Should I cab or not. Getting ready to buy

[wolc123]

I have a canopy. That must be why I'm always wishy-washy when the subject of cabs come up.

That's what I have. It is actually a good compromise between a cab and an open station, but far superior to both in my humble opinion.

I really get a kick out of the cab guys, who refuse to recognize that such middle ground even exists.

I also get a kick put of the bees, which are brought up by the cab guys every time this argument comes up. In almost 50 years of operating open station tractors, I am still waiting for my first bee sting.

 

[k0ua]

And the dead guys that were stung to death in an open station are not near as enthusiastic. I haven't been stung either, and I don't have a cab, I have a canopy. But if my main use was mowing an open field, I would sure have a cab. It is only money. Everything has upsides and down sides, you just have to weight the up to the down. And death from insect stings is a real possibility especial for some people. The canopy has the same downsides when it comes to limbs as a cab. But has zero protection from stings, and allergens and dust inhalation and offer zero protection in the winter. That said it is one heck of a lot better in the summer than nothing.

 

[m1garand762]

My suggestion would be to skip the cab but get a canopy. The motion of the tractor gives you a nice breeze while mowing open areas and the canopy keeps you in the shade. I made one for my bush-hog tractor and the cost was nill.

Most of all, I would never own a cabbed tractor as long as I am working my full time job inside a climate controlled factory. I might consider one after I retire. Right now, I love my time outside in the shade.

View attachment 698740

I agree 100 percent. I am in northern Ohio and we see any temperature from -10 to 95+ degrees. I went with the kubota deluxe canopy and it makes a huge difference in the summer. In the winter not so much but middle to doesn’t get nearly as cold as we do up here. I paid less than 400 installed when I bought my l 3901 last year

 

[stuckmotor]

If you live in killer bee country, a cab might be a good idea.

 

[WM75Guy]

I am fortunate to have one of each, as each has it's place. The TC40DA is open station with a canopy, used for dragging the arena and most dirt work. For the first 10 years I mowed with the TC40DA and then a Boomer 8N open station. Traded the Boomer 8N in on the WM75 with a cab, which I now use to mow and move trees and brush with the grapple. As I get older I appreciate the cab with AC/heat, air ride seat, a nice radio, and less noise. I also mow later into the evening with the work lights on and no bugs in your face.

You get used to what you have, as Patrick Swayze said in Road House.

Wade: [on the phone] You havin' trouble?
Dalton: Oh, you know — nothing I'm not used to. But it's amazing what you can get used to, huh?
Wade: Yeah, tell me about it. This place has a sign hangin' over the urinal that says, "Don't eat the big white mint".

 

[deserteagle71]

I think with the “cab vs no cab” debate, you‘ll find most guys with cabs will say “get a cab” and most guys with open station will say “get open station”.
Everyone likes to justify their tractor purchase decision was the best decision ever made.

I've had an open station for many years. Never crossed my mind to buy a cab tractor. Then my open station lost an engine; I needed a tractor right away and this cab model Kubota M7060 came up for sale on Craigslist.

So now I have both (finally got the engine rebuilt on the open station). If I had to choose between the two tractors, guess which one I would opt to keep? Cab all the way!

 

[mwemaxxowner]

It all beats a shovel, a wheel barrow, a rake, and a hoe which is what I've been using .

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

If I didn't live in a severe winter weather area, I very likely would have bought an open station. That's all we had when I was a kid on the farm, and we didn't even know anyone with a cabbed tractor. But that was in AZ, not ND.

Up here an open station wasn't even briefly considered. When it gets down to -40F pretty much every winter, and that's before anyone adds in a "wind chill" b.s. number, a cab is pretty self explanatory. And when it's -40F at 4am, with the wind blowing at 40-50 mph, and the driveway has to get opened, we just call that another day. Some winters it will stay below -30F for a month straight. Can't really wait that out until spring.

I can certainly see wanting an open station in more temperate places. My riding mower is open station, and other than being hot in summer heat, it's not unbearable. But it gets put away in the fall and will sit dormant until late spring.

Your choice has to make sense for your climate.

 

[check 6]

What size tractor are you getting , if you are getting a compact like a kubota “B” stay away from the cab, while nice the tractor has a narrow wheel base and thus with the cab is top heavy and more prone to tipping in uneven ground. Not a problem with a larger tractor

 

[Hay Dude]

What size tractor are you getting , if you are getting a compact like a kubota “B” stay away from the cab, while nice the tractor has a narrow wheel base and thus with the cab is top heavy and more prone to tipping in uneven ground. Not a problem with a larger tractor

That can be mitigated with wheel weights, fluid in tires and/or stance added to the wheels if possible.
Ill take more tippy without stings, skin cancer, more comfort, less allergies and other forms of safety a cab offers.

As someone said before, the feeling of watching those angry little bastards bouncing off the cab glass? Priceless.

 

[bironacad]

Cab for 95% of tasks unless you spend a lot of time near trees and limbs.

My cab has saved me from wacks by branches

 

[DPSailor]

I just got a used cabbed Kubota M6040 from my friend and neighbor. I’m in NH and will use year round with the winter being snow blowing. This is not my vocation, just my avocation and I definitely prefer climate control for heat/cooling, dust and bugs.

 

[RickB]

Open station, ROPS w/canopy and cab with air can each be the best on a given day. Which one will be best for YOU on the most days?

 

[JethroB]

Open station, ROPS w/canopy and cab with air can each be the best on a given day. Which one will be best for YOU on the most days?

If I was still working I’d have considered a cab more seriously. For some reason the weather doesn’t like to cooperate in the evenings and weekends.

 

[KubotaToy]

I have both, but had open station tractors for 40 years, bought my first cab tractor two months ago. Now, I wonder what took so long.

 

[aczlan]

We have most of the possibilities, a Kubota B series that is open station, a BX with heat only cab, a L series with a canopy and we recently bought a Case 480F LL with a full cab (heat only).

In the winter time, I love having a cab. Just something to keep the wind off makes it feel much warmer out (especially when snowblowing).
In the summertime, we take the doors and windows off of the cab on the BX so it becomes a canopy. We will see what becomes of the Case.

Cab, ROPS or canopy, you'll be much happier with life if you take a pole saw and cut back all the limbs that overhang where you're going to want to mow. You are far less likely to get smacked in the face with a branch that way.

The canopy does a nice job of keeping the worst of the sun off of you during the summer but your arms will still take a beating so wear sunscreen or long sleeves.

A cab without AC is going to be an oven in the summer, so I would recommend avoiding it if at all possible.

Down in Tennessee, I would lean towards a cab with AC if you need to get out and mow even if it's warm out.

Running AC is going to take a few more horsepower and give you another radiator that you will have to keep cleaned out, but I would think it would be worth it if you want to be able to get out and mow no matter how hot it is.

Aaron Z

 

[nybirdman]

Just yesterday my son and I were putting in food plots,him on his open station and me in my cabbed tractor.Only about 72 degrees but the dust was rolling:I was in the air conditioning and clean and he was sweating and dirty.
We get lots of cold and snow so at my age a cab is a must.Those add on "covers" are a joke I.M.H.O.

 

[metalbender]

The branches in the face is a real thing. A moment of inattention will get you skewered like you're ready for the bbq. Haven't seen any posts about branches taking out a window. My mirrors are easy to readjust after a trip through the bush. Bush hogging will stir up some nasty stinging insects that will try to protect their nests. They are truly relentless.

 

[finnyas]

I am very close to buying my first tractor. One of the last decisions I need to make is if I should get the cab version or not. I currently live in FL and the endless summer is brutal and the AC seems inviting. Problem is I am moving to middle TN and not sure if the cab is needed as much there. I know it gets colder and I know there are seasons and it is something I have not experienced in 30 years.

I am a little worried about the cab height and how it might limit the places the tractor can go. I also know most of the time will be spent with the rotary cutter in the open areas. I don't think I will be crashing through the woods with the tractor but I don't want to limit to much where I can go. I guess I am in kinda a chicken / egg situation. I need a tractor but I am not sure exactly what I will be doing yet except mowing the open spaces. I would love to hear opinions.

Yes yes buy cab version....I kick myself for not putting out the extra cash to do it.

 

[icymudpuppy]

I have never been in a cabled tractor that the A/C actually works, in which case a cab becomes a solar oven. Shade and breeze from a simple canopy which can be easily removed when needed is all I've ever needed. Winter summer, snow rain etc. You usually end up having to climb out and adjust your equipment regularly or pickup debris so you should be dressed for the weather anyway.