John Deere 316 P-Tier vs John Deere 318 P-Tier

John Deere

John Deere 316 P-Tier

$47,000

4.4★ (55)

John Deere

$52,000

4.5★ (60)

Quick take: The John Deere 316 P-Tier costs $5,000 less; the John Deere 318 P-Tier has a higher rated operating capacity (1,945 vs 1,750 lbs).

✓At 6,180 lbs it's genuinely towable behind a half-ton pickup on a standard equipment trailer, with factory front and rear tie-downs that make strapping down quick.
✓The heavy-duty tire option narrows the machine to 60 inches, squeezing through backyard gates and doorways that stop mid-frame machines cold.
✓Radial lift geometry digs, grades, and backfills better than vertical-lift rivals at this size, with strong breakout force low in the lift path where small machines actually work.
✓EH ISO-pattern joystick controls are standard - a feature that was optional or unavailable on the old 316GR and still costs extra on some competitors.
✓The 65 hp turbo Yanmar meets Tier 4 Final without DEF, keeping the fluid checklist short for owners who don't run the machine daily.
✓The sealed and pressurized cab option with A/C is a rarity in the small-frame class, where most competitors offer only a canopy or a leaky bolt-on enclosure.
✓Standard connect-under-pressure flat-face couplers make attachment swaps painless even when a hose was left pressurized in the sun.
✓Deere's dealer network and the JDLink telematics that come free from the factory give small operators big-fleet parts access and machine tracking.

✗The 1,750 lb rated capacity fills up fast - a full pallet of sod or block exceeds it, forcing double-handling that mid-frame owners never think about.
✗Base machines are single-speed at 6.9 mph, and the two-speed transmission that competitors include standard is an extra-cost option here.
✗There is no high-flow hydraulic option at all, capping the attachment list at 17 GPM tools and ruling out mulchers and cold planers entirely.
✗The 115-inch hinge pin height and radial arc make loading tall dump trucks awkward - the bucket wants to reach out, not up, at full height.
✗The 9-foot-7 lift height and modest dump reach mean sideboarded tandem trucks are effectively off the menu without a ramp.
✗Pricing crept up over the outgoing 316GR, and a cab-and-A/C unit approaches mid-frame territory where far more capable machines live.
✗Resale watchers note the small-frame wheeled segment is shrinking as compact track loaders take over, which could soften long-term values.
✗Owners report the compact cab entry is tight for larger operators, and the smaller frame transmits more chatter on rough ground than heavier machines.

✓Vertical lift geometry keeps the load tucked in as it rises, so it loads dump trucks and stacks pallets far better than radial small-frames like the 316 P-Tier.
✓At around 6,500 lbs it still tows behind a well-equipped half-ton pickup, and factory tie-down points make securing it a two-minute job.
✓Under 63 inches wide with the standard tires, it fits through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines simply cannot go.
✓EH ISO-pattern joystick controls are now standard equipment, with adjustable response settings that used to be reserved for large-frame Deeres.
✓The 65 hp turbo Yanmar hits Tier 4 Final without DEF, keeping fluids simple for owners who run the machine intermittently.
✓The P-Tier cab is noticeably roomier and better sealed than the old 318G's, and the optional A/C package actually keeps up in summer.
✓Optional counterweights raise rated capacity to 2,095 lbs, letting a small-frame machine handle a full pallet of sod or seed.
✓Deere's dealer density and free JDLink telematics mean parts, service, and machine tracking are covered almost anywhere in the country.

✗No high-flow hydraulic option exists - 17 GPM caps the attachment list and rules out mulchers, cold planers, and big snowblowers.
✗The base 1,945 lb rated capacity needs the optional counterweight package to safely handle heavier pallets, an extra cost the spec sheet glosses over.
✗A cab machine with A/C, two-speed, and counterweights prices close to mid-frame territory where the 320 P-Tier offers much more machine.
✗The vertical-lift linkage adds pivot points and grease zerks that the simpler radial 316 P-Tier does not have to maintain.
✗Wheeled small-frames lose traction quickly in mud and on slopes, and buyers in wet climates increasingly cross-shop the 317 P-Tier CTL instead.
✗The small frame transmits more chop on rough ground than heavier machines, and taller operators find cab entry over the attachment tight.
✗Single-speed travel is the base configuration, so budget builds crawl between work areas on larger properties.
✗Resale on small wheeled skid steers is softening industry-wide as compact track loaders continue to take over the segment.