Compact against Utility · same John Deere lineup
John Deere 3038E vs John Deere 5050E
| Spec | John Deere 3038E | John Deere 5050E |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$28,730 | ~$27,464 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP for 2WD open station; Deere lists MFWD separately at $7,103 |
| Size class | Compact | Utility |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 36.7 hp | 50 hp |
| PTO hp | 30 hp | 37 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,186 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,606 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 1,356 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 3,192 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 9.3 GPM | 18.2 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | John Deere |
| Weight | 2,668 lbs | 5,809 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 7.5 gal | 19 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain | 5 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
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
John Deere 5050E
What they like
- 3,192 lb at 24 in. behind the lift points on a Category 2 hitch convertible to Category 1, well beyond anything in the compact range
- Deere builds the PowerTech 3029 EWR itself, so engine parts and service knowledge do not depend on an outside supplier the way the Yanmar-powered compacts do
- Final Tier 4 without a diesel particulate filter, so there is no regeneration cycle to sit through - the whole 5E line is marketed on this
- 18.2 gpm of pump flow and 19 gal of fuel, both roughly double what a 3 Series carries
- Five years or 2,000 hours of powertrain coverage
- At 5,809 lb in 4WD it has the mass to use a Category 2 implement properly rather than being dragged by it
What they complain about
- Deere's published list price is for a 2WD open-station machine; the MFWD front axle that makes it four-wheel drive is a $7,103 option on the same Deere price page
- The 9F/3R SyncShuttle is the only transmission offered on this model - the PowrReverser and eHydro available on the 5060E and 5067E are not on its order sheet
- No cab is offered on the 5050E at all, unlike every larger 5E
- 37 PTO hp from 50 gross is a modest conversion, and less than a compact 4066M delivers for similar money
- No cruise control, and the operator station is plain next to a 4R compact costing about the same