Both compact · Bobcat against John Deere
Bobcat CT2035 vs John Deere 3038E
| Spec | Bobcat CT2035 | John Deere 3038E |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$28,653 | ~$28,730 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 34.9 hp | 36.7 hp |
| PTO hp | 29.4 hp | 30 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,389 lbsat max height | 1,186 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 1,631 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 1,356 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 11.4 GPM | 9.3 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Daedong | Yanmar |
| Weight | 3,005 lbs | 2,668 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 9 gal | 7.5 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | not published | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
Bobcat CT2035
What they like
- 29.4 PTO hp on the hydrostatic build turns a 6 ft rotary cutter or a mid-size tiller without lugging
- An 8.4 ft turning radius on a 62.4 in wide, 3,005 lb machine is tight for the class
- Three-range hydrostatic, or a manual-shift build that raises PTO output to 30.8 hp
- The identical chassis is sold as the CT2535 with a factory cab, so the platform is not a dead end if heat and A/C become a priority later
- 1,631 lb at 24 in behind the lift point covers a full Category 1 implement set
What they complain about
- Loader lift moves only from 1,369 to 1,389 lb at max height over the CT2025 - ten extra engine horsepower buys 20 lb of lift
- Hydraulic flow is unchanged at 11.4 gpm total, so loader cycle times do not improve either
- The 9 gal tank is carried over from the 24.5 hp CT2025 but is now feeding a hungrier engine
- Emissions hardware is not stated on the model page, so whether a particulate filter and its regeneration cycle are fitted has to be confirmed at the dealer
- The cab version costs $12,520 more than the open-station build
- No warranty term is published on the page
John Deere 3038E
What they like
- 30 PTO hp turns a 6 ft rotary cutter, which the 3032E at 25 PTO hp cannot do comfortably
- The extra 446 lb over the 3032E is useful ballast with a loaded 300E bucket up front
- Turbocharged out of 1.568 L, a smaller engine than the 3032E's 1.642 L yet 5.5 hp stronger
- Same 300E quick-attach loader and same 6 yr / 2,000 hr powertrain terms as the rest of the 3 Series
- Published Deere base list around $28,730 puts it roughly $2,000 under the hydrostatic 3033R for only 1.1 hp less
What they complain about
- Hydraulics do not change with the power: still 9.3 gpm total and 5.3 gpm to implements, the same as the 25 PTO hp 3032E
- 1,356 lb at 24 in. behind the link arms is unchanged too, and it is the lowest hitch rating of any 36 hp compact here
- Still 7.5 gal of fuel on a heavier, thirstier engine, so range drops rather than holding steady
- No cab, and cruise control is an option rather than standard
- Turbo plus a diesel particulate filter on a machine with no cab and no flow increase - the complexity arrives without the comfort