Deere’s newest compact wheel loaders

These all new compact loaders from John Deere feature their Articulation Plus Steering System, a new loader arm and coupler design, and speeds that make for some pretty quick moves. Add in the 324L's optional High-Lift configuration, and these compact loaders could make a significant contribution to a company's bottom line.

The 244L and 324 L offer operators increased productivity and significantly faster travel speeds, and are ideally suited to landscape/snow removal and construction tasks. These new models round out the company's full line of L-Series compact wheel loaders.

"Our next generation of compact wheel loaders was designed to meet the needs of industry professionals who are demanding higher performance from their machines," said Drew Miller, product marketing manager, compact wheel loaders, John Deere Construction & Forestry. "Tailor-made for tight spaces, the 244L and 324L use our proprietary Articulation Plus system to provide greater stability and yield more lifting power while turning tighter."

John Deere says that their Articulation Plus steering system on the 244L and 324L provides operators with an unparallelled combination of lift capacity and maneuverability. It includes an articulated frame plus rear-wheel steer, which provide excellent full-turn tip load and stability with a tight turning radius. 

A newly optimized linkage provides improved parallel lifting, with only 6 degrees of rollback. The 244L achieves an 8-foot 3-inch (2,520-mm) full-lift dump height and a full-turn tip load of 8,157 pounds (3,700 kg), while the 324L with high lift reaches a 10-foot 3-inch (3,130-mm) height; and standard lift is capable of a full-turn top load of 9,766 pounds (4,430 kg).

To increase productivity, the new models allow operators to move faster without having to manually shift the machine. A smooth auto shift hydrostatic transmission is coupled with an automatic two-speed gearbox, which provides a faster travel speed of up to 23 mph - a 21 percent increase in speed over the K-Series models. Both models are equipped with 73-hp (54-kW) Tier 4 Final engines. 

Knowing a comfortable operator is a productive operator, the 244L and 324L models offer a redesigned cab. An optional air ride, high-back operator seat ensures a smooth ride. Better visibility to the loader arm and bucket, and interior layout of the switches and gauges, improves overall efficiency. 

For greater uptime, a rear enclosure provides better debris management, while a revamped cooling package improves air flow. This is ideal for tasks that require longer run times in high airborne debris applications, like agriculture and light material handling. 

To keep operating costs at a minimum, rim pull control extends tire life by allowing customers to adjust the torque of the machine to the conditions of their jobsites, saving tire and driveline life.