Message Board - Machinery: Tactor Cab, or not to cab? That is the question
7 Jan 2010 by matt hunt
Hi.
Im looking at getting a tractor and vertidrain for a schools footy and cricket pitch. Ive narrowed it down to 5 options, new, exdemo and secondhand. All within £2000 but some with cab, some without. eg JD4320 with 550h+cab same price as exdemo JD3520 without.
Could you guys please expand on the pros and cons of a cab so I can give informed options to the burser and decide which are the better options.
Many thanks
7 Jan 2010 by The Moose
Ive just gone for compact with cab, reason being, that with the workload through out the year especially winter i want my staff to be comfortable and dry and warm when using the tractor, would you want to be drive a compact around at the moment with no protection from the conditions
Perfect Preperation Prevents P*** Poor Pitches
7 Jan 2010 by matt hunt
True! Thing is, I am only looking to use the tractor for pulling the vertidrain, a quadraplay and powering a pto chipper. (would love an amazone collector, but thats not going to happen!) so I thought the work would be weather dependent anyway. (Im not a skilled groundsman so this is all new to me)
cheers
7 Jan 2010 by Barry Pace
Matt, your down at Greggs aren't you... I would have thought that cab would be your call, can be a lot warmer pulling a trailer around or even cutting in a wind....
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
7 Jan 2010 by mwood
Where do you keep your tractor?. Will it fit in a container if it has a cab fitted.
7 Jan 2010 by Andy Matthews
I had a JD4100 without cab, which in the summer was used mainly for cutting cricket outfields, the problem was that early season it didn't have to be very cold before it was bloody freezing cutting the outfield, add to that that on some occaisions it may start to drizzle whilst cutting or when you had 20 minutes left to finish a job and even that bit of drizzle was miserable to work work in. I replaced it with an ex demo JD 3520 e hydro with the comfort cab, nice heater in the winter and air con for the summer, lovelly. If you are going to use it for vertidraining when the operator may spend a long time driving slowly and a bit of rain won't effect the job then a cab will be worth it.
7 Jan 2010 by Four Oaks
So much nicer to have your radio damaging your hearing inside the cab than having to wear ear defenders without a cab. 
Presentation is the name of the game.
8 Jan 2010 by Sumomosr
Notwithstanding that the price is similar, the two tractors you mention are like chalk and cheese with regard to their specification differences.
Specs Linky Thingy
Why would you buy the smaller, (1.5L) 3 cylinder Yanmar-engined (great engine btw) machine with no cab when for (nearly) the same money you can get the larger, (2.4L) 4 cylinder Deere-engined (awesome) tractor with a cab and which,at 550 hrs, is just run-in?
It's a no-brainer from this armchair but over to you...
Anyway - Whatever you do, buy a green one!
Also be aware that having a cab makes some repair work difficult. Cab air filters need to be added to your maintenance budget for reular replacement.
Make sure your burser is appraised of all the facts and specs.
GOGGA
12 Jan 2010 by matt hunt
Thanks guys for all the comments.
Things like engine make is not something I know anything about, or considered. I was looking at the stated HP and lift capacity alone. It would seem that the larger, cap equipt secondhand tractor is a better option than the smaller, new one.
Cheers
12 Jan 2010 by matt hunt Last edited 12 Jan 2010
Another quick question...
Two used tractors, same age, same price...both with cab!
JD4520 manual 920h or JD4320 hydro 550h?
Im not experienced enough to know the implications of the amount of usage reflected in the number of hours above, so any guidence or tips are much appreciated. It will be used for a vertidrain, a quadraplay and powering a pto chipper.
Cheers
12 Jan 2010 by ricam
What model of Vertidrain have you? Since this will go a long way in deciding which tractor is suitable in operating it.
13 Jan 2010 by matt hunt
Vertidrain is the 7416 Both the above John Deeres have the power for this unit. Just not sure about the drive and hours part.
14 Jan 2010 by Andy Matthews
Lee the JD3520 e-hydro i have has cruise control and motion match, the cruise control speaks for itself and motion match means that once you have set the speed on one run using motion match then you just press the pedal full down and it goes the same speed on the next run, as for creep or run on I have not experienced problems with either, again a switch in the cab either ensures the machine stops instantly on releasing the pedal or cruise control or runs on for a short distance.
15 Jan 2010 by Chalky 1
Hi Matt,
Just checking but would a 3020 series lift a 7416 vertidrain anyway?
Also is the cab a Mauser or a john deere one? I hired a JD4320 manual which had one of the (older and cheaper I believe) Mauser cabs and although it did indeed keep the rain out the din and drone inside! The guys at the hire company told me the later models had a factory fit john deere cab which was brought in to meet new noise regulations; ask your rep.
20 Jan 2010 by matt hunt
Thanks again guys for all your input.
Didnt know about the types of cab. Having checked, it is Mauser. Is this ok? Or nowadays should I be looking at the newer stuff which meets the latest regulations? Any comments on the Mauser cab much appreciated.
Cheers.
21 Jan 2010 by panch
I had a 3200 a few years ago with the mauser type cab. only kept it 9 months. It was very noisy.
22 Jan 2010 by Barry Pace
In my experience non factory designed and fitted cabs can be:
Noisy, draughty, cold, invariably bit snug too..... ear defenders inside the cab with layered clothes and gloves and coat on but at least you dont get wet.....
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
25 Jan 2010 by petermarkcraig
Cabs are for nancies!!
*bloody hell the temperature's dropped below 20 degrees in my office........brrrrrr*
Of course the grass looks good. The sun is shining.
25 Jan 2010 by Richard Williams
Get the cab! Warm, quiet & safer from attack!
Rich
27 Jan 2010 by ticky21
i got a JD 4600 with a cab...i presume its a Mauser cab...as its factory fitted, and its lovely....heater works well in winter, front screen opens in summer for some air....
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
11 Feb 2010 by matt hunt
Thanks guys for all your comments.
All very helpful and has guided me to purchase the manual JD4520 with a charterhouse vertidrain 7416.
My next question now is... what tines do I need??? But I will start a new thread for that one!
Cheers.
11 Feb 2010 by The Moose
Matt,
Re tines check Garfitts website for tines to fit cheaper than direct from charterhouse, plus they used to manufacture the tines for charterhouse
Perfect Preperation Prevents P*** Poor Pitches
11 Feb 2010 by matt hunt
Thanks Matt. Have added them to my favourites list!
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