What is a Cab Worth?

foggy1111 · Jun 4, 2015

I currently own a very good 3320 Ehydro with all CX loader and all the right stuff for me. A tractor is coming available just down the road.....it's about the same condition as mine but is a 3520 with a CAB. I think I would like to own a cab tractor.....and consider buying it.

Ideas on what the 3520 CAB is worth compared to my 3320 Open Station? Basically the same condition and same tractors (2007).

jenkinsph · Jun 4, 2015

Without researching the two models I would guess the 3520 cab to be worth about 4to 5k more than yours. BUT. if this is a dealer and you are looking to trade in your tractor the difference will probably be greater. Dealers are in the business to make a profit.

CalG · Jun 5, 2015

What the heck? It's a garden and orchard tractor. The cab would be worth nothing to me. I live where trees would destroy a cab in less than three years. (No fault to the operator ;-)

How much "discomfort" do you experience while NEEDING to use your open station? It's your assignment of value that counts.

RyanTX · Jun 5, 2015

My rule of thumb: if you have a lot of scratches on your ROPS bar then you should probably keep an open station.

I had tons in the first 30 hours on my new 5065... But ya no doubt nice with a cab if you don't destroy it.

George2615 · Jun 5, 2015

A cab with heat and A/C is valuable to me. Mainly for having heat and being inside out of the cold wind when snow plowing. A/C is nice on those hot summer days also but I don't use mine much as long as I can open a window for fresh air. If I only used the tractor in summer I may not have bought a cab tractor. Cab tractors work well in dusty conditions too.

Complete Turf Care · Jun 5, 2015

About a year ago, I traded a 2009 Kubota L5740 open station for a 2011 L5740 cab. The difference was $12,000. For me, it was VERY much worth the 12K.

However, my situation is different, because my tractor is part of my business and gets used in dusty conditions and in the brutal heat and humidity of South Louisiana.

I think you will be happy if you get the cab.

TripleR · Jun 5, 2015

Whether someone "needs" a cab or not has been beaten to death on other threads, my experience is pretty much in line with jenkinsph as to additional cost.

sunnyside360 · Jun 5, 2015

I'd say in neighborhood of $7K-8K just off the top but you can get a better idea looking at online auctions like tractorhouse.com and others.

foggy1111 · Jun 5, 2015

Thanks for confirming my ideas about the cost / value. I may be able to get this done for about 4 K......with a little luck.

TripleR · Jun 5, 2015

Good luck, sounds like a good deal.

RyanTX · Jun 5, 2015

CalG said:
What the heck? It's a garden and orchard tractor. The cab would be worth nothing to me. I live where trees would destroy a cab in less than three years. (No fault to the operator ;-)

How much "discomfort" do you experience while NEEDING to use your open station? It's your assignment of value that counts.

Ya I am the same way. The extra cost of the cab is irrelevant in the beginning but if you are jumping on and off constantly and or breaking glass panels every other week you basically don't have a cab and are out the money too! All depends on use.

foggy1111 · Jun 5, 2015

RyanTX said:
Ya I am the same way. The extra cost of the cab is irrelevant in the beginning but if you are jumping on and off constantly and or breaking glass panels every other week you basically don't have a cab and are out the money too! All depends on use.

When I bought my land.....I don't think a cab would have worked for me due to the woods and mess left from logging. Over time I have created very nice trails and fields and got the stumps and debris under control.

Now.....I look forward to NOT getting stung by hornets, attacked by deer flies, operating in dust or rain or snow.

Some overhead protection from branches and such is another benefit......and I have been hit a time or three with sticks and limbs (a few times could have been serious). I hope glass breakage will not be a factor.

RyanTX · Jun 5, 2015

foggy1111 said:
When I bought my land.....I don't think a cab would have worked for me due to the woods and mess left from logging. Over time I have created very nice trails and fields and got the stumps and debris under control.

Now.....I look forward to NOT getting stung by hornets, attacked by deer flies, operating in dust or rain or snow. Some overhead protection from branches and such is another benefit......and I have been hit a time or three with sticks and limbs (a few times could have been serious). I hope glass breakage will not be a factor.

Sounds like you are choosing the right way to go. I am a ways away from getting to point you are at. Still about 40 acres away from having a navigable property. The trees I have here in Central Texas are like 30' high bushes and thick to the point you can't even walk through right to the ground. I push them over with the loader bucket which is always a bit interesting. I have been turning my 5065e into a bit of a tank with extra protection lately. lol.

If you don't hit limbs I doubt you will have a problem with the glass. Just have to be a bit more attentive to your overhead especially after having an open for a while. I would probably pay better attention to not hitting a large limb with a cab than a large limb hitting myself. I briefly looked into the protective cages for the cab glass but they seemed to impair visibility too much.

sunnyside360 · Jun 5, 2015

foggy1111 said:
Now.....I look forward to NOT getting stung by hornets, attacked by deer flies, operating in dust or rain or snow. Some overhead protection from branches and such is another benefit......and I have been hit a time or three with sticks and limbs (a few times could have been serious). I hope glass breakage will not be a factor.

All these benefits for a cab plus it provides some protection for hearing and allergies (like I have).

Wesdor · Jun 5, 2015

I see you are in MN. If you plow snow I think the cab would be great.

I went from a 3520 open station to 3720 cab. Every snow storm when I take my coat off and put it behind the seat and turn up the heat I am very happy!
Today was hot and humid here and I worked for about 2 hours - air conditioning sure made it comfortable.

If you can do it for $4,000 I'd say it was a good deal

foggy1111 · Jun 6, 2015

Wesdor said:
I see you are in MN. If you plow snow I think the cab would be great.

I went from a 3520 open station to 3720 cab. Every snow storm when I take my coat off and put it behind the seat and turn up the heat I am very happy!
Today was hot and humid here and I worked for about 2 hours - air conditioning sure made it comfortable.

If you can do it for $4,000 I'd say it was a good deal

Funny thing. I'm gonna be spending my winters in AZ for the time to come.

I do have a great snow blade for my tractor (which I built to fit on my loader) but I think I will sell it this fall. I just don't have much use for snow anymore.

It's actually a bit hard to "justify" spending money on a cab for me......but I really "want" a cab for all the reasons said above. I guess I won't need a cab in another life?