John Deere 330 P-Tier vs JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid
Quick take: The John Deere 330 P-Tier costs $2,000 less; the JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid has a higher rated operating capacity (3,208 vs 2,950 lbs); the John Deere 330 P-Tier has more engine power (98 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | John Deere 330 P-Tier | JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $78,000 | $80,000 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (85) | 4.3★ (110) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 2950 lbs | 3208 lbs |
| Engine HP | 98 hp | 74 hp |
| Operating Weight | 9930 lbs | 9859 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 5900 lbs | 6416 lbs |
| Lift Height | 132 in | 159 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 25 GPM | 24 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT | JCB EcoMAX |
| Tracks | No | No |
| Vertical lift | Yes | No |
| High-flow | Yes | 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 330 P-Tier
- ✓The new one-piece sealed and pressurized cab is a generational leap over the 330G - operators report it's noticeably quieter, keeps dust out on dry sites, and the larger door and glass area improve visibility all around.
- ✓The 98 hp turbo Yanmar is about 7% stronger than the 330G's engine, and the extra grunt shows up when pushing full buckets uphill or running a cold planer without bogging.
- ✓The 132-inch hinge pin height plus vertical lift geometry makes loading dump trucks and hoppers with sideboards easy - reach at full height is where this frame size earns its keep.
- ✓EH controls with adjustable response settings and dual-direction self-leveling let operators dial the machine to their preference, and the joystick response can be softened for new hires.
- ✓The optional 39 GPM high-flow package runs mulchers and cold planers that used to require stepping up to a track machine, keeping a wheeled machine viable for attachment-heavy work.
- ✓Larger fuel and DEF tanks mean a genuine full day of work without refueling, which crews coming from the 330G notice immediately on production jobs.
- ✓The touchscreen display with onboard diagnostics, Bluetooth, and optional Surround View cameras brings the tech up to par with Cat's next-gen machines at a typically lower price point.
- ✓Deere's two-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty is standard and the ag-plus-construction dealer network makes parts and service easy to find in rural areas.
- ✗At 2,950 lbs the rated operating capacity is actually 50 lbs lower on paper than the 330G it replaced, which surprises buyers expecting the new generation to lift more.
- ✗Early-production machines are still working through software quirks, and some owners report touchscreen glitches and sensor faults that required dealer visits under warranty.
- ✗The price jumped meaningfully over the outgoing 330G, and a well-optioned unit with high-flow and the camera package pushes past $90k.
- ✗The one-piece cab is more comfortable but also more complex - when the HVAC or electronics act up, repairs are dealer-level work, not something you fix in the field.
- ✗At nearly 10,000 lbs operating weight, transport requires a heavy trailer and a serious tow vehicle, so it's not a machine you casually move between jobs.
- ✗The Tier 4 Final aftertreatment brings DEF consumption and regen cycles, and owners in stop-and-go work report more frequent regens than they'd like.
- ✗Resale on the P-Tier line is unproven since the machines are so new, while the G-Series has a long track record and strong used demand.
- ✗Wheeled machines this size struggle on soft or muddy ground where the equivalent 331 P-Tier CTL keeps working, so buyers in wet climates often need to step up in price to tracks.
JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid
- ✓The 13'3" lift height and 8 feet of forward reach are unmatched by any wheeled skid steer - it loads high-sided grain trucks, stacks bales three-high, and reaches across trailers like a small telehandler.
- ✓It digs 3 feet below grade with the boom extended, something no conventional skid steer can do, covering light trenching and pit-loading without an excavator.
- ✓The single-arm PowerBoom and side-entry door mean operators never climb over the attachment, and the 270-degree field of vision beats any twin-arm rival.
- ✓The 74 hp JCB EcoMAX diesel needs no DPF or DEF, so no regen cycles interrupt work and there's no emissions fluid to manage.
- ✓Wheels make it cheaper to buy and run than the tracked 3TS-8T - no undercarriage to wear out - while keeping the same telescopic boom capability.
- ✓On pavement, concrete, and packed yards it travels faster and turns without the surface damage tracks cause, which is exactly where teleskid buyers on farms and in recycling operate.
- ✓The cab is roughly 33% larger than the class average with standard climate control and switchable ISO/H-pattern controls.
- ✓One machine replaces a skid steer, telehandler, and forklift for many farm and yard operations, which is a compelling total-cost argument.
- ✗Capacity drops from 3,208 lbs retracted to 1,300 lbs at full extension, so the boom's headline reach carries real load limits.
- ✗Wheels sacrifice the flotation and muddy-ground capability of the tracked 3TS-8T, limiting it on soft sites and torn-up dirt.
- ✗At 9,859 lbs it's heavy for a wheeled machine of this capacity, pushing trailer requirements up compared to conventional skid steers.
- ✗The telescopic boom adds slide pads, internal hoses, and an extension cylinder that fixed-boom machines never need serviced.
- ✗Around $80,000 to start, it costs substantially more than conventional wheeled skid steers with similar lift capacity.
- ✗JCB's compact-equipment dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Cat's across rural America, and the specialized boom really wants dealer service.
- ✗The left-side door is the only entry, so parking tight on that side locks you out of the cab.
- ✗Resale is harder to predict because used telescopic-boom skid steers remain a niche market with fewer buyers.