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.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

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.

Crop sprayers/dusters do or should use them with a filter cartridge appropriate for what they are using.

The air flow resistance does make breathing a little harder & they can be hot & sweaty but you have to decide for yourself. It's less expensive than a cab to decide if a HEPA filter will help your condition & can always be used for other dusty work.

An added bonus is that you look like you're doing something hazardous & people stay away.

 

[case685]

I have the same problem when brush hogging. In the past when I was actively farming I had a White 6065 with a great cab, With it I could mow for hours no problem as the cab was pressurized. I think though a tractor with a cheap cab would likely make the problem worse.
I have mowed using a good quality dust mask and this helps to a point. If the dust and pollen gets really thick they lose thier effectiveness. I think a previous suggestion to look into a full face powered respirator is your best bet short of a cab. Could get a little uncomfortable in the midday heat though. When I used one of these it was always in the early morning or late evening (to spray my apple orchard). It was older and looked like a dive mask from 20,000 leagues under the sea but it worked. The newer ones are much lighter and more compact. Gerry

 

[thatguy]

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.

Zatator was a rx only allergy eye drop and is now OTC, it is mixed in with all the other eye drops in the HBA, but is in a brownish box. My wife (optometrist) was prescribing it a lot for allergy sufferers, but now at $13/bottle OTC it is much cheaper than rx (we paid $35/bottle w/ drug coverage - retail rx was like $90)

good luck

Brian

 

[Richard]

I'm not as reactive as you are. I discovered (the hard way) that I'm now allergic to stinging insects.

I'm getting the shot treatment for them. I figured since that is (evidently) about a 5 year commitment, I may as well knock out my more typical allergies like you seem to have.

I've been doing the shots now for about 1 1/2 years and I notice a SIGNIFICANT reduction in how reactive I am to outside allergens like when mowing.

I don't know how interested you are in the shots but if you have other allergies as well (I also am allergic to cats and own two of them), they can take care of them at same time.

Might not "fix" your issue but I'd bet lunch it would greatly mitigate your issues.

 

[Savagepike]

I have severe allergies and when it's time to cut hay I dreaded it worse than the dentist But after being a part-time automotive painter, I decided to try out one of my 3M cartrage resperators when cutting/raking/bailing as others have suggested. I have to say that it was the best thing for my allergies I have tried to date. Like you, I get allergic reactions if it gets in my eyes too, so I always wear a pair of wrap-around safety glasses. So far so good, just a little warm with the mask. Keep a towel/cloth with you because you tend to sweat alot under the mask. But I'll take the heat over being layed up in the bed anyday.

 

[rback33]

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. )

I have resembled that many times myself..

 

[DrainPondDesign]

A little more info.

Some allergies can be triggered not only by breathing in the allergen but also by skin or eye contact. The best bet may be to work with your doctor & start experimenting with the most comfortable & least expensive approach.

We couldn't give our painters the AC they wanted due to the 40,000 cfm exhaust but they did like the cool vests we got them to wear under their Tyvek jump suits. Link below, or try making your own with some refreezable ice packs. They really help with heat fatigue, are low cost over time and can be used anywhere.

https://www.koolnsafe.com/displayProductDocument.hg?productId=23&categoryId=7


Good luck

 

[lawn_king]

When you turn on the ac in a factory cab, you pressurize the cab. Positive pressure inside the cab will prevent pollen & dust from entering, this in conjunction with the cab air filter set in the recycle position and a light dust mask should keep reactions to a minimum. My kubota cab seal is tight, i can feel the pressure in my ears when i close the cab door.