Cat 275 vs John Deere 335 P-Tier
Quick take: The John Deere 335 P-Tier costs $4,000 less; the Cat 275 has a higher rated operating capacity (4,156 vs 4,025 lbs); the John Deere 335 P-Tier has more engine power (118 vs 111 hp).
| Spec | Cat 275 | John Deere 335 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $112,000 | $108,000 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (120) | 4.7★ (45) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 4156 lbs | 4025 lbs |
| Engine HP | 111 hp | 118 hp |
| Operating Weight | 12401 lbs | 12300 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 11874 lbs | 11500 lbs |
| Lift Height | 134 in | 132 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23 GPM | 25 GPM |
| Engine | Cat C3.6TA | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT |
| Tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| High-flow | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 yr / 1000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Cat 275
- ✓The 4,156 lb rated operating capacity crushes the 299D3's 3,560 lbs, and owners moving pallets of block or full grapples of logs say the extra margin is obvious on the first day.
- ✓The 111 hp C3.6TA with 25%+ more torque than the old C3.8 keeps mulchers and cold planers at full RPM under load, and production-focused buyers report meaningfully faster acreage rates.
- ✓High Flow XPS delivers 34 GPM at 4,061 psi, among the strongest auxiliary hydraulic packages in the class, letting the 275 run attachments that used to require a dedicated mulching carrier.
- ✓The nearly 11,874 lb tipping load makes it extremely planted when craning heavy loads at full height, and operators say it out-lifts and out-stabilizes the Deere 333G they cross-rented.
- ✓The sealed one-piece pressurized cab with optional heated/ventilated air-ride seat is widely called the nicest operator station Cat has ever put in a compact machine.
- ✓Cat's Smart Attachment technology auto-recognizes tools like the Smart Dozer Blade and remaps the joysticks accordingly, which grading contractors say shortens the learning curve dramatically.
- ✓The 8-inch touchscreen with rearview camera and standard Product Link telematics makes fleet management practical, with remote hour and fault monitoring built in.
- ✓The 275 XE option gives an upgrade path to even more power on the same platform, so high-production buyers aren't forced to another brand for a top-spec machine.
- ✗Pricing lands well into six figures optioned up, a serious jump over the 299D3 it effectively replaces, and buyers say quotes vary widely between dealers.
- ✗The 111 hp C3.6TA requires DEF and a full Tier 4 Final aftertreatment system, adding a fluid, sensors, and regen behavior that the sub-75 hp models avoid entirely.
- ✗At 12,401 lbs plus attachment, transport requires a 14k-plus trailer and a heavy tow vehicle - several owners note it exceeds what their existing 3/4-ton setups can legally haul.
- ✗It's physically large for a 'compact' loader, and operators doing residential or tight-access work say it simply doesn't fit where a 265 or 255 will.
- ✗As a newer platform, early adopters report software teething issues with the touchscreen and attachment recognition that needed dealer updates to sort out.
- ✗Fuel burn at high-flow production work is substantial - owners running mulchers report double-digit gallons per hour, so operating cost per acre needs honest math.
- ✗Undercarriage wear costs scale with the weight, and track and roller replacement on this frame is notably more expensive than on the mid-size machines.
- ✗The complexity of the electro-hydraulic systems means field fixes are rare - downtime usually means a dealer visit, which rural owners flag as their biggest worry.
John Deere 335 P-Tier
- ✓With 118 gross horsepower and over 100 hydraulic horsepower in high-flow trim, it's the most powerful CTL Deere has ever offered, and mulching crews report production rates rivaling dedicated forestry machines.
- ✓The 11,500 lb tipping load and 4,025 lb ROC handle loaded pallets, grapple loads, and full rock buckets that push smaller large-frames to their limit.
- ✓The optional SG96 dozer blade with SmartGrade turns it into a legitimate small-dozer alternative, letting one machine cut pads, then swap to forks or a mulcher the same day.
- ✓Attachment Manager is standard, automatically configuring hydraulics for recognized attachments, which matters most on a machine bought specifically to run expensive tools.
- ✓The one-piece pressurized cab with heated/ventilated seat, touchscreen, and optional Surround View cameras is arguably the best operator environment in the CTL class.
- ✓The 36-gallon fuel tank supports a genuine full day of high-load hydraulic work, a real advantage over competitors that need midday refueling on mulching jobs.
- ✓The long undercarriage and 12,300 lb operating weight keep it planted craning loads at the 132-inch hinge pin height, with stability that surprises operators moving up from mid-frames.
- ✓It undercuts the Cat 285 and Case TV620B on typical transaction price while offering comparable capability, making it strong value at the top of the market.
- ✗A SmartGrade, high-flow, dozer-blade machine prices well into six figures, so buyers need steady production work to justify it over a 331 or 333 P-Tier.
- ✗At 12,300 lbs bare and over 13,500 with the blade, transport demands CDL-class towing, which limits who can move it between jobs.
- ✗It's a brand-new model with no predecessor track record, so long-term durability of the highest-output engine tune and hydraulics is unknown.
- ✗Fuel consumption under full hydraulic load is closer to a small dozer than a typical CTL, and owners report the 36-gallon tank is necessary rather than generous.
- ✗Undercarriage costs scale with the machine - tracks, rollers, and idlers for the big frame are among the priciest in the compact category.
- ✗The size that gives it stability makes it clumsy in tight residential work, and many owners keep a smaller machine on the fleet for confined sites.
- ✗Deere's dealer network skews agricultural in some regions, and construction-specific service expertise for SmartGrade issues can mean travel time for a tech.
- ✗Early buyers absorb both first-year software teething issues and unknown resale, a double risk on a machine this expensive.