Head to head
John Deere 335 P-Tier against Cat 275 XE
The Cat 275 XE saves $1,193; the Cat 275 XE carries 180 lb more once both are rated the same way; the John Deere 335 P-Tier moves 2.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | John Deere 335 P-Tier | Cat 275 XE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $143,639 | $142,446 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 4,025 lbs | 4,205 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 11,500 lbs | 12,015 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 4,025 lbs | 4,205 lbs |
| Engine power | 118 hp | 122 hp |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT | Cat C3.6 TA |
| Auxiliary flow | 25 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Lift height | 132 in | 134.4 in |
| Operating weight | 12,300 lbs | 12,705 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| 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 335 P-Tier
- With 118 gross horsepower and over 100 hydraulic horsepower in high-flow trim, it's the most powerful CTL Deere has ever offered, and mulching crews report production rates rivaling dedicated forestry machines.
- The 11,500 lb tipping load and 4,025 lb ROC handle loaded pallets, grapple loads, and full rock buckets that push smaller large-frames to their limit.
- The optional SG96 dozer blade with SmartGrade turns it into a legitimate small-dozer alternative, letting one machine cut pads, then swap to forks or a mulcher the same day.
- The 36-gallon fuel tank supports a genuine full day of high-load hydraulic work, a real advantage over competitors that need midday refueling on mulching jobs.
- The long undercarriage and 12,300 lb operating weight keep it planted craning loads at the 132-inch hinge pin height, with stability that surprises operators moving up from mid-frames.
- It undercuts the Cat 285 and Case TV620B on typical transaction price while offering comparable capability, making it strong value at the top of the market.
- A SmartGrade, high-flow, dozer-blade machine prices well into six figures, so buyers need steady production work to justify it over a 331 or 333 P-Tier.
- At 12,300 lbs bare and over 13,500 with the blade, transport demands CDL-class towing, which limits who can move it between jobs.
- Fuel consumption under full hydraulic load is closer to a small dozer than a typical CTL, and owners report the 36-gallon tank is necessary rather than generous.
- Undercarriage costs scale with the machine - tracks, rollers, and idlers for the big frame are among the priciest in the compact category.
- Deere's dealer network skews agricultural in some regions, and construction-specific service expertise for SmartGrade issues can mean travel time for a tech.
- Early buyers absorb both first-year software teething issues and unknown resale, a double risk on a machine this expensive.
Cat 275 XE
- The 40 GPM XE circuit at 4,496 psi outruns the standard 275's High Flow XPS by a wide margin, holding large mulching heads at rotor speed instead of bogging them.
- 4,205 lb of rated capacity at the conservative 35% convention, on a 12,015 lb tipping load, means it lifts as well as it runs attachments.
- XE is the highest of Cat's three flow tiers, above standard and High Flow XPS, which is what lets it hold a large mulching head at rotor speed rather than bogging it.
- Cat publishes a $142,446 starting MSRP, unusual at this end of the market where flagship machines are normally quoted only on request.
- The 134.4-inch pin height matches the standard 275, so nothing about truck loading is traded away for the hydraulic upgrade.
- At $142,446 before options it is the most expensive machine in this catalog, and it only makes sense as a dedicated attachment carrier.
- 122 hp brings the full Tier 4 Final aftertreatment package with DEF and regens, unlike the sub-75 hp Cats.
- Cat's own spec page for this model is unreliable - its 50% capacity cell repeats the 265's 4,033 lb and its counterweight figure reads lower than the base capacity - so cross-check anything quoted from it.
- At 12,705 lb plus a mulching head, moving it legally needs a 20k-class trailer and the truck to match.
- Undercarriage wear on a machine this heavy working brush is the dominant running cost, and Cat parts pricing sits at the top of the market.