What is a Cab Worth?

Industrial Toys · Dec 9, 2019

I love being out in the fresh air. It's why I live in the country. I mostly get to choose when I move snow or do other things. You simply won't find me working in the rain, I don't have to. Not even with a cab. That makes a huge difference as to having a cab or not. I might move snow on a nice day with an open station tractor, but you wouldn't find me doing it in terrible conditions or doing any one elses. That's when I would have to have a cab.

beenthere · Dec 9, 2019

I take the open air. When plowing snow in below zero weather with the wind blowing, it is then time to put the snowmobile helmet on that keeps the wind chill off the face as what a cab would also do..
Crawling in and out of a cab.. not so much for me.

joes_427_vette · Dec 9, 2019

beenthere said:
joes
Have we a pic of the cab? Trying to picture it from your description.. tks

file:///Users/westridge/Desktop/IMG_4127.JPG

Send an e mail address to jar2070@yahoo.com . I will forward a picture. I can't get the forum to accept mine.

PILOON · Dec 9, 2019

Well I love my DIY cab.
Made it using old school bus windows and square tubing for frame work.
Wipers front and rear and old school bus heater for comfort.
Going on 8 years or so and no regrets.
As I recall my outlay was in the $200. or so range.
Framework was 1.5 inch square tubing and I lag bolted the flat (galvanised) panels onto the frame.
Added padding for sound proofing and insulation.
As to labor I recall about 8 hrs of welding time.
I also inserted some oil into all the framework to avoid corrosion problems.
Later added an AM/FM radio for my enjoyment. (scrap yard buy)
Am I a happy camper???
Shirt sleeve snow blowing!
Gotta admit my welder purchase has long ago paid for itself.
But then I am a diehard DIY type guy.
Love challenges!

Hey, even my welder was a DIY rewound transformer. (now have a store bought one)

mikester · Dec 10, 2019

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.

How many cab owners have broken their glass? We need a survey!

Im at 3 years. Ive broken my hazard lights 2x on branches, knocked my mirrors out of alignment regularly, but (knock on wood) I havent broken a window yet. I also had a full sized construction backhoe with cab for 10 years and never broke any glass.

Personally I wish I got a cab tractor 30 years ago.

oosik · Dec 10, 2019

I've had two tractors. The first - an open station Ford 1700 4WD - for 28 years. In 2009 I traded it in for a brand new Kubota M6040 open station. I enjoy being out in the fresh air - even in the winter( I also have a full set of Eddie Bauer down jacket, pants, hood & gloves). If I bush hogged - I might have a different opinion. Or if high humidity went along with our hot summers.

I don't think I would damage a cabbed tractor. My property is all open grass land and stands of ancient Ponderosa pines. Over the years I've cut all the lower limbs on the pines wherever I travel. So I can drive under all the gigantic pines without narry a limb touching the canopy.

BRMyers · Dec 10, 2019

mikester said:
How many cab owners have broken their glass? We need a survey!

Im at 3 years. Ive broken my hazard lights 2x on branches, knocked my mirrors out of alignment regularly, but (knock on wood) I havent broken a window yet. I also had a full sized construction backhoe with cab for 10 years and never broke any glass.

Personally I wish I got a cab tractor 30 years ago.

I have only had my tractor since the start of June. No broken windows or lights. I do knock the mirrors out of alignment enough. At first it wasn't a bug deal, but I have started using them a lot. So, now I'm a little more careful and wish that I had power mirrors so when i do knock them out of alignment I can just readjust them.

LouNY · Dec 10, 2019

Over many years and many different tractors I've broken a few lights, a couple of mirrors and knock on wood no glass.
I can't count the number of times I have had to readjust the mirrors.
Almost all of our fields and roadways have trees and hedgerows limbs are always reaching out to try and get you.
It doesn't matter if it's open station or cabbed.
That said I mostly prefer a cab tractor to an open station.
On the rare spring or fall day when the insects aren't bad and its not to hot or cold with a gentle breeze I enjoy an open station.
That was all that we had when I was growing up. We also mounted the old heat housers to the tractors that had to be used everyday
in the winter just for the bit of warmth and the wind protection they provided.
The lights broken happen just as often on open station as cabbed, mirrors needing adjustment the same.
Staying somewhat clean dry and comfortable immeasurable to me, I'll go cabbed any day.
I can open the doors and windows if desired for the fresh air feeling.