 2 tractors chained together to get me out. I learned that day no matter what I was doing to pay attention!

 

[grsthegreat]

Every real piece of farm equipment is cabbed with heat, ac,and radio. Some gave a small frige.

 

[JethroB]

When I was a kid on the farm I was given a new tractor that had a cab and radio. It was a International 5488. I was running a large land plane leveling a new field. I had it fairly level and was just working out a small mound where we had buried some stumps.

I set the land plane up and was just a cruising with the radio blaring. All of a sudden I felt the tractor load up. Without batting an eye I engaged the differential lock and poof she sat down. In a split second I managed to stick a 205HP tractor with duals in dry dirt.

I could spin the tires with my hand no problem. I started trying to fill the holes in by hand and then I heard my Dad coming. He was HOT. He said I know what you were doing! you were listening to that radio instead of paying attention. He then climbed up on the tractor and broke my antenna off and wore my back side out!

It took 2 tractors chained together to get me out. I learned that day no matter what I was doing to pay attention!

Was this the radio you had? I remember you could hear them blaring from a mile away on an open station.

 

[Boss 302]

Cab all the way, we all know the winters are miserable without one, but I for one enjoy baling hay on a 95 degree day while sitting in a cool cab listening to the greatest hits of the 60's and 70's and that good ole Motown.

 

[K5lwq]

Was this the radio you had? I remember you could hear them blaring from a mile away on an open station.
View attachment 722020

Close. Lol

 

[hornett22]

I don't regret getting an open station. Cab sounds like to much potential for problems.

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't regret getting an open station. Cab sounds like to much potential for problems.

Both have their advantages...if I could afford it, I'd have one of both

 

[bdhsfz6]

Both have their advantages...if I could afford it, I'd have one of both

Agreed.

Up until a couple of years ago, due to finances, all the tractors I've owned were open station. In 2019, I managed to come up with the money to buy a second tractor and got a cabbed model. No regrets at all.

I still need the open station for doing woods work though and a single cabbed machine wouldn't work for me. If you can afford it, having one of each is the way to go.

 

[Williy]

YUP! a cabbed tractor has its problems like you have
to open the door to get in and shut the door when you
are in and then you have to adjust the temp control when
its hot and when its cold out side so that you are comfy
and the dust/dirt can't get at ya and the bugs/insects can't
get to ya and you don't get to hear the roar of the engine
when you have the pto running and then you can adjust
the inside air on and you don't get to smell all the fumes
fresh air from out side ya just a real pain

I will not trade my tractor with the cab enjoy it way too much

willy

 

[Rob41]

I'd love to be able to have a second tractor to play with in the tighter spaces. I think I'd prefer it in the warmer months here in Northern Mi just being out in the open.

The cold winters are going to make me appreciate a heated cab a whole lot though. I did get one tool yesterday that I'm going to have to use frequently all over my property.....a pole saw.

 

[Williy]

Rob41 you in the snow belt way up there???

In Wisconsin I have seen snow so high that people
had to slide out the upstairs windows so they can
shovel out to get to the door so they can get back
in.

willy

 

[Rob41]

Rob41 you in the snow belt way up there???

In Wisconsin I have seen snow so high that people
had to slide out the upstairs windows so they can
shovel out to get to the door so they can get back
in.

willy

Hey Willy, That's some serious snow! I only every had to do that once back in the very early 80's when I went in high school in Gaylord, Mi.

Gaylord is right in the middle of the snow belt on the 45th parallel and I'd guess that effect extends about 15 miles North and South of there.

I'm about 30 miles North and it's easy to see we get less snow than they do.

Now that I've got the right tools, I'm hoping for a big snow fall this year......that's what I'm saying now anyway.

Rob