John Deere 333 P-Tier vs John Deere 334 P-Tier
Quick take: The John Deere 334 P-Tier costs $1,000 less; the John Deere 334 P-Tier has a higher rated operating capacity (4,000 vs 3,850 lbs); the John Deere 334 P-Tier has more engine power (118 vs 108 hp).
| Spec | John Deere 333 P-Tier | John Deere 334 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99,000 | $98,000 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (90) | 4.7★ (60) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 3850 lbs | 4000 lbs |
| Engine HP | 108 hp | 118 hp |
| Operating Weight | 12183 lbs | 10264 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 11000 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 333 P-Tier
- ✓The 108.5 hp turbo Yanmar out-muscles the 333G it replaced by 8%, and operators cutting pads report it carries a full six-way blade through heavy clay without losing track speed.
- ✓The 11,000 lb tipping load and 12,183 lb operating weight make it planted at full lift height, so loading tandems and feeding hoppers at the 132-inch hinge pin feels secure.
- ✓Factory SmartGrade with Topcon 3D turns it into a true grading machine - site-prep crews say it puts finish grade within a tenth without a dedicated grader on smaller pads.
- ✓The optional 44 GPM high-flow package runs big mulching heads and cold planers at production rates that used to require a dedicated forestry machine.
- ✓The one-piece pressurized cab is the biggest day-to-day upgrade over the 333G - quieter, nearly dust-proof, and the heated/ventilated seat makes long grading shifts far less fatiguing.
- ✓The 36-gallon fuel tank runs a full day even under high hydraulic load, eliminating the mid-afternoon fuel stop that interrupted 333G mulching crews.
- ✓Attachment Manager automatically configures flow and pressure for recognized attachments, protecting expensive tools from being run at the wrong settings.
- ✓Deere's 333-series has years of proven demand behind it, and the dealer network's parts availability keeps these machines earning instead of waiting on service.
- ✗A SmartGrade-equipped unit with high-flow pushes well into six figures, territory where small dozers and used motor graders start to make financial sense.
- ✗The ROC gain over the 333G is modest on paper, so owners who don't need the new cab or SmartGrade see limited reason to trade a low-hour G-Series.
- ✗At over 12,000 lbs plus attachments, transport requires CDL-class towing, which complicates logistics for small outfits used to mid-frame machines.
- ✗First-year electronics have shown teething issues, and SmartGrade calibration problems in early builds required multiple dealer visits for some owners.
- ✗Undercarriage wear remains the dominant operating cost, and running the machine hard on rock or demolition sites eats tracks, rollers, and idlers quickly.
- ✗Tier 4 Final DEF and regen cycles add running cost, and the bigger engine consumes fuel noticeably faster than the mid-frame machines when working hydraulic attachments.
- ✗The high-tech cab and grade control mean more sensors and screens that only a dealer can diagnose, a concern for owners in remote areas.
- ✗Resale on P-Tier machines is unproven, and buyers paying the SmartGrade premium can't yet count on recouping it at trade-in like they could with established Topcon-equipped dozers.
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.