Both compact · Yanmar against John Deere

Yanmar YT235 vs John Deere 3033R

Yanmar YT235

Yanmar

Yanmar YT235

~$32,899

34.2 hp engine · 27 PTO−21% to the shaft
John Deere 3033R

John Deere

John Deere 3033R

~$32,719

31.8 hp engine · 23 PTO−28% to the shaft

The John Deere 3033R lists about $180 lower; the Yanmar YT235 carries 27 hp to the PTO against 23; the John Deere 3033R lifts 1,393 lbs on the loader against 1,300; the Yanmar YT235 buys more PTO horsepower per dollar, 0.82 per $1,000 against 0.7.

Yanmar YT235 and John Deere 3033R compared row by row. A highlighted cell takes that row on the stated rule: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price.
SpecYanmar YT235John Deere 3033R
Price~$32,899~$32,719
What that price isdealer list, not MSRPMSRP, base build
Size classCompactCompact
TransmissionHydrostaticHydrostatic
Engine hp34.2 hp31.8 hp
PTO hp27 hp23 hp
Loader lift1,300 lbsat the pivot pin1,393 lbsat the pivot pin
Three-point lift1,764 lbsmeasuring point not recorded2,194 lbs24 in behind the lift points
Hydraulic flow11.2 GPM15.3 GPM
Drive4WD4WD
EngineYanmarYanmar
Weight2,558 lbs2,983 lbs
Fuel tank7.4 gal10 gal
4WDYesYes
Front loaderYesYes
Cab availableNoYes
HydrostaticYesYes
Power steeringYesYes
Cruise controlNoYes
Warranty10 yr / 3000 hr powertrain6 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

Yanmar YT235

What they like

  • Yanmar builds the engines in John Deere's compact tractors, so buying a YT235 gets you the same proven powerplant pedigree direct from the source
  • The 10-year/3,000-hour powertrain warranty is the longest in the industry, crushing the 6-year coverage from Deere and Kubota
  • The i-HMT hydrostatic automatically balances engine and travel speed, delivering gear-like efficiency owners consistently praise
  • The 1,764 lb 3-point lift at 24 inches out-muscles a Deere 2038R and most of the 35 HP class
  • 27 PTO HP runs 5-6 foot rotary cutters, tillers, and snowblowers with authority
  • It typically prices below a comparably equipped Deere 2038R or Kubota L3901, with owners citing thousands in savings

What they complain about

  • The Yanmar tractor dealer network is small in much of the US, so service and warranty work can mean a long drive
  • Resale value is unproven compared to Deere and Kubota because the brand's US tractor presence is still young
  • Parts beyond engine components can take longer to arrive than the big-two brands
  • No cab option was offered for years and cab availability is still spotty at dealers
  • The unusual styling and beige-red color scheme isn't for everyone and hurts resale in green-and-orange country
  • Yanmar has lost US dealers in several regions, so confirming there is still a servicing dealer within driving distance matters more here than with the majors

John Deere 3033R

What they like

  • 15.3 gpm total pump flow with 9.1 gpm to implements is two-thirds more than the 3E line manages, which is what makes a backhoe and loader usable on the same machine
  • 2,194 lb at 24 in. behind the lift points, against 1,356 lb on a 3038E costing barely less
  • A factory ComfortGard cab with climate control can be ordered, and nothing in the 3E or 3D lines can
  • The 320R loader lifts 1,393 lb at the pivot pin against the 300E's 1,186 lb, a real step up in the hardware that does the work
  • Cruise control is standard with eHydro, and a 12F/12R PowrReverser gearbox is available instead if you want gears
  • 10 gal of fuel on the open-station build, rising to 12.6 gal with the cab

What they complain about

  • 23 PTO hp with eHydro is the weakest link in the machine - a 3038E costing less puts 30 hp to the PTO
  • It is the only 3R with no turbocharger, so 31.8 hp comes from a naturally aspirated 1.642 L and there is no headroom under load
  • The cab is offered only with eHydro, so the PowrReverser and cab cannot be combined
  • 1,005 lb at 500 mm ahead of the pivot pin is the figure that governs pallet forks, well below the 1,393 lb pin rating that gets quoted
  • Final Tier 4 here means a diesel particulate filter and regeneration cycles
Yanmar YT235 spec sheetJohn Deere 3033R spec sheet