The cab from Jim's is made by Bercomac in Canada, cheap and... well ugly. It is a universal model and that means it fits equally badly on everything.

The second cab is made by Original Tractor Cab Company and is a high quality fitted unit that will last as long as his 4210. Parts will be available for a long time.

You didn't skimp when you bought the 4210... in the long run the better cab will be a wiser choice.

Thanks justalurker! I decided you are right, and skimping would not be smart in the long run. And that universal model is UGLY! So I called my local JD dealer, thinking they may have the original tractor cab enclosures, and he pushed me up another notch, suggesting that the curtis is really a much better choice. Of course, it costs $2400. Argh! Now he's got me concerned that I have to spend that much!!! Previously I had dismissed those out of hand as too expensive. I am really looking for something to keep my husband out of the weather when he plows. I don't want to be a cheapskate, but $2400???

I'd think a suit of insulated cover-alls, a pair of fleece-lined mittens, and a pair of warm boots, would be a lot cheaper, and more comfy, than having to crawl out of a cab, to move something, or adjust the blade, etc.
I've seen those cabs, and i think they are cumbersome, to say the least. JMHO: Rusty Jones

The Curtis cab is surely Zoot Capri BUT the Original Tractor Cab is a favorite among those who seek the best bang for the buck. Get the Old Original, you'll be pleased.

Can't fault your JD dealer for trying to get deeper in your pocket... they teach them that at JD dealer school.

I can't agree with Rusty but would love a video of him out there in three feet of snow in his "suit of insulated cover-alls, a pair of fleece-lined mittens, and a pair of warm boots" with a shovel cause damn, those tractors cost a lot of money and sure are cumbersome gettin' on and off and a shovel is a lot cheaper. JMO

Found these pics of an Original Tractor Cab on a JD 2305...

{{gwi:357575}}

{{gwi:357576}}

{{gwi:357577}}

Well, you could give him the option between a cab or a week somewhere warm once a winter for a reward....

I agree with Rusty if he will be *plowing*. On the other hand, if he'll be using a snow blower, a cab is a much more useful accessory.

Posted by rustyj14 (My Page) on Sat, Dec 11, 10 at 9:22 writes:
begin quote:
I'd think a suit of insulated cover-alls, a pair of fleece-lined mittens, and a pair of warm boots, would be a lot cheaper, and more comfy, than having to crawl out of a cab, to move something, or adjust the blade, etc.
I've seen those cabs, and i think they are cumbersome, to say the least. JMHO: Rusty Jones
end quote:

"I agree with Rusty if he will be *plowing*."

Yea, cause a 30 MPH wind blowin' at you in 10 degree cold isn't as bad with a plow on the front of your tractor as it is with a snowblower. BULL!

If you don't know how to use a blower then you usually add to the misery of the cold by blowing snow in your face. Snow in your face doesn't bother you much after you can't feel your nose and ears. I'm here to tell you after more than a decade of blowing snow @ 7000 ft the wind and the cold is the killer.

Carajon,

Buy DH the cab and he'll stay outside longer and bug you less.

I had thought about a tractor cab idea as a gift. If he really likes it, he will think about you happily as he is out there throwing snow. When I was in snow country, we used to install the Original Cabs. I agree w/ lurker that this cab is a good way to go rather than the cheaper one. The "pros" are obvious, especially in windy conditions- but there can be cons as well. On throwers that have manual directional controls, Rusty's point can be a valid one. It may not be in your case. If you have thrower controls that are way off to the side, the cab will make allowances for this in design by using a sewn in addition. The controls can be more challenging to use however. The other factor is the operator has to do what is necessary to keep moisure from re-freezing both on inside and the outside of the windows. It's not like you can take an icescraper to these.

The OP has a JD 4210 (not an inexpensive ride) and a plow. I'm pretty sure the JD plow for the 4210 is hydraulically operated and so would the blower for the 4210 be. IIRC they're both Quick-Hitch. So controls are not a concern.

The 4210 is liquid cooled and a cab heater is not a difficult thing to add.

Regardless, It will be lots easier contemplating dealing with the conditions in the protection of a cab versus only the protection offered by "a suit of insulated cover-alls, a pair of fleece-lined mittens, and a pair of warm boots " which DH would probably have on IN the cab anyway.

The real question is... would you rather be outside or inside when it's snowing and very cold?

While cost of anything is always a consideration far too many people give subjective opinions as if it was their money the person asking the question was going to spend and not at all putting forth the pros or cons of the choice... if you've got it and you want it buy it cause you can't take it with you and being REALLY, REALLY, cold REALLY sucks..

Having Plowed and Blown for yrs also it comes down to how much time is the individual to be exposed to the COLD . I personally would go with JL advice on the OEM Style $1200 unit not the cheapo or the high end over the top model .

OP

1) Where are you located? MN versus OH makes a huge difference in terms of "cold". How windy?

2) How long is he out plowing? If he was more comfortable is there more he might plow (such as the neighbors')?

3) Are there spring and fall chores the tractor will be used for where the cab will be in the way? You may want to check into how long it takes to put on/take off the cab (after the initial installation).

My tractor gets used for lots of different things, and unless I was snow blowing (where unforseen gusts of wind means you get stinging snow blown on you no matter how careful you are) I wouldn't appreciate the gift as much as I should (very nice gesture no matter how you look at it). I would use it because my honey gave it to me, but...

4) When it comes to the cold, NOTHING beats real animal fur against your skin when blowing snow and/or wind is hitting your flesh. The softness of the fur against your skin help prevent the stinging.

I have a fur-lined "mad bomber" rabbit-fur-edged hat that I cannot wear unless it is below 20 degrees or it is too hot. But when it is cold I would not give it up for anything (in fact it is getting bedraggled enough that at some point my wife will need to buy me another).

Happy Holidays to all.

The Original Tractor Cabs come off in minutes by one person after the install.

The hard top can stay on as a canopy cause like cold there's sun pretty much everywhere too to some degree.

I don't wear fur sitting in my heated home and I wouldn't in a cab with a heater

Here's something that looks good for you - OEM (JD) too. ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: Epay

Better to go with a long established and proven brand so parts will be available down the road.

Windcatcher : Nice Secondary Consideration ! JL: you have a point , but $200+ Savings Plus makes some elbow room Dude !

That $200 savings will look pretty small a couple years down the road when you need a part and that no name cab is a door stop.

Geez, the OP has a JD 4210... you guys that squeeze a quarter till the eagle screams amaze me. Even a dollars worth for a dollar ain't good enough for ya.

ewalk,

Read the description on that anonymous cab from ePray... "REQUIRES N1 FIBERGLASS CANOPY"

You have to buy a canopy in order to install that cab.

The Original Tractor Cab comes with the canopy and the canopy can be used by itself. Wow, the brand name cab that costs $200 more is actually less expensive than the no name cab that is $200 less. What a puzzlement?

JL: Yep see what you are referring too . I'll leave the Eagle alone lol . I would have to see the unit before dropping $980 or $1200 ..photos only ..Not .

JL: Yep see what you are referring too . I'll leave the Eagle alone lol . I would have to see the unit before dropping $980 or $1200 ..photos only ..Not .

Hey lurker, think your mom got her cab yet?

You guys are having too much fun with this one so I'll just sit back in the recliner with the popcorn and beer while the entertainment flashes across my screen. ROFL

How Colds the Beer ? ROFLMBO :)

;)

Good question. There is a brand of beer that has a special label that tells you if it is "cold enough" (turns blue). But how cold is "cold enough". And if it is colder than "cold enough" how cold is it?

I want a thermometer on every bottle!

;)

ewalk writes:

How Colds the Beer ? ROFLMBO :)

Wheelhorse: This Coor's Light is for you Dude :) lol .

I have a FEMCO enclosure (sold by JD) on my GT262 which my dad uses for blowing powdery snow in the Poconos. He keeps the plow on his 265 with no cab for the slush and sleet. It has a full steel frame and roof, glass, and vinyl doors. It's very high quality, cost a fortune when new, but I bought it for $200 on eBay. I'd buy him a nice set of Carharts, ski goggles, and then search periodically throughout 2011 on eBay and craigslist for "femco." If by December of next year you haven't found one, then by all means, drop a couple grand on a new one.

Here is a link that might be useful: femco

I ended up ordering the Original Tractor Cab - my local JD dealer even recommended it even though he doesn't sell them.

I really enjoyed all the advice etc. in this thread. Not only made me confident of my choice, but also made me smile!

BTW - he already has the cold-weather gear - all but the carhartt suit which I refuse to buy him...

I'll post here and let you all know what he thinks of it when it finally arrives (I'm wrapping up a picture for under the tree since the actual cab enclosure won't arrive until mid-Jan).

Happy holidays everyone!!!

All the Best to You and Yours also Carajon :)

Well the cab arrived, and we tried to put it on but the frame simply refused to fit properly. My husband looked back at the instruction manual and noted that it is says the cab cover is for JD 4200, 4300 and 4400. At first, we assumed that perhaps 4210 is just a variation on the 4200 but it seemed odd that the cab doesn't fit at all. Finally I did some online research and it seems that the 4210 may be a completely different model than the 4200. I will have to call Original Tractor Cab tomorrow, but I am really dismayed that we may have ended up with a cab enclosure that just won't fit our tractor. And also in the midst of the coldest, snowiest winter of the year.

In the meantime, does anyone happen to know if there really is a difference in the dimensions of the 4200 and the 4210?

I don't see a listing in the Original Tractor Cab price list for a JD 4210.

Did you order the cab directly from Original Tractor Cab or did your dealer order the cab for you?

I ordered it from The Green Dealer (Shopgreendealer.com). I noticed the same thing when I checked the Original Tractor Cab website earlier today. I am a little worried that perhaps they actually don't make one for our tractor and the folks at The Green Dealer just assumed that the 4200 was the same as the 4210 and I really, really hope I am wrong....

It I were you I'd call the OTC Co. and get the answer to the correct cab for a 4210 directly from them and not second hand from The Green Dealer.

Curtis Cab shows that they have one application that fits... 4200,4300,4400,4210,4310,4410 so perhaps your husband just can't figure the OTC cab out.

Regardless, you'll have your answer tomorrow and know your options.

We're pullin' for you...

Wow - the Original Tractor Cab folks are terrific! I called and was put right through to engineering. The guys in that department were incredibly responsive. I was able to email them photos which they looked at and got back to me within a couple of hours. When they called back, it was clear that they had really spent some time trying to figure out what was going on with our cab enclosure. Based on the photos, they determined that (1) our roll bar is the fold-down type and is higher than the stationary kind and (2) that one of the parts we have seems to have been cut wrong. They are sending replacement parts right away. I am sure once the new parts arrive, we'll be able to complete the cab with no problems. I'd recommend the OTC Co. to anyone!

Great news... we expect pictures and a big smile!

you are better off with curtis or a cab with a Glass Windshield, stay away from anything with a poly front window.. run away from anyone trying to sell you an enclosure from "covermytractor" they are total crap. They are cheap poly non structural materials. no frame and not really made to fit any specific tractor. tried one for a mahindra.. what a joke. they say you can put a windshield wiper on it, on a soft flexible "windshield". the wiring "diagram" looks to have been drawn by a 4th grader in colored pencil.. the enclosure covers the fuel filler without anyway of reaching it without loosening up the whole front of the cab.. hope you dont need fuel in really cold weather or itll crack the plastic.

do yourself a favor and buy a good product with real glass and rigid framework. As a tech i have had to install some cheap stuff and it never works out well. And always seems to piss off the customer.. spend the money right and avoid headaches and frustration. shop around and buy quality..

if you go to a company website and there are testimonials, but you cannot write one. they are fake stories written by the company. look elsewhere and avoid a costly mistake. keep in mind salesmen are mostly liars and will tell you anything to sell you a product which will give them the biggest commission even if they know its junk.

Funny must be a tech with no experience. I have a Covermytractor cab for the third season I have a full size easy to install cab that isn’t like being in a box. If you can’t open your fill cap from the inside , maybe you can ask for help. The Original is the cheapest material and a rod frame , painted, not powder coated . Sheared off rod with sharp edges, that tear you jackets as well as your hands. If you want the glass windshield it’s not standard.

After talking to many Covermytractor customers it was an easy decision to buy. I’ve been very satisfied and would definitely recommend it over other soft cabs.