John Deere vs Bobcat Loaders: 320 P-Tier and S64-2

Updated October 27, 2026

The John Deere 320 P-Tier and Bobcat S64-2 differ in published width, rated operating capacity and equipment options. Bobcat lists a narrower machine body and a slightly higher base rated operating capacity.

For hydraulic flow, Deere labels its standard figure as pump flow; Bobcat labels its figure as auxiliary standard flow. Neither figure is a measurement at the same attachment. Use the actual bucket and options to build a shortlist; these specifications do not establish which loader will complete your work faster or cost less to own.

This comparison covers two wheeled skid-steer loaders. It uses current US manufacturer information, rather than a hands-on test. If you are choosing between a tractor with a front loader, a skid steer, a compact track loader or a wheel loader, start with the machine-class comparison. Those machines should not be ranked in one capacity table.

Published specifications: compare the configuration as well as the number

Sources: Deere’s US 320 P-Tier page, the 320 P-Tier brochure, MK320PAM (26-06), and Bobcat’s US S64-2 page. The Deere product page provides the flow figures above; its brochure rounds them to 21 and 30 gpm.

These are published specifications with configuration limits, not a matched test of two delivered machines. Neither the higher capacity figure nor the higher flow figure proves a universal winner.

Narrow access: measure the bucket, not just the body

The S64-2’s listed 64.6-inch overall width is useful when screening a narrow route. Bobcat also lists a 68-inch standard bucket. A 66-inch gate would therefore not pass that listed bucket merely because the machine-body number is below 66 inches. That is a dimension comparison, not a recommendation to operate with minimal clearance.

Deere lists the 320 P-Tier at 69.5 inches without a bucket. Get the complete width of the actual attachment, together with the required operating clearance, before treating either machine as a fit. Check the whole route and the work area, rather than only the entrance.

Record accessible site dimensions before the machine arrives. Keep measurements separate from any lifting or operating decision; do not enter a raised loader’s working area to measure clearance.

Equipment & supplies

Optional tape measure for access notes

An optional measuring accessory for site notes. Dimensions alone do not establish operating clearance or attachment compatibility.

• 

  Komelon Self Lock tape measure

  Record an accessible gate opening and ground-level site dimensions before comparing the loader and bucket envelope.

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Truck loading: hinge-pin height does not tell the whole story

The 320 P-Tier has a vertical-lift boom, according to Deere’s brochure. Its 122.2-inch hinge-pin height is higher than the S64-2’s published 120 inches, but that does not settle whether either configuration can load your receiving vehicle.

Deere’s own table shows why the bucket matters. The 320 P-Tier’s listed dump height is 97.7 inches with a foundry bucket and 91.0 inches with a construction bucket. That is a 6.7-inch difference within the same loader model. The corresponding listed dump reaches are 29.2 and 36.4 inches. Do not pair the best height from one bucket with the reach from the other as though they describe a single configuration.

Match the intended bucket, receiving-side height and required reach. Have the supplier confirm the applicable configuration and operating limits. For the distinction between rated capacity, measurement point and breakout force, use the loader-specification guide.

Powered attachments: a high-flow option must be on the actual machine

Deere publishes 20.7 gpm as standard pump flow for the 320 P-Tier; Bobcat labels its S64-2 figure of 17.6 gpm as auxiliary standard flow. Their optional high-flow figures are 29.6 and 26.9 gpm respectively. These are catalogue values, rather than a measurement of flow delivered to the same attachment. The standard and optional figures also describe different equipment configurations.

If a powered attachment drives the purchase, compare its manufacturer-approved carrier requirements with the machine being offered. A high-flow number on a model webpage does not show that a used example has that option, and a flow match alone does not establish attachment compatibility. Ask the supplier to identify the machine, attachment and fitted options together.

Controls and comfort: compare the quoted packages

Deere’s brochure describes EH ISO-pattern joystick controls and a two-speed transmission as standard on the 320 P-Tier. It describes items such as a rearview camera, ride control, hydraulic self-leveling and high flow as options.

Bobcat lists two-speed travel as standard on the current S64-2. Its page describes Selectable Joystick Controls in the feature overview, but its specification list labels joystick control as optional. That discrepancy makes the individual offer’s control package a question to resolve, rather than a feature to assume.

During a supplier-arranged demonstration, compare entry, seating, sightlines and the controls fitted to the two actual machines. A manufacturer’s description of comfort does not establish which cab suits your operator or which machine is quieter in a matched test.

Ownership cost: compare complete offers before comparing brands

The published specifications do not establish a fuel-consumption, repair-cost or resale-value winner. They also do not support a fixed percentage productivity saving. Treat any such claim as a separate evidence question.

Request itemized offers for the configurations you would actually buy:

• machine condition;
• cab and controls;
• tires;
• bucket or other attachment;
• hydraulic options;
• delivery;
• warranty;
• the required service information.

For a used machine, obtain its identification and service history before accepting a model-specific parts recommendation. The loader buying guide helps compare the complete scope of an offer.

Deere’s brochure includes regional engine/emission variants and an optional turbocharged engine. Do not choose a filter kit or other engine part from the name “320 P-Tier” alone. Confirm the applicable machine/engine identity and OEM part number before comparing an Amazon replacement.

Which machine belongs on your shortlist?

• Investigate the S64-2 for a narrow site: its published body width is smaller, but use the actual bucket or attachment envelope and required clearance.
• For a powered attachment: compare both offered machines against the attachment maker’s approved carrier requirements. Keep Deere’s pump-flow and Bobcat’s auxiliary-flow labels with their figures, and verify high flow on the actual machine.
• For truck or hopper loading: compare the actual dump height and reach together. A hinge-pin-height advantage is not enough.
• For operator fit and ownership cost: compare the specific packages, demonstration and documented offers. The specification table cannot answer those questions by itself.

If completed loads per hour are the deciding measure, define the same load, route, receiving event and timing boundary for both candidates. The loader-cycle measurement guide explains that separate comparison. A top-speed figure is not a substitute for it.

Does this comparison apply to the older Bobcat S64?

No. The Bobcat model used here is the current S64-2. Keep the exact model designation and fitted equipment when comparing an older S64 offer; do not silently transfer the current model’s specification table to it.