Head to head
John Deere 317 P-Tier against John Deere 324 P-Tier
The John Deere 324 P-Tier saves $3,197; only the John Deere 317 P-Tier runs tracks, so their advertised capacities are not measured the same way; the John Deere 324 P-Tier moves 4.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit; only the John Deere 317 P-Tier runs rubber tracks.
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These two are rated differently on purpose. A wheeled skid steer is rated at half its tipping load and a track loader at 35 per cent, because the track machine holds back more reserve. So the capacity rows below are not a like-for-like contest, and the tipping load row is the closer thing to one.
| Spec | John Deere 317 P-Tier | John Deere 324 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $70,697 | $67,500 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,125 lbs | 2,690 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 6,070 lbs | 5,380 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,125 lbs | 2,690 lbs |
| Engine power | 65 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV86CHT | Yanmar 4TNV98CT |
| Auxiliary flow | 17 GPM | 21 GPM |
| Lift height | 121 in | 126 in |
| Operating weight | 8,423 lbs | 7,700 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | No |
| High flow available | No | 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
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.