To cab or not to cab? Tired of being cold snow plowing

[Threepoint]

Agree, completely. We have mostly kept the critters out but I don't know any way to 100% keep them out. We've searched and don't know HOW that snake got in there. It was not a big snake but, nonetheless, it somehow got in the cab.

BufordBoone, Ha! At least your wife will probably hear a rattlesnake once she disturbs it.

A cobra is going to be more of a challenge. Maybe add a pet mongoose? Rikki-Tikki-Tavi | Jungle Book Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia

 

[Industrial Toys]

I read that in grade school!

 

[Brokermike]

While you where at the fair did you check out the Zetor or Bransons at JC tractors?

I did, while I like John I wasn't impressed with the loader capacity or fit and finish of the tractors. I also couldn't help but notice when I stop by his shop there seems to be a few in for service regularly. I bought a Spartan Mower from him earlier this year, I'm pretty impressed with that

 

[Brokermike]

The OP should also check out the new Kioti DK5310SE HC and/or DK6010SE HC cab tractors. Theyæ±*e really nice!

They have a slightly smaller lift capacity and no draft control, but they're quite nice!

 

[finn1]

I wouldn’t own a tractor without a cab.

No snow in your face, no bugs, and no twigs trying to take your eye out.

 

[atsah]

I guess I'm the odd man out here.. I can't wait to take it off in the spring, I like to work on a tractor out in the open.. Without one is a pain in the snow..

 

[chim]

I finished the cab for my L3200 in early 2013. It has plenty of heat but no A/C. Lifting the doors off in warm weather and running a small 2-speed fan keeps it more comfortable than just being out in the open. The L3200 is a capable tractor and by most measures is "enough tractor" for our place and it has worked well. As is often the case, there were times a few more horses and a little stronger FEL would have been nice. Then the biggie - A/C for hot weather and avoiding dust, sweating, bugs and 4 weeks or so of those darn deer flies. In December of '18 the L4240 came and I've put around 75 hours on it since then.

30 years ago I wouldn't have even considered a factory cabbed tractor. It was fun to get bundled up and head out on the open station Ford. I'm 70 now and have really changed my outlook on that

 

[Boondox]

After owning five open station tractors I now have 500 hours in a cab. I could never go back! While harvesting firewood in the forest I'm careful, but the visibility all the way around is fantastic and hitting a branch is invariably operator inattention. As others have mentioned, cabs in winter are awesome! But they are just as nice on those muggy New England summer days when the mosquitos and deerflies are out looking for a meal, or when brushhogging and you hit that huge hornet nest you'd never noticed before. Now I just turn up the stereo and laugh at the little winged terrorists bouncing off the glass. And it's nice having the cockpit nice and dry after using the tractor in rain or snow.

 

[metalbender]

The op's statement on freezing while pushing snow in VT strikes me as funny. Being here central Canada, on the praries, where the wind blows cold for two hundred miles, bringing snow from far off places and dumping it in the drive to the farm, we have much experience with heated cabs. Blowing snow at -30 with stiff breeze isn't fun. The drifring snow packs hard enough to drive the front wheels onto the drift. Pushing with a compact is a no go, been there done that. Back to the cab, I do carry a heavy coat with me, as a slip up on my part could mean a half mile walk to the house. That would be a problem without proper clothing. Get the cab. Good luck with your shopping.

 

[Garandman]

Because motorcycles, have a Gerbing heated jacket liner.

Ran an extension cord from the 12V SAE plug we use for the trickle charger, and bought an adapter cable SAE -> Coax.

This one comes with an integrated controller: Olympia 12V North Bay Heated Jacket Liner - RevZilla

Adapter: Hotwired SAE DC Adapter - RevZilla

You can also buy heated motorcycle or snowmobile gloves. There are connectors in the sleeves.

They work great. The technology was developed in WWII for bomber crewmen.