John Deere recently introduced two new machine lines for model year 2024, both of which are designed to make material handling and other jobs around the farm easier. Between them, these machines can handle either big jobs or relatively small ones. And Deere describes both lines as “compact” machines, meaning they’ve packed a fair bit of power and capability into relatively small chassis.
To address the needs of producers looking for a loader capable of handling those larger farm jobs with enough enhanced manoeuvrability to navigate tight spaces, Deere expanded its “Performance Tiering” compact wheel loader line, transitioning from the previous L-Series to the new P-Tier, which now offers the 244, 324 and 344 models. The 244 and 324 get 71 horsepower from their 3.3-litre engines, while the larger 344 gets a 103-horsepower, 4.5-litre PowerTech diesel under its hood.
The 244 rides on a seven-foot, one-inch (2.150 metre) wheelbase and can handle a 1.4-cubic-yard bucket. On the 324, wheelbase stretches to seven feet and seven inches (2.3 metres), and bucket capacity increases to 2.1 cubic yards. The biggest of the three, the 344, grows bucket size to 2.6 cubic yards and stretches out the wheelbase to eight feet and six inches (2.6 metres). With a dump height of 12 feet and two inches (3.72 metres), it can load any truck or farm trailer.
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These wheel loaders hit that sweet spot in size, capability and design that will make them appeal to both light construction and larger agricultural operations.
New P-Tier
The new P-Tier compact wheel loaders will keep all of the L-Series features as well as introduce a few new ones, including standard ride control in the base models and some optional factory-installed features, such as an auto-reversing fan to keep the engine cool in dusty conditions.
Other optional features include attachment assist controls, which have integrated electrical (three-pin) controls for attachments. There are also combined creep control and throttle lock. These are designed to make it easier for operators when using attachments. They allow machines to run at higher r.p.m. and lower ground speeds with fewer manual inputs. And there is an enhanced pause and resume function, which makes reactivating a feature after a change in direction or switch to neutral seamless.
“As we continue to make the shift from past generation machines to our current generation of Performance Tiering models, we aim to keep the same features our customers know and trust on the L-Series models, with the added benefits of new productivity enhancements only available on the P-Tier machines,” said Luke Gribble, solutions marketing manager at John Deere.
Ride control, which was previously offered only as an optional upgrade on the L-Series machines, is now standard on all P-Tier compact wheel loaders. It’s designed to cushion boom movements when hauling bucket loads over rough terrain, acting like a shock absorber to help minimize material spillage. By minimizing bouncing, it also helps improve the ride for operators. It can be manually controlled, or it can be set to automatically engage and disengage at a predetermined speed.
Adding significantly to their manoeuvrability, P-Tier compact wheel loaders continue to include the brand’s Articulation Plus feature, which includes rear-wheel steering in addition to the central pivot articulation. This steering system combines the 30 degrees of standard articulation with an additional 10 degrees of rear-wheel steering, allowing for some tight turns. Articulation Plus also provides a significantly higher full-turn tipping load rating than machines without this feature, because the machine does not need to articulate as much to turn.
Compact utility tractors
When tackling farmyard jobs that are smaller and demand something a little more compact than a P-Tier loader but still need a reasonable amount of muscle, John Deere recently pulled the wraps off the 2024 model-year upgrades on its lines of 3R- and 4-Series compact utility tractors. That lineup now includes the all-new 4075R model. Deere says it has equipped it to appeal to customers in the commercial snow removal and large-property owner markets.
The brand claims it has focused on increasing reliability and improving technology readiness in all these updated compact tractors.
Deere claims the new 4075R tractor can handle some reasonably serious work, and its specifications seem to back up that claim. To start with, it boasts a 75-horsepower engine, which is a surprising amount of muscle for a tractor of this size. It also gets a heavy-duty front axle, which gives it additional lifting capability when equipped with a loader. And, of course, there are those technology-ready capabilities, which allows integration into the brand’s already existing Tractor Plus application.
“Our customers are always seeking solutions to help get the job done faster and with more ease,” said Mark Davey, go-to-market manager for John Deere, in a press release. “Our MY24 compact utility tractors are equipped with game-changing features to help do exactly that. By taking our customer-trusted models, and elevating their comfort and performance features, we are setting our customers up for success year-round, even in the most challenging conditions.”
To simplify things for the operator, the 4075R along with the full lineup of model year 2024 4R cabbed machines offer an electro-hydraulic rear hitch control. That allows for easier operation, more precise control and better repeatability when using rear-mounted implements. The brand is also offering options packages designed specifically for snow removal applications on the 4R cabbed models. Bluetooth radio is now available on the 3R- and 4R-Series cabbed models.
All Model year 2024 3R- and 4R-Series tractors as well as heavy-duty 4M models also get improved lighting, which includes LED headlights, LED work lights and an LED beacon light option for cab models.
