Cab or No Cab... That is the Question

Cab or No Cab

  • I have no opinion...

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    70

DustyRusty

Well-known member

Equipment
2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,237
4,816
113
North East CT
Just wondering how many people have a cab on their tractor. I went without one for about 3 years, and finally decided that winter is too cold on my old bones not to have a cab. I bought a soft sided Curtis Cab that fits a BX2200, and mounted it on my BX22. Also bought the cab heater at the same time, and it sure does make a lot of difference in seat time. Only thing that I don't like about it, is that the BX22 has a valve that mounts on the loader upright, and it is difficult to seal around it to make it weather tight.
 

blperk

New member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B3200, FEL, Betstco 63" flail mower, B2782b front snowblower
Dec 25, 2018
21
3
3
Canandaigua, NY
Good question! I'm in western NY, so tons of wind and snow. I clear my 500' driveway with a B3200 and B2782b front blower. No cab. I bundle up and wear ski goggles, and it works just fine. Wind chill was -20 when I was clearing snow this morning. A cab would be nice, but certainly not necessary.
 

fruitcakesa

Well-known member

Equipment
M 6040
Oct 26, 2010
856
270
63
Cavendish Vermont
Too many cold days in my youth...not.
I just love being in the warmth when it is sub zero outside.
Winter is long and tough enough, why make it more so:D
 

TiggerToo

Member

Equipment
Kubota B2650, snow blower, back blade, FEL, land plane
May 14, 2016
38
1
8
Halifax,Nova Scotia, Canada
I have the b2650 with the factory cab and there is nothing better than blowing snow wearing just a T-shirt. Well worth the extra money.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

JWool

Member

Equipment
B2650HSDC FEL & Front Snow Blower, ZT-Z421, GL11000 Generator
Dec 29, 2013
97
17
8
Northern MI
I finally upgraded to a B2650 with a cab last year and love it, got tired of blowing snow and the wind blowing it back at me and not seeing anything even with goggles.
should of done it sooner.
 

WFM

Well-known member
Premium Member

Equipment
L3800
Apr 5, 2013
1,342
671
113
Porter Maine
My L3800 I bought new in 2013. And I've had no cab all theses years. I wanted to clear snow this morning but it was 6*f out. Nope just to cold. But I will be making the purchase before next winter. Probably during the summer or September. I was just looking tonight at the Curtis cabs. They list the model L3901 . I'm guessing that's the newer version of my L3800 and the cab would fit fine.
 

chim

Well-known member

Equipment
L4240HSTC with FEL, Ford 1210
Jan 19, 2013
2,126
1,244
113
Near Lancaster, PA, USA
For the first 23 years we lived here it was all open station. After buying the L3200 in 2012 I built a steel and glass cab with a heater. It made winter weather much more tolerable. Last summer the heat and dust were making me think about A/C. For some reason Wifey figured that at 69 I deserved a factory cab. In late December we found a very clean L4240HSTC. It’s so much more comfortable than the L3200. I’m anxious to plow some snow and really look forward to mowing next summer. If there’s any way to swing it I’d certainly recommend a cabbed tractor.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
Little to do with cold weather operation for me. Moving snow is about 5% of what I use my tractors for and farming is the 95% use. Cabs and farming go together. I don't ever want to farm with out ac and a good stereo and air ride seat. Did enough farming with open station units to know the difference.

far as a homeowner and a small unit goes, I think I'd prefer open station versus a cab. Easier to see with and move around without a cab and it's blind spots and cab height on the little bigger units might prevent keeping in an ordinary garage. I keep my units in a barn, Height is never an issue. My overhead door to the barn is 14 feet high.

IOW, if I ever owned a compact unit, it would be open station versus a cab model.
 

Orange1forme

Active member

Equipment
B2650 HSDC, filled tires, wheel spacers, B2728B , LA534A FEL, 3rd valve kit
Dec 1, 2018
394
57
28
Wa
I just bought a B2650 with cab, mostly for snow/cold.
I was using my riding mower with Bercomac snowblower, it was not initially my snow removal so there were problems.
Bought a $400 vinyl winter cab and it made a difference, no snow blowing back at me and I was dry.
No heat in it so still had to bundle up.
This year I upgraded to the B2650 for snow reasons and driveway maintenance and a couple other reason, I have about 2/3 mile gravel driveway.

In the end, just like what size tractor, your use plays into the need/want.
 

Cfrazer

Member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2670-1,FEL, BX5450, BBox, GS1548, RB1560, QH05, AI2 Forks, SS Curtis Cab
Jan 22, 2018
86
2
8
North Rose, NY, USA
I had my fill of snow in my face with my walk behind snowblower so when I bought my bx2670 my wife insisted I also get the cab option so I have the soft side Curtis Cab with heater. I did add side view mirrors and a rear camera to help with blind spots. I love it in the winter as I’m usually blowing snow for a couple hours at a time and in the summer I take the doors off for ventilation. One of the best purchases I’ve made.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ItBmine

Well-known member

Equipment
B2620, RTV-X1100C
Jan 21, 2014
1,378
384
83
Canada
Minus 25*C here and doing just fine on my open platform Kubota and 55 Allis Chalmers.

I don't have to worry about wipers or fog! LOL. Put on my Tough Duck jacket and my Kubota tuque and good to go.
 

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,568
3,329
113
SW Pa
Would love to have a cab on the BX, but with low orchard branches and stuff I have to duck as it when when I mow, so no cab, maybe one day when I aint got no trees then we will have one
 

jmf78

Member

Equipment
BX23S W/ Factory Deluxe Cab, 60" MMM, 60" BX-2612 Snow Blade & BX-2816 Blower
Nov 5, 2015
437
4
18
Edinboro, PA, USA
Cab for me. I had an open station for a couple of years and, in weather like we are currently experiencing, plowing snow was just too cold for me. I could only plow for about 15 minutes then have to go back into the house to warm up. Made for a long job. Now that I have a cab, I can finish plowing in one shot and not even be bothered by the cold.

During the summer, I kind of miss the open station but those feelings go far away come winter. I love that cab! Lol
 

vic gerbasi

Member

Equipment
M110 L3300
Feb 19, 2016
232
5
18
dugald mb canada
No cab and blowing snow??? try wearing a skidoo helmet with a face shield it works for me recommended by a friend lets helmet$100 vs cab $18,000 or $10k if aftermarket maybe
 

bearbait

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3560, 64" snowblower, 72" back blade
Dec 9, 2011
4,058
834
113
New Glasgow Canada
First 2 tractors were open station, now cab all the way. I'm getting old, most days everything hurts for the first hour or 2 so yes cab all the way. Let it warm up, sitting out with just jeans, teeshirt, a pair of sneakers, good tunes and no worries and also got that real life big screen up front. Oh yea what could be better?:D:D
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

rjcorazza

Member

Equipment
L4060 HSTC Loader, ZD326, ZD1211
Mar 9, 2016
778
24
18
Hyattstown, MD
Cab camp for sure. I did plowing with an open station tractor for years, and it was ok just doing my 500’ driveway. Now in my 50’s and plowing a dozen or so country residential drives, a cab is more than just a nicety.
I get why some operators prefer open station tractors. Trees, storage height, expense etc... all valid issues.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 

D2Cat

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,832
5,585
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
I have a cab...it's on a pickup truck!

I live in a area where we don't get so much snow that I need a blower to get it out of the way for the next event. Just push it off and it soon melts. I can easily go clean any neighbors, rentals, or go to the farm and clean for the cows and hay area.
 

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,256
1,042
113
SE, IN
Just wondering how many people have a cab on their tractor. I went without one for about 3 years, and finally decided that winter is too cold on my old bones not to have a cab. I bought a soft sided Curtis Cab that fits a BX2200, and mounted it on my BX22. Also bought the cab heater at the same time, and it sure does make a lot of difference in seat time. Only thing that I don't like about it, is that the BX22 has a valve that mounts on the loader upright, and it is difficult to seal around it to make it weather tight.
My M9960, L6060, B3350 and B1750HST (not available with factory cab) are all ROPS due to operation near and beneath trees. All also have horizontal exhaust.

Only my RTV-X1100C has a cab.

If doing it again, I would probably buy the cab version of the 9960 in order to get the 24 speed power shifting transmission, which is not available on the ROPS model. I no longer use the 9960 beneath trees as I have removed all of the trees that once caused concern.

SDT
 
Last edited: