Addressing the needs of customers looking for compact solutions on the jobsite, John Deere has expanded its Performance Tiering offerings with the shift from L-Series to P-Tier for the 244, 324 and 344 Compact Wheel Loader models. The new P-Tier compact wheel loaders will carry over all L-Series capabilities and will introduce new features, including standard ride control in base models and optional factory-installed features, including an auto-reversing fan option.
Additional optional features include attachment assist controls, which include integrated electrical (three-pin) controls for attachments and combined creep control and throttle lock.
“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, John Deere.
Previously offered as an optional upgrade on L-Series models, ride control is now standard on all P-Tier compact wheel loaders. Designed for customers moving materials over long distances or on hard surfaces, ride control cushions boom movements during transport, acting like a shock absorber to help minimize material spillage. This feature is applied with a flip of a switch in the cab and can be set to automatically engage and disengage at a predetermined speed.
In addition, P-Tier compact wheel loaders continue to feature Articulation Plus, which enables rear-wheel steering to facilitate full-turn tipping load and maneuverability. This steering system combines 30 degrees of standard articulation with an additional 10 degrees of rear-wheel steering. Articulation Plus also provides a high full-turn tipping load; the machine does not need to articulate as much to turn. This feature results in a tight turning radius.
The upgraded combined creep control and throttle lock found within the attachment assist controls package allows customers to run their machines with higher RPMs and lower ground speeds with overall fewer manual inputs when using attachments. Pause and resume functions can be used for reactivating the feature after a change in direction or switch to neutral.
An additional feature now offered on P-Tier compact wheel loaders is an optional auto-reversing fan, which is a solution for customers operating on sites filled with debris or dust. This solution is also for applications in agriculture, aggregates and site development. The fan can be turned on and off from the console in the cab. The operator can also control the fan’s time intervals by holding down the switch.
