Fitting an air-conditioning unit to an older tractor, handler or combine that didn’t come with it in the first place can be complicated and costly. However a new quick-fit system from French manufacturer Hygloo could make the process simpler and cheaper.

The main unit that houses the compressor and fan usually fits on the cab roof, though it can be mounted on any exterior surface. The evaporator (which contains the cooling pipes) goes on the underside of the cab roof and allows cold air to be blown into the cab. The whole unit is electrically powered from the battery.

Normally, it takes an air conditioning engineer to fit the unit and fill it with refrigerant, however Hygloo now offers a pre-gassed system that a farmer could fit himself. The pipes come with special connectors that allow the farmer to cut pipes to length and then connect up the whole unit. The whole process should take 3-4 hours, says the importer, Newport, Isle of Wight company Auto Air Con Services (01983 554904).

Typical cost of the whole system is £1,950. Not cheap, but it could make life much more pleasant for any driver in an older tractor having to do long hours in hot weather.