enclosed cab for skid steers?

[SouthernYankee]

I have a Bobcat 751 and I was wondering how many of you out there have enclosed cabs and if they are worth the extra cash? I am moving my operation from Cape Cod to Houston , so I thought it about getting a enclosed cab with AC. I plan on grading lots, new landscape construction and lawn renovations, so I will be in and out of the machine a little bit.

For all of you who have enclosed cabs with or without AC, is it worth it?

How much would a enclosed cab and ac run me? Ballpark is fine

[Green Pastures]

It was 110 degrees with the heat index here today.

100 degrees on my truck thermometer with about 90% humidity and not a breath of wind.

I'm not running a machine in that kind of heat PERIOD, and I'm certainly not going to ask anybdy else to do what I'm not willing to do.

I spent the money and got the cab and AC, absolutely no regrets.

You can get more work done when it's hot if you're comfortable.

In the winter you can turn on the heat.

http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=37328

[JB1]

As dusty as its been here I wish I had it now, I'd stay cleaner and breathe easier.

[SouthernYankee]

how much was the option to get the ac and the enclosed cab.

[coastallandscapesolutions]

Ditto. I wouldn't have one without. I got the Gold option on the Bobcats.

[coastallandscapesolutions]

Oh one other thing I like about the Gold Option. I don't have to get out of the cab to change attachments. Everything is done in the comfort of AC. Did I mention that we added a AM/FM/CD too. It is nice when you are on those VERY large jobs with the soil conditioner.

I have two BC's. A300 and a T300.

[bobcatboy]

enclosed cab on skid steers with hvac is nice I cant even get into one wth out it. It is worth the extra 3k.

[Green Pastures]

Honestly I don't know how much extra $$ is was as an option.

The thought never crossed my mind to get a skidsteer without the enclosed cab and A/C, so I never asked how much.

To me the enclosed cab and A/C is NOT an option.

You're moving to Texas, believe me, it won't be an option for you either.

Texas is HOT!

[ksss]

I started ordering them with cab and AC in 01 and I don't regret it. The only issue is accessability is reduced. If your getting in and out all the time it is inconvienient. Guys seem to prefer the noncab units for fine grading.

[Tigerotor77W]

Does running AC seem to reduce the experience 'power' of the engine? (Eg bog more easily or lower attachment performance)

[ksss]

I have not noticed any power drag or reduced attachment efficiency. The machine with AC is the 95XT so we have quite a bit of power to pull from. Usually the jobs that machine is on your not in and out on all the time, so it works well.

[Tigerotor77W]

Gotcha.

About the original question: biased link, but nevertheless... http://www.bobcat.com/worksaver/05sum/sweat.html

[UNISCAPER]

Our temps never drop below 40, nor raise above 85° here. Said that, we don't need air for comfort. We do however need it to help the operator keep from blowing black dirt boogers for 3 weeks after he gets out of the machine.

I wonder if AC is even available on a 51 series Bobcat. If I'm not mistaken, that wil have a Deutz air cooled engine instead of a Kubota. Where AC may be available for water cooled, air poses another problem.

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I thought anything with a 1 after the first numbers designated air cooling in Bobcats old line up.

[Tigerotor77W]

In many regards you are correct, Uniscaper. The 751 cannot support AC; you need a turbo machine in Bobcat's G-series lineup (be it an 773T or an S185, or 873 or S250) to support AC. As far as the "1" goes... heh, interesting question. I'm not sure entirely, but I was always under the impression the 751 was the "inexpensive" version of the 753, and hence the retention of the "75" like (eg, 700-series midsize SSL, 50 for short wheelbase, radial lift, and 1 simply to indicate that its not a 753). Of course, I could be wrong... so I'll do a bit of checking. Also -- the 751C ran a Peugeot engine, not a Deutz or Kubota, and is liquid-cooled. The 751F and 751G were Kubota powerplants and liquid-cooled.

Edit: Uniscaper actually makes a very interesting point about the air cooling. I did a brief check on the 631, 731, and 741 models -- all of which were air-cooled diesels. Interesting that the 751 strays from this strategy... actually it's weird that the 751 doesn't replace the 741, but the 753 replaces the 743. (The 5 and 4 each represent short-wheelbase, radial lift, but the 5 represents the introduction of the BOSS operating system. In this regard, the 953 and 943 were identical machines -- except for paint scheme -- if not for the BOSS inclusion on the 953.)

[SouthernYankee]

I am 99% sure that my 751 has a kubota(I am in school and my machine is up north) and I know that it is water cooled . The differences between the 751 and the 753 to me were trivial , there was a couple hundred pounds difference in capacity, that I evened out with counterweights. There was a few horsepower difference and that was about it. I really like this machine it hasnt had to have anything replaced on it and its size allows me to work in tight spaces. Below is the specs on my machine. Its too bad I cant get the ac though, since it gets very hot in Houston. thanks for your help.






http://www.bobcat.com/worksaver/00bc/ws_00bc_ssl_751.html

[Green Pastures]

It got to about 95 degrees here today with at least 85% humidity.

I ran the Cat with the A/C on for about 3 hours today. After about 30 minutes I had to turn it from hi to low because it was so cold in the cab. After about 45 minutes of running I opened a window, another 15 minutes there was condensation that looked to be frosty on the inside of the window! ;)

I opened the other window.

My A/C blows REAL cold.