John Deere 317 P-Tier vs John Deere 324 P-Tier
Quick take: The John Deere 317 P-Tier costs $4,000 less; the John Deere 324 P-Tier has a higher rated operating capacity (2,690 vs 2,125 lbs); the John Deere 324 P-Tier has more engine power (74 vs 65 hp).
| Spec | John Deere 317 P-Tier | John Deere 324 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $58,000 | $62,000 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (55) | 4.5★ (35) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2125 lbs | 2690 lbs |
| Engine HP | 65 hp | 74 hp |
| Operating Weight | 8423 lbs | 7700 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 6070 lbs | 5380 lbs |
| Lift Height | 121 in | 126 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 17 GPM | 21 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV86CHT | Yanmar 4TNV98CT |
| Tracks | Yes | No |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| High-flow | No | Yes |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
John Deere 317 P-Tier
- ✓Still genuinely pickup-towable at around 8,400 lbs, so one truck and trailer can move it between jobs without CDL-class equipment.
- ✓Vertical lift with a 2,125 lb rated capacity clears dump truck sides and stacks pallets - rare abilities in the small-frame CTL class.
- ✓The P-Tier cab is a big upgrade over the 317G: more volume, better sealing, and pressurization that actually keeps dust out with the A/C option.
- ✓EH ISO joystick controls come standard with adjustable response, where the 317G made you pay extra or live with mechanical controls.
- ✓The 65 hp turbo Yanmar needs no DEF, and the simple Tier 4 solution keeps ownership easy for part-time operators.
- ✓Tracks spread the light footprint gently over finished lawns and wet ground, making it a favorite for irrigation and lawn-install crews.
- ✓Connect-under-pressure flat-face couplers and standard quick-attach make swapping among Deere's attachment catalog painless.
- ✓Free JDLink telematics and Deere's dealer network give small operators fleet-grade tracking, parts, and resale support.
- ✗No high-flow option exists, so the 17 GPM circuit rules out mulchers, cold planers, and other flow-hungry attachments.
- ✗The 65 hp engine works hard pushing a full bucket uphill, and operators coming from mid-frames notice the power ceiling quickly.
- ✗A loaded cab machine prices within reach of the 325 P-Tier, which offers substantially more capacity for not much more money.
- ✗Rubber tracks and undercarriage service add real cost per hour compared to the wheeled 318 P-Tier - budget for track replacement around 1,200-1,500 hours.
- ✗The small frame and short track base ride rougher over rutted ground than longer mid-frame CTLs.
- ✗Rated capacity fills up fast with dense materials - a pallet of block or wet sod pushes the machine to its limit.
- ✗The vertical-lift linkage adds pins and grease points over radial designs, slightly increasing daily maintenance.
- ✗Deere's small-frame CTL resale trails Kubota and Takeuchi in some regions where those dealers dominate the compact market.
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.
- ✓Standard EH ISO joysticks with adjustable response replaced the old optional-EH setup, so every machine can be dialed in per operator without a factory order checkbox.
- ✓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.
- ✓8,750 lb bucket breakout force with the foundry bucket out-muscles most machines in the class, carving hard clay that stalls lighter loaders.
- ✓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.
- ✓Deere's massive ag-plus-construction dealer network and the 324's rental-fleet ubiquity mean parts, service, and used buyers are always nearby.
- ✗Rated capacity stayed at 2,690 lbs - identical to the 324G - so the P-Tier update is about controls and options, not more lift, which underwhelms owners expecting generational gains.
- ✗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.
- ✗Hydraulic self-leveling and ride control both cost extra, while some competitors bundle self-leveling standard at this price.
- ✗The 21 GPM standard flow is midpack, so buyers planning attachment-heavy work need to budget for the high-flow package upfront.
- ✗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.