Head to head
Cat 260 against John Deere 324 P-Tier
The John Deere 324 P-Tier saves $409; the Cat 260 carries 471 lb more once both are rated the same way; the John Deere 324 P-Tier moves 1.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Cat 260 | John Deere 324 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $67,909 | $67,500 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,160 lbs | 2,690 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 6,321 lbs | 5,380 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,161 lbs | 2,690 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Cat C2.8T | Yanmar 4TNV98CT |
| Auxiliary flow | 20 GPM | 21 GPM |
| Lift height | 132 in | 126 in |
| Operating weight | 8,523 lbs | 7,700 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | No |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
Cat 260
- Rated operating capacity jumps to 3,160 lbs from the 262D3's 2,700, a 17% gain that owners handling brick, seed, and fertilizer pallets notice immediately.
- The 132-inch bucket pin height is a genuine truck-loading height for a mid-frame wheeled machine, clearing dump truck sides the 262D3 strained to reach.
- Torque from the new C2.8T is dramatically improved over the old C3.3B, and operators report the 260 holds ground speed while backdragging and pushing where the D3 bogged.
- The High Flow XPS option brings 34 GPM to a wheeled mid-frame, enough for planers and wheel saws that used to demand a larger, more expensive carrier.
- The 8-inch touchscreen with switchable ISO/H controls, rearview camera, and standard telematics matches features Bobcat and Deere charge option money for.
- Standard flow dropped to 20 GPM from the 262D3's 23 GPM, forcing buyers with existing attachments to double-check requirements or budget for the High Flow enablement.
- The next-gen premium prices it against strong competition - a comparably equipped Bobcat S76 or Deere 330G often quotes lower, and owners say Cat dealers hold firm on price.
- At 8,523 lbs it's a couple hundred pounds heavier than the 262D3, nudging total trailer loads closer to 10k limits once attachments come along.
- Early production machines shared the next-gen line's software teething problems, with touchscreen freezes and sensor faults resolved only by dealer updates.
- Buyers wanting more than 74 hp in a wheeled Cat have a big price gap to the 111 hp 270 - there's no intermediate 90 hp option like some competitors offer.
John Deere 324 P-Tier
- The 126-inch hinge pin height is best-in-class for a mid-frame wheeled machine, clearing tandem dump truck sideboards and hopper walls that force competitors' operators to build ramps.
- The 74 hp turbo Yanmar hits Tier 4 Final with no DEF tank and no SCR system - one less fluid to buy and one less aftertreatment system to fail out of warranty.
- The 2,690 lb rated capacity comfortably carries a full pallet of pavers or sod, and up to three sets of optional rear counterweights push it to 2,850 lbs.
- The new 32 GPM high-flow option finally lets the mid-frame Deere run mulchers and cold planers light-duty, closing a gap the 324G always had against high-flow Bobcats.
- The sealed, pressurized cab with swing-out door and cab-footwell cleanout is a big comfort and serviceability jump over the G-Series, which was a 2018 design.
- Top speed actually dropped slightly on the Tier 4 Final version (10.1 mph vs 11 on the old machine), noticeable on long ground-to-ground runs.
- Pricing climbed several thousand dollars over the outgoing 324G, and a loaded unit with high-flow and camera crowds the price of a base large-frame 330 P-Tier.
- It launched in mid-2026, so long-term reliability is unproven and early-adopter software glitches are a real possibility.
- At 7,700 lbs it needs a 10k-rated trailer and a 3/4-ton truck, pushing past what some landscape crews can legally tow with existing equipment.
- Dealers are still selling off discounted new 324G stock, and the older machine's near-identical lift specs make the P-Tier premium a hard sell for budget buyers.