Both compact · same John Deere lineup
John Deere 4052M vs John Deere 4044R
| Spec | John Deere 4052M | John Deere 4044R |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$40,265 | ~$40,864 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Power Shuttle | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 50.8 hp | 43.1 hp |
| PTO hp | 40.8 hp | 32.3 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,396 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,313 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 2,500 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 2,500 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 17.4 GPM | 17.4 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Yanmar |
| Weight | 3,754 lbs | 3,770 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 15 gal | 15 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | Yes |
| Hydrostatic | No | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | Yes |
| 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 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
John Deere 4044R
What they like
- The 440R is mechanically self-levelling, so a loaded pallet stays flat as the boom rises - the 4M's 400E is not
- A ComfortGard cab with heat and air conditioning is a factory option, which nothing in the 4M line offers at any price
- eHydro with LoadMatch and eThrottle is standard equipment, and a 12F/12R PowrReverser is available instead if you prefer gears
- 17.4 gpm total flow with a dedicated 6.2 gpm steering circuit, so the steering never starves the loader
- Cruise control standard, useful on the long mowing passes this size gets bought for
What they complain about
- 32.3 PTO hp with eHydro is less than a 4052M sends to the shaft while costing about $2,000 more, so the money buys the cab option and the loader, not power
- It is the only 4R with no turbocharger, so there is no reserve under a sudden load
- Deere's own published 440R table is internally inconsistent at maximum lift height - it prints the figure measured 500 mm ahead of the pin as higher than the figure at the pin, which is physically backwards, and two dealer reproductions repeat it verbatim
- Fuel drops from 15 gal to 13.8 gal when you order the cab, on a machine that gains 905 lb
- Final Tier 4 here runs both a diesel oxidation catalyst and a diesel particulate filter