John Deere Reveals 244, 324 & 344 P-Tier Compact Wheel Loaders

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The new 344 P-Tier and other P-Tier loaders come with standard ride control, which can reduce material spillage from the bucket when traveling with a load. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

The new versions of John Deere's L-Series 244L, 324L, and 344L compact wheel loaders are the 244, 324, and 344 in the company’s P-Tier line. They retain L-Series features but now come equipped with standard ride control, Deere’s exclusive Articulation Plus steering feature, and new upgrade options.

"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," says John Deere Solutions Marketing Manager Luke Gribble.

P-Tier Standard Features

The operator of a 244, 324, or 344 P-Tier loader can engage its ride control by flipping a switch or set it to automatically activate when the machine exceeds a predetermined travel speed. The newly standard ride control system acts as a shock absorber for the boom while the wheel loader is carrying material at high speeds. The cushioning action reduces spillage from the bucket and makes the ride more comfortable for the operator.

John Deere’s Articulation Plus also comes standard on the new 244, 324, and 344 P-Tier. This feature adds 10 degrees of rear-wheel steering to the chassis’ 30 degrees of articulation to reduce the turning radius, increase the full-turn tipping load capacity, and enhance maneuverability.

Optional Upgrades

A new option for the 244, 324, or 344 P-Tier is an auto-reversing cooling fan to clear out debris and dust from the radiator. The operator can turn the auto-reverse feature on or off and set its time intervals from inside the cab.

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John Deere’s Articulation Plus, shown here on the new 244 P-Tier compact wheel loader, adds rear-wheel steering to the chassis’ articulation to reduce the turning radius and increase full-turn tipping load capacity. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

Attachment assist controls are also available from the John Deere factory. These include 3-pin electrical controls for attachments and a combined creep control and throttle lock. The latter simplifies work at lower ground speeds with higher engine rpm, allowing the operator to concentrate on the job. The feature’s more seamless pause and resume function smooths out re-engagement of creep control/throttle lock mode after a shift into neutral or a change in travel direction.

Specification Range

The new P-Tier version of John Deere’s 244 compact wheel loader is a 12,258-pound (5,560-kilogram) machine that produces 71 net horsepower (52 kilowatts). The 244 supports buckets with capacities of 1.0 to 1.4 cubic yards (0.8 to 1.1 cubic meters) and has a bucket breakout force of 10,792 pounds-force (4,895 kilograms-force). The loader has a 5-foot (1.52-meter) reach and 10.56 ft (3.22 m) of lift height at the pivot pin. Its top speed exceeds 23 mph (37 km/h).

On the upper end of the trio of wheel loaders, the 103-HP (76-kW) Deere 344 P-Tier weighs 19,533 lbs (8,860 kg) and can use 2.0- to 2.6-cu yd (1.5- to 2.0-cu m) buckets. The new 344 has a bucket breakout force of 16,411 lbf (7443.9 kgf), a reach of 5.38 ft (1.64 m), and a pivot pin height of 12.2 ft (3.72 m). It can travel at nearly 25 mph (40 km/h).

Source: Deere & Company