Head to head
John Deere 324 P-Tier against JCB 300
The JCB 300 saves $500; the JCB 300 carries 495 lb more once both are rated the same way; the JCB 300 moves 2.8 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | John Deere 324 P-Tier | JCB 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $67,500 | $67,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,690 lbs | 3,186 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 5,380 lbs | 6,369 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,690 lbs | 3,185 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV98CT | JCB EcoMAX TCAE-55 |
| Auxiliary flow | 21 GPM | 23.8 GPM |
| Lift height | 126 in | 126 in |
| Operating weight | 7,700 lbs | 9,288 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
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.
JCB 300
- The side-entry door means operators never climb over the attachment or under a raised boom - on a 3,000 lb-class machine handling heavy loads, that's a meaningful safety edge every shift.
- The single-arm PowerBoom eliminates the right-side arm for roughly 60% better visibility, and the one-piece boom stays tight and rattle-free after hard hours.
- At 3,186 lbs of rated capacity it's JCB's strongest wheeled skid steer, comfortably handling brick packs, seed pallets, and full concrete mixing duties.
- The 74 hp EcoMAX diesel meets Tier 4 Final with no DPF and no DEF - no regen cycles, no emissions fluid, and less aftertreatment plumbing to fail out of warranty.
- A 23.8 GPM standard circuit with an optional high-flow package up to 33 GPM runs demanding attachments like cold planers and snow blowers.
- Two-speed travel tops out around 12.4 mph, which is genuinely fast for ground-to-ground moves on large sites.
- Traditional buyers remain skeptical of the single-boom design, which can narrow the buyer pool when it's time to sell.
- JCB's compact-equipment dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's, Cat's, or Deere's in much of rural America, slowing parts and service.
- At 9,288 lbs it needs a serious trailer and truck - this is not a machine you tow behind a half-ton.
- 74 hp is modest for a 3,000 lb-class machine, and rivals like the Bobcat S86 offer notably more engine power in the same weight class.
- The left-side door is the only entry, so tight parking against that side locks the operator out.
- Wheels limit it in mud and soft ground where the tracked 300T keeps working - and the track version costs a hefty premium.
- High-flow hydraulics cost extra, so the attachment-heavy buyers this machine targets end up paying above the base price.