Both compact · same John Deere lineup
John Deere 3046R vs John Deere 4052M
| Spec | John Deere 3046R | John Deere 4052M |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$39,600 | ~$40,265 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Power Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 44.7 hp | 50.8 hp |
| PTO hp | 33.9 hp | 40.8 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,393 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,396 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 2,194 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 2,500 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 15.3 GPM | 17.4 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Yanmar |
| Weight | 3,066 lbs | 3,754 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 10 gal | 15 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain | 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
John Deere 3046R
What they like
- Turbocharged and intercooled, the only engine in the 3 Series with a charge cooler, which is how 1.568 L reaches 44.7 hp
- A dedicated 6.2 gpm steering circuit on top of 9.1 gpm to implements means the steering never robs the loader
- Cruise control and eHydro are both standard rather than options
- A ComfortGard cab with air conditioning is a factory choice, and at 4,008 lb equipped it is a serious all-weather machine
- 2,194 lb at 24 in. behind the lift points, matching the rest of the 3R line
What they complain about
- eHydro is the only transmission - there is no gear option at any price, unlike the 3033R and 3039R below it
- At roughly $39,208 on Deere's published base list it costs about $9,500 more than the gear-drive 3043D, which puts more power to the PTO
- The 320R loader is unchanged from the 31.8 hp 3033R at 1,393 lb at the pivot pin, so the whole price step buys engine rather than lift
- 1,005 lb at 500 mm ahead of the pivot pin is the honest working figure on forks, and it has not moved either
- Turbo, intercooler and a diesel particulate filter make this the most complex emissions and induction package in the family
John Deere 4052M
What they like
- The 400E lifts 2,396 lb at the pivot pin against the 3 Series 320R's 1,393 lb, which is the single biggest reason to step up to the 4 Family
- 17.4 gpm total flow with 11.2 gpm to implements, well clear of the 15.3 gpm the 3R line offers
- A 12F/12R PowrReverser is base equipment, so clutchless direction changes come without paying for a hydrostatic
- 40.8 PTO hp with the PowrReverser against 39.1 with the optional eHydro - the standard gearbox is also the stronger one at the shaft
- 15 gal of fuel, half again what a 3R carries
- 2,500 lb at 24 in. behind the link arms, enough for a 7 ft cutter or a decent box blade
What they complain about
- No cab at any price - Deere's own spec table lists the cab row as 'Not applicable' for the whole 4M line, and the cab lives on the dearer 4R
- 1,764 lb at 500 mm ahead of the pivot pin is the figure that actually governs pallet forks, well under the 2,396 lb pin rating
- Deere sells a separate 4052M Heavy Duty with a Category 1 and 2 hitch, a 3,130 lb lift at the link ends and the larger 440R loader, and it lists about $17,000 higher - the standard machine is the lighter-duty half of a two-model split
- Cruise control comes only with the optional eHydro, which also costs you 1.7 PTO horsepower
- Final Tier 4 compliance here means a diesel oxidation catalyst and a diesel particulate filter with regeneration cycles
- Dealer 'starting at' quotes for this model normally bundle the 400E loader, so they do not compare with the bare-tractor figure shown here