Build Thread: A heated cab from scratch

[tcrote5516]

EDIT: SORRY ABOUT THE WHOLE PHOTOBUCKET ISSUE. YOU CAN VIEW SOME VIDEOS ON MY CAB AT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbqPkeqZrlHPnxgejb-xMQg?view_as=subscriber

Hello, My name is Tom and I have a 2012 BX1860 that I purchased new. I have almost 200 hrs on it using it year round on my property. Last winter was my first winter using it for snow removal on my 500 ft driveway and I froze my arse off!

No problem, go buy a cab right? WRONG....$4,000+ are you kidding me? I'm way to cheap for that...I have a welder and below average welding skills ...how bad could it be

Well here we go. Starting from scratch with anything is always a nightmare and this has been no exception but it's coming together piece by piece. I wanted to post this in the hopes it may help others with ideas on how to begin the daunting task of fabricating a cab.


I didn't want to drill a single hole in the tractor but wanted to be able to easily mount and remove the cab. I decided on a bar that mounts to the ROPS bolts and stay's on the tractor. The cab will sit on the 3/4" studs and are locked in place by a pin and retainer.


For the front mount, I welded up a bracket with two suds that drop into the existing mounting holes for the front of the floor.


Here's the mounts (aka 3/4" x 4" bolt) inside the rear uprights


Started to build the cage off of these mounts.


Cage is done!


Built the doors with pin hinges so they can be removed in seconds.



Skinning the doors with reinforcement/mounts for the windows.


Coat of orange paint and carpeting on the doors and headliner to absorb noise.


Doing some electrical and interior work. Mounted the fan, windshield wiper and heater.



I will keep updating this as I continue to make progress. I have all the plexiglass installed, control panel for the worklights/heater put together and mounted and just ordered safety glass for the front window. I don't have pics of that yet, but I will soon!

 

[skeets]

...I have a welder and below average welding skills ...how bad could it be

Below average welding skills huh
Dude that is a super looking Mod what did you use for the roof , windows, all that stuff,, I ll never beable to do anything like that but I sure would like to know how if I ever thought about it...
OH and Welcome tot he orange,, and yeah we love tractor porn

 

[MaiNiaK]

Nice job..!!
You can tell you take pride in your work and your Bota.

Welcome to the OTT.

 

[clippy]

Below average welding skills huh

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Anything that looks that poor doesn't deserve to be on OTT. (Joking!)

That's looking great tcrote. Would love to see how it turns out in the end. Keep us posted.

 

[BAP]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Anything that looks that poor doesn't deserve to be on OTT. (Joking!)

That's looking great tcrote. Would love to see how it turns out in the end. Keep us posted.

Actually, I was thinking that anything that looks that poor doesn't deserve to be on his tractor, so I was thinking that I could take it off his hands, and make it fit my B2920 and end his suffering.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Looks really good, But.... I know, I know, critic in the crowd.

I would put at least a pin through your attachment points, or a bolt, strap or latch to hold it in place.
Nothing would be worse than a wind or a bump or anything tipping the cab off it's mounts, and either causing damage or injury!

 

[gfl1957]

Awesome cab! Great design. Any idea what it weighs?

 

[olthumpa]

NO NO NO that is all wrong!
I will have to bring my tractor over and give you another chance to get it right.

Great job

 

[tcrote5516]

You guys are funny Well, if you're like me, whenever you do anything all you see is the thing's you would do different next time and none of the good.

North Idaho Wolfman: Great minds think alike. I set it up on the posts for that reason. I have pin's that slide through and cotter pin's that lock them in place from the inside. Hopefully you can see them in the picture below.

GFL: The windshield isn't in yet but I know the glass weighs 33lbs. Each door only weighs 10 lbs and the rest is coming in at 123 lbs. So I will be in the 170 - 180 lbs range when all put together. I don't think that's to bad at all for my little orange monster.

SKEETS: I used 18 gauge DOM tubing for the frame, 18 gauge steel sheeting for critical areas like around the windshield frame, 22 gauge sheetmetal for the doors, .80 lexan for all the windows and 1/4" Safety glass for the windshield. I got the wiper and heater from Summit Racing and the LED worklights from Ebay (cheapos on the back, good ones up front). The roof is actually 1/4" floor underlayment that I sealed with fiberglass resin to cut the weight WAY down vs metal. I wanted to go light as a feather that high up on my narrow wheelbase BX.

I finished up the wiring and made a small control box that takes care of the lighting and blower. The fan and wiper have their own switch so that saved some work. I just picked up material for a headliner that matches the material I have on the doors. Full luxury in this baby


I also made the rear window easy to remove. This further ties the body to the subframe. It can come off with a few bolts for the summer if needed. This setup gives me TONS of room behind the seat for nice dry storage...and maybe a stereo system!



I had to slow down on progress because I just had 40 yards of loam dropped off. The good news is I worked the tractor hard and my cab stayed strong! I also really appreciated having a fan...that's a big deal when your doing low speed dirt maneuvering.

 

[BAP]

Looking Good. Should keep you comfortable this winter. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

 

[Mani1147]

This is awesome Tom, great work. Could you snape a few more pics of the intersection from cab to tractor all around. Those are the key areas for my build that im not sure about. Thanks again, great job bud.

 

[85Hokie]

I had to slow down on progress because I just had 40 yards of loam dropped off. The good news is I worked the tractor hard and my cab stayed strong! I also really appreciated having a fan...that's a big deal when your doing low speed dirt maneuvering.

Dayum nice, does it have a wet bar and a bathroom???

I am sure it will be super nice once it gets cold !!!!

 

[skeets]

OUTSTANDING,, And just for shyts and giggles what do you figure you have tied up in the cab or is that one of those questions that no on wants to talk about when Mama's around,,

 

[tcrote5516]

Thanks guy's!!!!! Since I love both shitz and giggles I don't mind sharing that I have about $600 in the cab and that's the whole deal including lighting, wipers, heater, wiring glass, wet bar and bathroom ect ect.

Just so its on file for anyone else, you can easily get a heating system to work on a BX. I'm very happy to report the water pump bypass hose provides near instant hot water and PLENTY of it! I used 5/8" hose to mate up with the heater core fittings and simply cut two 1" sections of 3/8" hose for the water pump fittings. I then slid my 5/8" over the 3/8" and clamped it down. WORKS PERFECT! Here's some diagrams for a how to if anyone needs them:




And here's some better shot's of the front and rear mounts:

 

[BAP]

Great looking job. Where in NH are you?

 

[69Rebel]

Wow. That looks really sweet. Can't do that with a crummy ol' B6000, no water pump.

 

[tcrote5516]

BAP, I`m in Candia, just east of Manchester. How about you?

69 Rebel, you can do that with a b6000! Just pickup one of those $35 electric fuel pumps to move the coolant and you`re in business!

 

[BAP]

In Walpole on Vermont border just north of Keene.

 

[69Rebel]

BAP, I`m in Candia, just east of Manchester. How about you?

69 Rebel, you can do that with a b6000! Just pickup one of those $35 electric fuel pumps to move the coolant and you`re in business!

Good idea!

 

[skeets]

OK when do you want to start on mine?