Introduction
New Holland’s 300 Series covers skid steers and compact track loaders in eleven models, the versatile loaders that handle so much of the work on a prairie farm: loading, feeding, bedding, material handling, snow, and running attachments. Five are wheeled skid steers, the L-Series, and six are compact track loaders, the C-Series, and choosing between them comes down to a few clear decisions rather than a spec chase. The biggest is wheels versus tracks, then the lift type, then the size and power for your work, and this guide works through them in order.
The short version is that a wheeled skid steer is less expensive to buy and run and faster on hard ground, while a compact track loader has far more flotation and traction on soft, wet, and difficult ground. Within each, radial lift suits digging and lower work, and vertical lift suits loading trucks and stacking high. The right machine depends on your ground, your work, and your budget, and this guide is built to point you to it.
We will work through wheels versus tracks, radial versus vertical lift, and how to size the machine, then finish with full comparison tables for both lines.
Wheels or tracks: the biggest decision
This is the first and most important choice, because it shapes cost, capability, and where the machine can work.
A wheeled skid steer, the L-Series, runs on tires. It costs less to buy and maintain, travels faster on hard ground, and tires are cheaper to replace than tracks. It is the efficient, economical choice for work on firm surfaces, yards, and hard ground. Where it struggles is soft, wet, or muddy ground, where tires sink or spin, and it puts more ground pressure on sensitive surfaces.
A compact track loader, the C-Series, runs on rubber tracks. The tracks spread the machine’s weight for low ground pressure and give far more flotation and traction, so a track loader works on soft, wet, muddy, and snowy ground where a wheeled machine cannot, and it treads more lightly on sensitive ground. The trade-off is cost: a track loader costs more to buy, tracks cost more to replace than tires, and they wear faster on hard, abrasive surfaces.
The decision is mostly about your ground. If you work mostly on firm surfaces and yards, the wheeled L-Series is efficient and economical. If you work often on soft, wet, or difficult ground, the tracked C-Series earns its higher cost. The skid steer vs compact track loader comparison works through this choice in depth.
Radial or vertical lift
The second decision applies to both lines, and it is about the shape of the lift.
Radial lift arcs the loader up and out, reaching furthest at mid-height. It suits digging, grading, and general loader work at lower heights, the kind of work many farms do most, and it is on the entry models, the L318 skid steer and C327 track loader.
Vertical lift raises the load more straight up, reaching highest at full height with good reach out at the top. It suits loading high-sided trucks and hoppers and stacking material high, and it is on the larger models. New Holland’s Super Boom vertical lift, on machines like the L320, gives a high dump height for loading trucks. If your work is loading and stacking high, vertical lift is worth choosing; if it is digging and lower-height work, radial lift suits well.
How much size and power do you need?
The third decision is sizing the machine to your work, and both lines step up from compact to large.
In the wheeled skid steers, the L318 is the compact entry at 60 horsepower, the L320 adds the Super Boom vertical lift, the L321 steps up in capacity, the L328 is a large-frame machine, and the L334 is the most powerful skid steer with an SCR engine and high-flow hydraulics.
In the compact track loaders, the C327 is the radial-lift entry, the C330 adds vertical lift, the C332 and C334 step up in capacity, the C337 is built to lift more including hay bales, and the C345 is the most powerful track loader with an SCR engine and high-flow hydraulics. As a guide, match the size to your heaviest loads and biggest attachments, and remember the larger machines run high-flow attachments like mulchers and cold planers.
New Holland skid steer comparison chart
The five wheeled skid steers in one view.
| Model | Frame | Power | Lift type | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L318 | Compact | 60 hp | Radial | Entry, maneuverable |
| L320 | Compact | See dealer | Super Boom vertical | 91.7 in dump height |
| L321 | Mid | See dealer | Vertical | More capacity |
| L328 | Large | See dealer | Vertical | High-flow options |
| L334 | Large | See dealer | Vertical | Most powerful, SCR |
New Holland compact track loader comparison chart
The six compact track loaders in one view.
| Model | Frame | Lift type | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| C327 | Compact | Radial | Entry, flotation |
| C330 | Mid | Vertical | Loading reach |
| C332 | Mid-large | Vertical | More capacity |
| C334 | Large | Vertical | High-flow options |
| C337 | High-capacity | Vertical | 74 hp, lifts hay bales |
| C345 | Large | Vertical | Most powerful, SCR |
Figures are drawn from New Holland and dealer sources and vary by configuration. All 300 Series machines share the Comfort Deluxe Cab with an 8-inch LCD display and backup camera. Confirm exact specs and current pricing with your dealer.
Which New Holland loader fits your work
For work on firm ground and yards at the lowest cost, a wheeled skid steer fits: the L318 for compact entry work, the L320 for loading trucks with Super Boom, up through the large L328 and L334 for heavy work.
For work on soft, wet, or difficult ground, a compact track loader fits: the C327 for entry flotation, through the mid C330 and C332, to the C337 for hay bales and the top C345 for the heaviest tracked work.
The deciding path is straightforward: choose wheels or tracks by your ground, radial or vertical lift by whether you load high, and the size by your heaviest loads. For competing machines, see the Bobcat skid steer buyer’s guide and Bobcat compact track loader guide, and the full lineup on the New Holland brand page.
Frequently asked questions
How many skid steer and track loader models does New Holland make?
Eleven in the 300 Series: five wheeled skid steers, the L318, L320, L321, L328, and L334, and six compact track loaders, the C327, C330, C332, C334, C337, and C345. They range from compact entry machines to large, high-flow models with SCR engines.
Should I get a New Holland skid steer or a compact track loader?
It depends mostly on your ground. A wheeled skid steer costs less to buy and run and is faster on hard ground, suiting firm surfaces and yards. A compact track loader has far more flotation and traction on soft, wet, and muddy ground, but costs more and wears tracks faster on hard surfaces. If you work often on soft ground, choose tracks; if mostly on firm ground, wheels are more economical.
What is the difference between radial and vertical lift?
Radial lift arcs the loader up and out, suiting digging, grading, and lower-height work, and is on the entry L318 and C327. Vertical lift raises the load more straight up for greater dump height and reach, suiting loading high-sided trucks and stacking, and is on the larger models. New Holland’s Super Boom is a vertical lift with high dump height.
Which New Holland loader is best for hay bales?
Among the track loaders, the C337 is built to lift more, including hay bales, with 74 horsepower and a vertical lift, which suits stacking and hauling heavy round bales on soft ground. Larger skid steers and track loaders also have the capacity for bale work; match the lift and capacity to your bale weight and ground.
Do New Holland skid steers and track loaders share the same cab?
Yes. All 300 Series machines, both skid steers and compact track loaders, share the Comfort Deluxe Cab, one of the widest in the industry, with an 8-inch LCD display, an integrated backup camera, strong visibility, and a choice of mechanical or electro-hydraulic controls.
Which New Holland loader is the most powerful?
Among skid steers, the L334 is the most powerful, and among track loaders, the C345, both with SCR engines and high-flow hydraulics for the heaviest work and most demanding attachments. The C345 adds track flotation for soft ground, while the L334 is more economical on hard ground.
Keep comparing
- Skid steers: L318, L320, L321, L328, L334.
- Track loaders: C327, C330, C332, C334, C337, C345.
- Skid steer vs compact track loader: the wheels versus tracks choice in depth.
- New Holland brand page: the full New Holland lineup on Aglist.
Note: We try our best to keep specs and information accurate, but some details can be missing or different depending on the source. Before you buy, service, or repair equipment, please double-check key specs with the manufacturer, the owner’s manual, or your dealer.
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