Will a cab solve my problem

[bkruszka]

Well I have a major problem. I brushhog about 70 acres 3 times a year for my neighbor, to earn some extra cash. I have been doing this lot for several years, and this year I just cant do it. Everytime I make a pass at it my eyes start to swell and I start sneezing. I have never ever had any problems with allergies untill this year. I tryied to tough it out and mow it but after 3 hours my eyes had literally swollen shut. Would a cab tractor help my aleregry problems.

 

[MrJimi]

Thinking about your problem, if your breathing outside air, it should be same unless you have a HEPA filtered cab? or use another air source
others with better suggestions will chime in
Jim

 

[lawn_king]

If you are in a factory cab with the ac on and you wear a quality 3m dustmask, you may have enough protection to stop your reaction.

 

[Kernopelli]

Several of the people I work with run cattle and put up their own hay. Over the last several years a couple have upgraded to cabs because of the difficulties they had during cuttings. I remember them both commenting on the dramatic difference it made for them concerning dust levels and how much easier it was because of their allergies. I would think that a cab w/ A/C would be even better.

 

[tornadowatchranch]

Talk to your doctor about cromyln sodium eye drops. They block the allergic reaction well. Have to be used prior to exposure. But if you are looking for an excuse to upgrade to a cab...........

 

[LoneCowboy]

Yes
In June my allergies are so bad, I can barely breathe and I'll actually break out as it gets on me from bush hogging on the non-cab tractor.
In the cab tractor, filtered air, AC running, I can go all day, no issues at all. (except for maybe my bad singing with the radio. )

 

[kmdigital]

Well I have a major problem. I brushhog about 70 acres 3 times a year for my neighbor, to earn some extra cash.

The problem with this is that you would need to earn even more extra cash if you spring for another tractor with a cab! Might be better to reduce your expenses (maybe sell some things?) and the heck with mowing the neighbors fields.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

It sounds like you are allergic to something you are breathing in and/or your eyes are being exposed to.

1, HEPA air intake filters can remove pollen and allergens, even cigarette smoke particles from the air blown into the cab & the air pressurizing the cab keeps anything from leaking in around the door seals. The AC cooling helps too.
The JD cab models offer this as may other manufacturer’s cabs as well.

2, Lawn King had a good idea, a mask like a spray painter's rubber one with HEPA cartridges will work as well. These masks do offer some air flow restriction & can get uncomfortable in hot weather. There are masks with powered air flow & even cooling available if you search for them.
See if one of the less expensive white molded dust masks works fro you but some allergy causing particles are so small that they will pass right through them & can only be caught by a HEPA filter. It depends on the nature of what you are allergic to.

3, See your doctor about allergy medicine, something like Claritin might help.

4, A "cool vest" can help relieve that tired feeling, wrap some "blue ice" containers in a towel & wear them in an old vest to cool your body. A firm in FLA had some special packets that didn't get frozen stiff & stayed at 50 degrees so you didn't have to worry about frostbite.

5, When using the open lawn tractor I try to pick my days mowing after a rain, only cutting going upwind & holding my breath when passing back through the dust plume. Maybe it helps but it still makes me feel like I caught the flu.

Good luck.

 

[broncosfan]

Old cromyln sodium eye drops you have to use like 4 times a day. But there are newer prescription drops now on the market that works better and used less often. Just something else to ponder on a side note.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Does anyone with an open tractor actually use a dust mask/painter's mask and find that this reduces allergies?

I am having lots of allergy problems (though not as bad as bkruszka) in mowing and some other tractor work, and I doubt that I could convince my wife to replace our nearly-new ROPS tractor with an even pricier cab model. I am finding that any one allergy med rarely prevents severe sneezing for me any more.

I can tell you that my next tractor - likely several years from now - will definitely have a cab.