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open cabs why?

wnydirtguy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
218
Location
Mooresville North Carolina
just looking at pics and photos and am surprised to see it. Up here in this area you see more enclosed cabs than open. I have never seen an 8 or bigger with an open cab. most push cats I see in the south and out west are open. Is there any good reason besides price to have an open cab?
 

digger242j

Administrator
Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
6,628
Location
Southwestern PA
Occupation
Self employed excavator
I've never been on any machine with an enclosed cab that offered quite as good of visibility as the same machine with an open cab. Although later models seem to have improved over the earlier models.

(A possible exception would be any excavator larger than a mini, because I don't think I've ever seen one of those that was designed with an open cab, although I've seen a few where the cab kinda became open over the years. )
 

lgammon

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
303
Location
kingsport, tn
i hate replacing windows! and i seem to have a better feel for what is going on around me, but we work on tight sites
 

stumpjumper83

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,974
Location
Port Allegany, pa
Occupation
Movin dirt
In good weather I prefer an open cab machine. One less step to get in or out, better visibility...

Now when your working in the winter, or when you have 30 degree mornings, or its raining sideways, yeah cab it. One machine that hardly ever gets a cab and needs one the worst is a roller. Something with the vibrate function send the cold right into your bones.
 

jmtrackworks

Active Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
35
Location
South Carolina
Occupation
Owner/Operater; Martins Track Works
Down here in South Carolina all my equipment is open cab due to the lack of extreme weather (hot/cold). However, at times in dry conditions the dust can get so bad you can't see or breath while operating the equipment. That's when you actually pray for just a little rain! Other then that, open cabs are just fine around here. It keeps cost down and visibility is better.
 

oldseabee

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
529
Location
Milner, Ga.
Occupation
Retired
A/C systems are prone to quit on the hottest day of the year in the South and you can't get a tech for 3 days. They cost a lot to repair and when they quit the fishbowl you are sitting in gets nice and toasty. Cabs are great in the cold climates but not here.
 

wnydirtguy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
218
Location
Mooresville North Carolina
stumpjumper I agree with you about a cab on a roller. A dirt roller with a cab would be great year round. would not be good on a blacktop roller because you always are running close to stuff.
 

rabbit

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
119
Location
Washington
Occupation
Plumbing and Exavation Contractor
when I lived in warmer climates it was nice to have open machines.. Now that I live in the Pacific Northwest near Canada it sure feels good 8 months out of the year to have enclosed and heat.

:usa :)
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
A few years ago MSHA was making noise about requiring cabs on all machines. Has anyone heard anything new on this?
 

Dozerboy

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
2,232
Location
TX
Occupation
Operator
Better visibility? I have ran a lot of open and closed cab iron and never seen much of a difference in it. I sure can see a lot better when I don't have dust in my face and sweat running in my eyes. I don't care what the weather is I would always take a closed cab. I'm sure they cost more all around, but thats probably offset by increased production.
 

2stickbill

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
677
Location
Romayor Texas
Occupation
Sniffin diesel fumes.
A few years ago MSHA was making noise about requiring cabs on all machines. Has anyone heard anything new on this?
I think MSHA requires inclosed cabs now.I know here the Coal Mines have to do this.Big thing now days is where are you going to find an operator to run open cab machines?
 

d6peg

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
274
Location
texas
Occupation
owner, operator
I'm with dozerboy all the way. A cab for me is the only way to go. This winter we had sub-zero temps and I'm sure this summer we will see 100+.
 

DPete

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
1,677
Location
Central Ca.
OROPS is cheaper to buy and no maintenance compared to an EROPS AC, windows, wipers etc. However being in a clean quiet cab is worth the extra cost to me, most operators appreciate cabs and are more productive. Ate my share of dirt over the years, ashes, wind, rain, insulated coveralls, I don't see a reason to anymore, scrapers included.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
OROPS is cheaper to buy and no maintenance compared to an EROPS AC, windows, wipers etc. However being in a clean quiet cab is worth the extra cost to me, most operators appreciate cabs and are more productive. Ate my share of dirt over the years, ashes, wind, rain, insulated coveralls, I don't see a reason to anymore, scrapers included.

That pretty much sums up my philosophy on the subject too DPete.
 

bill5362

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2007
Messages
353
Location
Indiana
Occupation
I own a excavation company and a rolloff container
I couldn't agree more with DPete, and CM1995
 

RonG

Charter Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Messages
1,833
Location
Meriden ct
Occupation
heavy equipment operator
You don't see many guys flipping up their seat anymore when parking the machine for the day:))
I did that for years before I even had a roof over my head.I thought that just being in the shade was as good as it could get.Ron G
 

Hendrik

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
1,232
Location
Adelaide South Australia
just looking at pics and photos and am surprised to see it. Up here in this area you see more enclosed cabs than open. I have never seen an 8 or bigger with an open cab. most push cats I see in the south and out west are open. Is there any good reason besides price to have an open cab?
Depends on situation, if you have a dozer that only gets used now and again, like say on a farm, you are better of with open cab due to less cost.
 

Rooster75

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2011
Messages
104
Location
Arkansas
I have an open station dozer and a cab back hoe. During Arkansas summer with high humidity A/C is nice but every year there is some problem and A/C quits and it's not always at good time to put down for repair. I have run cab dozers and I have trouble adjusting to visibility issues. However when funds allow it I think I could get used to cab dozer.
 
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