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cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2026 8:52 pm
by DavidBarkey
Need to put some heat into my cab . Circulatory issues in hands and feet this winter are becoming a real problem . Different options I have considered .Tapping into Engine oil and use the cooler as a heater core . Tapping into hydraulic return line as a heat source. Exhaust heated forced air. Pumping coolant through tubing wrapped around the one muffler and back to a transmission cooler as a heater core . Adding a second alternator and adding 12v heater and heated seat cover.
Thoughts ??

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2026 9:35 pm
by Toolslinger
I've got an electric heater in my Gator cab. It does virtually nothing. It also requires an extra alternator, which fortunately the gator came with. Functionally it really only works as a defroster, or I can put my hands basically on it to thaw them out.

I would stay away from air/exhaust. A coolant coil wrap on a muffler would be safer.

I do like the idea of an alternate oil cooler location. I've never taken the oil temp, but I imagine it gets pretty toasty. We're having to bleed that heat off anyway, be good to put it to use.

I have never looked in to the heated clothing, but it sure seems interesting. Socks and gloves might be all it takes.

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2026 2:04 pm
by JSinMO
On the face of it exhaust heated forced air scares me. Wrapping the muffler with coolant lines sounds interesting. Would you have to have some sort of pressure relief and a catch tank? A small fan blowing through the cooler in the cab would hopefully make it cozy in there.

Now you have me thinking. What about mounting a power inverter then using a bigger electric heater? Something useful might draw too many amps though. And would there be room in the cab for the heater?

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2026 3:45 pm
by propane1
Heated gloves and socks is a good idea. Hydraulic oil in my Case 224 only got up to 80F when I used it this pasted week.

Noel

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2026 4:26 pm
by DavidBarkey
I was in PA . today and found a heated seat cover on clearance . It is only about 60 watts . I am going to try it and see if I can keep my core warmer then maybe I can keep better blood flow to my hands and feet . I am still going to look at an actual heater system . Something I can reverse or disable for summer . I plan on putting a deck on it this summer with screen doors for when the bugs are bad .

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2026 4:32 pm
by DavidBarkey
JSinMO wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2026 2:04 pm On the face of it exhaust heated forced air scares me. Wrapping the muffler with coolant lines sounds interesting. Would you have to have some sort of pressure relief and a catch tank? A small fan blowing through the cooler in the cab would hopefully make it cozy in there.

Now you have me thinking. What about mounting a power inverter then using a bigger electric heater? Something useful might draw too many amps though. And would there be room in the cab for the heater?
I have an inverter and small heater ,but like you say it wold pull enough amps I would need to add a second alternator which I have but would need to attach a pulley to the crank side of the lovejoy connector . Something I have thought about in the past , spring maybe .

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2026 6:26 pm
by propane1
DavidBarkey wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2026 4:26 pm I was in PA . today and found a heated seat cover on clearance . It is only about 60 watts . I am going to try it and see if I can keep my core warmer then maybe I can keep better blood flow to my hands and feet . I am still going to look at an actual heater system . Something I can reverse or disable for summer . I plan on putting a deck on it this summer with screen doors for when the bugs are bad .
I have three heated seats. One in my Ford cab tractor, one on my John Deere H3, no cab, and one in my truck. All work good.

Noel

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 9:24 am
by DavidBarkey
propane1 wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2026 6:26 pm
DavidBarkey wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2026 4:26 pm I was in PA . today and found a heated seat cover on clearance . It is only about 60 watts . I am going to try it and see if I can keep my core warmer then maybe I can keep better blood flow to my hands and feet . I am still going to look at an actual heater system . Something I can reverse or disable for summer . I plan on putting a deck on it this summer with screen doors for when the bugs are bad .
I have three heated seats. One in my Ford cab tractor, one on my John Deere H3, no cab, and one in my truck. All work good.

Noel
Does keeping your body warmer help with hands and feet like I have read ?

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:49 pm
by Harry
DavidBarkey wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2026 4:26 pm I was in PA . today and found a heated seat cover on clearance . It is only about 60 watts . I am going to try it and see if I can keep my core warmer then maybe I can keep better blood flow to my hands and feet . I am still going to look at an actual heater system . Something I can reverse or disable for summer . I plan on putting a deck on it this summer with screen doors for when the bugs are bad .
Screen doors, I like that idea. :thumbsup: Thanks David.

Re: cab heater heat source ??

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 4:01 pm
by DavidBarkey
Harry wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:49 pm
DavidBarkey wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2026 4:26 pm I was in PA . today and found a heated seat cover on clearance . It is only about 60 watts . I am going to try it and see if I can keep my core warmer then maybe I can keep better blood flow to my hands and feet . I am still going to look at an actual heater system . Something I can reverse or disable for summer . I plan on putting a deck on it this summer with screen doors for when the bugs are bad .
Screen doors, I like that idea. :thumbsup: Thanks David.
Black flies and the deer flies will eat you alive at times here .