John Deere 331 P-Tier vs John Deere 334 P-Tier
Quick take: The John Deere 331 P-Tier costs $12,000 less; the John Deere 334 P-Tier has a higher rated operating capacity (4,000 vs 3,150 lbs); the John Deere 334 P-Tier has more engine power (118 vs 98 hp).
| Spec | John Deere 331 P-Tier | John Deere 334 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $86,000 | $98,000 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (75) | 4.7★ (60) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 3150 lbs | 4000 lbs |
| Engine HP | 98 hp | 118 hp |
| Operating Weight | 11914 lbs | 10264 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 9000 lbs | 8000 lbs |
| Lift Height | 132 in | 132 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 25 GPM | 25 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT |
| Tracks | Yes | No |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| 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 331 P-Tier
- ✓The 98 hp turbo Yanmar is a 7% power bump over the 331G, and operators pushing full buckets of wet clay report it holds ground speed where the old machine had to downshift.
- ✓The one-piece sealed and pressurized cab is dramatically quieter and cleaner than the G-Series - operators mowing and mulching in dusty conditions say the cab stays livable all day.
- ✓The 9,000 lb tipping load and long track base make it stable craning heavy loads at the full 132-inch hinge pin height, so loading tandem dump trucks feels routine.
- ✓EH controls with adjustable boom and drive response let each operator tune the machine, and the softest settings make it forgiving for green operators on finish grading.
- ✓The optional 39 GPM high-flow package runs mulching heads and stump grinders respectably, covering most attachment needs short of the dedicated high-flow 333/335 machines.
- ✓The 29.5-gallon fuel tank and efficient engine give a true full workday of runtime, which crews coming off the thirstier 331G notice on long grading days.
- ✓Deere's vertical-lift boom keeps the load path close to the machine through the lift, and pallet fork work at height is noticeably more stable than radial-lift competitors.
- ✓The touchscreen display, Bluetooth, optional Surround View cameras, and two-year/2,000-hour standard warranty bring the ownership experience up to par with Cat's next-gen CTLs.
- ✗The 50 lb ROC gain over the 331G is marginal, so owners upgrading purely for lift capacity will be underwhelmed by the spec sheet.
- ✗P-Tier pricing rose meaningfully over the outgoing G-Series, and a well-optioned 331 approaches what a base 333 P-Tier costs.
- ✗As a first-year model, early adopters are finding software bugs and sensor teething issues that require dealer flash updates.
- ✗At nearly 12,000 lbs it needs a 20k-class trailer and heavy tow vehicle, a real jump for owners moving up from mid-frame machines.
- ✗Rubber tracks and undercarriage remain the big ownership cost - expect thousands in undercarriage parts by the second or third set of tracks.
- ✗The Tier 4 Final aftertreatment adds DEF and regen cycles, and owners doing light-duty intermittent work see more frequent regens than they'd like.
- ✗Resale value for the new P-Tier line is unproven, while clean used 331Gs hold value on a long track record.
- ✗Standard 25 GPM flow is unchanged from the G-Series, so buyers running serious mulchers still have to pay up for the high-flow option or a bigger machine.
John Deere 334 P-Tier
- ✓With 118 gross horsepower it's the strongest skid steer Deere has ever built, an 18% jump over the 332G, and operators running cold planers say it holds engine speed where the old machine would lug.
- ✓The 4,000 lb rated operating capacity and 8,000 lb tipping load put it at the top of the wheeled class, handling loaded brick pallets and full buckets of wet material without drama.
- ✓The optional 44 GPM / 4,000 psi high-flow package delivers hydraulic power that rivals dedicated milling machines, making it a favorite for asphalt planing and heavy mulching on firm ground.
- ✓Attachment Manager comes standard, automatically setting hydraulic parameters for recognized attachments so crews don't wreck a tool by running the wrong flow.
- ✓The one-piece pressurized cab with heated/ventilated seat and touchscreen is a huge quality-of-life upgrade over the 332G, and operators doing full-day milling shifts notice the lower noise most.
- ✓The 35.5-gallon fuel tank is enormous for a skid steer and supports true dawn-to-dusk operation on high-load hydraulic work without a mid-day fuel stop.
- ✓Wheels beat tracks on pavement - for road work, demolition cleanup, and concrete yards it out-runs and out-lasts CTLs while costing far less in undercarriage wear.
- ✓The 132-inch hinge pin height with vertical lift loads tri-axle dump trucks cleanly, and self-leveling keeps pallet forks flat through the whole lift path.
- ✗Pricing lands near six figures well-equipped, which overlaps larger CTLs and mid-size wheel loaders, so buyers need a clear high-flow use case to justify it.
- ✗At over 10,000 lbs before attachments, it needs heavy-duty transport, and the days of hauling your skid steer behind a pickup are over at this size.
- ✗The extra horsepower and big hydraulics burn fuel quickly under load - owners running planers report consumption closer to a small excavator than a typical skid steer.
- ✗It's brand new to the market, so long-term reliability of the higher-output engine tune and 4,000 psi hydraulic system is still unproven.
- ✗The physical size that enables the capacity works against it in tight residential lots where a mid-frame machine maneuvers much more easily.
- ✗High-flow, SmartGrade readiness, and camera options stack up fast on the order sheet, and the gap between base price and as-configured price is bigger than buyers expect.
- ✗Tier 4 Final aftertreatment with DEF adds running cost and complexity, and regens interrupt work more often when the machine idles between milling passes.
- ✗Wheeled machines fall short in mud and on slopes, so mixed-surface contractors may be pushed to the 335 P-Tier CTL and its higher price instead.