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The Compact Series Gators, also introduced in 2004, are smaller and more like a golf cart in size and operation. They are targeted at homeowners rather than commercial customers.Within the Gator family of vehicles, John Deere produces several lines. They are the Traditional Series, the High Performance (HPX) Series, the Compact Series, and the XUV Series. It also offers several specialty vehicles including the more off-road-oriented Trail Gator, which is olive in color to better serve recreational and sporting uses. The Turf Gator is specially designed to serve golf courses. The M-Gator is a militarized variant used by the U.S. Army.

The M-Gator has also been developed into an unmanned ground vehicle, known as the R-Gator. It was developed by John Deere and iRobot. It is capable of autonomous operations such as waypoint following with obstacle avoidance, and following dismounted infantry soldiers, as well as other vehicles.In 2016, the U.S. rated its fleet of military UTVs, indicated as ‘LTATV’ (Lightweight Tactical All Terrain Vehicles), including the M-Gator A1 and M-Gator A3 at 1,100 lb (500 kg) for 4×4 units, and at 1,200 lb (540 kg) payload capacity for 6-wheeled units.The Turf Vehicles series features the Gator TX, Gator TE, and the ProGator vehicles. The ProGators are intended for heavy-duty farm work, while the TX and TE are for niche industrial duties where quiet vehicles are desired, such as golf courses. The TE is an electric vehicle.

In 1997 to 1998, the 261st Area Support Medical Battalion of the 44th Medical Brigade brought a Gator to Bosnia for Operation SFOR2. It was an off-the-shelf commercial version Gator that was painted in camouflage and equipped with a carrying tray on its hood, as well as brackets to hold rifles. Its main purpose was for casualty evacuation, and it could hold two litters on the rear deck. It came in handy for utility work as well, and was used mostly by the medical supply section for transporting supplies and equipment.The Gator XUV 4×4 was introduced in 2007 as a more extreme-use Gator, for both commercial and recreational use. These models are often set up with snow plows and have severe use in the industry. The model comes with either gasoline or diesel engine choices.

In response to an ever competitive market, Deere expanded the XUV line-up in 2011 to include an 825 cc, three-cylinder gas engine as an option to the current 625 cc engine. The 825 also sported a faster differential that allows the machine to reach speeds up 70 km (45 mi) per hour. In addition, they kept the diesel offering, but boosted the machines’ speed to 32 mph, then the fastest diesel utility vehicle in the market. The three machines also underwent a styling overhaul and a redesigned box.The Gator vehicles use small but powerful 341 cc (0.341 L) four-stroke engines found in lawn mowers, or an optional diesel engine that is also found in some Deere mowers and utility tractors. They use a continuously variable transmission employing a belt and a conical pulley system. Thus, they require no clutch or gear shifts to operate. Many third-party attachments are available for the Gator, including snow plows, sanders, and gun racks. The recommended maximum payload capacity is 600 lb (272 kg). The Gator’s predecessor, the AMT (short for “all-materials transporter”), was designed to easily be loaded into the back of a pickup truck to be transported to various remote and/or hard to get to location that conventional means such as towing a trailer would prove dangerous or troublesome. The first and second-generation AMT models were simple, easy to maintain, and easy to fix on site.

In 1997, the U.S. Army adopted a version of the Gator known as the M-Gator. The M-Gator is now also in use with the U.S. Marine Corps. Following the upgrades of the original Gator, it is known in its current version as the M-Gator A1, and features upgrades such as rollover protection. It is the 6×4 variant, and uses the three-cylinder Yanmar diesel engine found in other Gator vehicles, and is also capable of using JP-8 fuel. The vehicle is capable of being air-dropped. The Gator has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan for supply deliveries and casualty evacuation, as it is more nimble off-road than an HMMWV. Although the M-Gator was not designed to carry equipment in the field, troops would put their gear onto the vehicles to lighten their loads when an M-Gator was available to them. M-Gators are also used by Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.The company produced its first combine harvester, the John Deere No. 2, in 1927. This featured improvements and modifications to Model D such as higher power level due to increased cylinder bore. A year later, this innovation was followed up by the introduction of John Deere No. 1, a smaller machine that was more popular with customers. By 1929, the No. 1 and No. 2 were replaced by newer, lighter-weight harvesters. In the 1930s, John Deere and other farm equipment manufacturers began developing hillside harvesting technology. Harvesters now had the ability to effectively use their combines to harvest grain on hillsides with up to a 50% slope gradient.

John Deere leasing has expanded to non-equipment loans. As of 2017, this is the leading division of John Deere. With a loan portfolio of $2 billion, it accounts for a third of John Deere’s income.

In 1983, Deere introduced the 4050, 4250, 4450, 4650, and 4850. These tractors were essentially the same machines as the Iron Horses they replaced, but with significant upgrades. They offered a new 15-speed PowerShift transmission and were available with an optional mechanical front-wheel drive featuring caster action for better traction and a tighter turning radius. They also featured cosmetic upgrades, including a new light brown cab interior, instead of the black interior on previous models. These tractors were followed by the mechanically similar 55 and 60 series tractors before they were replaced by Deere’s completely redesigned 7000 and 8000 series tractors in the early 1990s.John Deere farm equipment has been criticised for being impossible to be serviced or repaired by owners or third parties; only John Deere has access to computer code required for this and to accept non-John-Deere replacement parts. Remote locking by the manufacturer may also be possible. This effectively makes the equipment unusable without the continued involvement of John Deere. It was reported that during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Russian troops stole Ukrainian farm equipment, but that the dealers who owned the equipment locked it remotely.

The traditional way of doing business was to make the product as and when it was ordered. This style was very slow. As Deere realized that this was not going to be a viable business model, he increased the rate of production by manufacturing plows before putting them up for sale; this allowed customers to not only see what they were buying beforehand but also allowed his customers to purchase his products straight away. Word of his products began to spread quickly.Deere & Company began when John Deere, born in Rutland, Vermont, United States, on February 7, 1804, moved to Grand Detour, Illinois in 1836, to escape bankruptcy in Vermont. Already an established blacksmith, Deere opened a 1,378-square-foot (128 m) shop in Grand Detour in 1837, which allowed him to serve as a general repairman in the village, as well as a manufacturer of tools such as pitchforks and shovels. Tools were just a start; the item that set him apart was the self-scouring steel plow, which was pioneered in 1837 when John Deere fashioned a Scottish steel saw blade into a plow. Prior to Deere’s steel plow, most farmers used iron or wooden plows to which the rich Midwestern soil stuck, so they had to be cleaned frequently. Deere created a highly polished steel surface that allowed the soil to slide easily. This tool addressed the difficulty of tilling the Prairie State’s soil and greatly aided migration into the American Great Plains in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 1842, Deere entered a business partnership with Leonard Andrus and purchased land for the construction of a new, two-story factory along the Rock River in Illinois. This factory, named the “L. Andrus Plough Manufacturer”, produced about 100 plows in 1842, and around 400 plows during the next year. Deere’s partnership with Andrus ended in 1848, and Deere relocated to Moline, Illinois, to have access to the railroad and the Mississippi River. There, Deere formed a partnership with Robert Tate and John Gould and built a 1,440-square-foot (134 m) factory the same year. Production rose quickly, and by 1849, the Deere, Tate & Gould Company was producing over 200 plows a month. A two-story addition to the plant was built, allowing further production.In January 2022, the company introduced a self-driving tractor at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, designed for large-scale farming as opposed to existing comparable tractors designed for small-scale agriculture. It was part of a larger effort to develop so-called smart machines to make farming faster and more efficient than it would be relying on human labor, including through software, which would mean higher margins. The company said it wanted to “connect 1.5 million machines in service and a half billion acres in use to its cloud-based John Deere Operations Center.”

The magazine grew rapidly, and in 1990, bowing to public demand, it became a monthly. Circulation continued to increase, and currently hovers around 30,000. The magazine now generally contains 88 full-color pages and is perfect bound. It is now printed in Michigan and mailed from several post offices throughout the country.

In 1989, Deere replaced the 6620, 7720, and 8820 with a new line of completely redesigned ‘Maximizer’ combines that included the 9400, 9500, and 9600 walker combines. These combines featured a center-mounted cab, rear-mounted engine, and more comforts in the cab. Also in 1989, Deere was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In 1997, Deere celebrated 50 years of self-propelled combine production, and the 1997 models featured a 50th-anniversary decal. In 1998, the 9410, 9510, and 9610 were introduced. These were essentially the same machines, but with minor upgrades. Deere dealers offered ’10 series’ upgrades to owners of older 9000 series Maximizer combines. In 1999, Deere introduced the 50 series Maximizer combines. These machines featured significant cosmetic upgrades including a more streamlined appearance, improved ergonomics in the cab, PTO shaft-style header hook-up, and the larger models were available as rotary machines which were a complete departure from the combines that Deere had built in the past.Deere bought out Tate and Gould’s interests in the company in 1853, and was joined in the business by his son Charles Deere. At that time, the company was manufacturing a variety of farm equipment products in addition to plows, including wagons, corn planters, and cultivators. In 1857, the company’s production totals reached almost 1,120 implements per month. In 1858, a nationwide financial recession took a toll on the company. To prevent bankruptcy, the company was reorganized and Deere sold his interests in the business to his son-in-law, Christopher Webber, and his son, Charles Deere, who would take on most of his father’s managerial roles. John Deere served as president of the company until his retirement in April 1886, but died one month later in May 1886. The company was reorganized again in 1868 when it was incorporated as Deere & Company. While the company’s original stockholders were Charles Deere, Stephen Velie, George Vinton, and John Deere, Charles effectively ran the company. In 1869, Charles began to introduce marketing centers and independent retail dealers to advance the company’s sales nationwide. This same year, Deere & Company won “Best and Greatest Display of Plows in Variety” at the 17th Annual Illinois State Fair, for which it won $10 and a silver medal.During World War II, the great-grandson of John Deere, Charles Deere Wiman, was president of the company, but he accepted a commission as a colonel in the U.S. Army. Burton F. Peek was hired as president during this period. Before Wiman returned to work at the company in late 1944, he directed the farm machinery and equipment division of the War Production Board. In addition to farm machinery, John Deere manufactured military tractors, and transmissions for the M3 tank. They also made aircraft parts, ammunition, and mobile laundry units to support the war effort.John Deere manufactures a range of forestry machinery, among others, harvesters, forwarders, skidders, feller bunchers and log loaders. Timberjack was a subsidiary of John Deere from 2000 to 2006.

Deere & Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DE. The company’s slogan is “Nothing Runs Like a Deere”, and its logo is a leaping deer, with the words ‘JOHN DEERE’ under it. Various logos incorporating a leaping deer have been used by the company for over 155 years. Deere & Company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois.In the last months of 1958, John Deere constructed a factory in northern Rosario, Argentina. In Argentina, the make was managed by Agar Cross & Co. John Deere made the following models of tractors in Argentina: 445, 730; the models of the series 20 like 1420, 2420, 3420, 4420; the models of the serie 30 like 2330, 2530, 2730, 3330, 3530, 4530; the models of the serie 40 like 2140, 3140 / 3140 DT, 3440, 3540 and the last made in Baigorria of the serie 50 like 2850, 3350, 3550 until 1994. Seventeen years later, (in 2011) the Argentinian plant returns the assembly of tractors with the following models: 5036C, 5045D (45 HP) Serie 5D, 5045E (45 HP) Serie 5E, 5065E (65 HP) Serie 5E, 5075E (75 HP) Serie 5E, 5425N (77 HP) Serie 5000, 5725 (92 HP) Serie 5025, 5725HC (92 HP) Serie 5025, 5090E, 5090EH, 5076EF, 6110J, 6130J, 6145J and 6165J. In September 2017, Deere & Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire Blue River Technology, which is based in Sunnyvale, California, and is applying machine learning to agriculture. Blue River has designed and integrated computer vision and machine learning technology that will enable growers to reduce the use of herbicides by spraying only where weeds are present. Since entering the tractor business in 1918, John Deere had focused on two-cylinder machines. The New Generation of Power introduced at Deere Day in Dallas was very different from anythi
ng Deere had built before. The new line of four- and six-cylinder tractors, the models 1010, 2010, 3010, and 4010, were more far more powerful than Deere’s two-cylinder models, and also easier and more comfortable to operate, with conveniently located controls, better visibility, and improved seat suspension. These new tractors were also easier to service.

The 4010 was rated at 80 horsepower in 1960, but tested at 84 horsepower during testing trials, making it one of the most powerful two-wheel-drive farm tractors at that time. The 4010 was the predecessor to the 4020, which is widely regarded as the most popular tractor ever produced by John Deere, and perhaps any tractor manufacturer in the United States. Although the 4020, which was available with Deere’s optional Power Shift, enjoyed greater popularity, the 4010 moved John Deere into the modern era of farm tractor technology and design following its successful history as a tractor manufacturer that was by the late 1950s experiencing waning market share due to its outdated technology.In 1947, John Deere introduced its first self-propelled combine, model 55. It was soon followed by the smaller models 40 and 45, the larger model 95, and an even larger model 105 was introduced in the 1960s. In the mid-1950s, Deere introduced attachable corn heads, allowing crop producers to cut, shell, and clean corn in one smooth operation.

Deere & Company ranked No. 84 in the 2022 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations. Their different tractor series include D series, E series, Speciality Tractors, Super Heavy Duty Tractors, and JDLink.In 1973, Deere introduced its new ‘Soundguard’ tractors, the 4030, 4230, 4430, and 4630. While these tractors were mechanically similar to the New Generation tractors they replaced, and the 4230, 4430, and 4630 used a 404-cubic-inch displacement engine like the 4020, they featured redesigned sheet metal and most importantly they were available with an optional completely integrated operator’s cab that John Deere called the Sound Gard body. This insulated cab that included a roll-over protective structure had a distinctive rounded windshield and came equipped with heat and air conditioning, as well as speakers for an optional radio. An 8-track tape player was also available as an option. The 5020 was replaced by the very similar 6030 and continued in production with New Generation styling until 1977 when the 30 Series tractors were replaced by Deere’s ‘Iron Horses’ series that included the 90-hp 4040, 110-hp 4240, 130-hp 4440, 150-HP 4640, and 180-hp 4840. The 4240, 4440, 4640, and 4840 featured a new 466-cubic-inch displacement engine, and improvements to the cab including an optional hydraulic seat for a smoother ride. The Sound Gard body and Power Shift transmission were standard equipment on the 4840.

In addition to the advanced engine technology, the “10” series tractors offered many other upgrades from the older two-cylinder models they replaced, including significantly higher horsepower-to-weight ratio, advanced hydraulics, more convenient and comfortable operator stations, and many other improvements. Of the “10” series John Deere tractors introduced in 1960, the 4010 was by far the most popular, with more than 58,000 units sold from 1960 to 1963. The success of the “10” series John Deere tractors, led by the 4010, helped propel John Deere from a 23% market share in 1959 to 34% by 1964 when the 4020 was introduced, making it the top manufacturer of farm equipment in the United States. The logo of the leaping deer has been used by this company for over 155 years. Over the years, the logo has had minor changes and pieces removed. Some of the older style logos have the deer leaping over a log. The company uses different logo colors for agricultural vs. construction products. The company’s agricultural products are identifiable by a distinctive shade of green paint, with the inside border being yellow. While the construction products are identifiable by a shade of black with the deer being yellow, and the inside border also being yellow. On August 29, 2019, it was announced that Samuel R. Allen will step down as CEO and president of John Deere. John May, president of the Worldwide Agriculture and Turf and Integrated Solutions divisions will replace him in November 2019.The first issue was mailed in early November 1984 to 135 paid subscribers and had 10 black-and-white pages with features on tractors, letters from readers, and advertisements. At the time, the magazine was published bimonthly. It was written in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it was mailed from the Bee post office.

Other products the company manufactures include consumer and commercial equipment such as lawn mowers, compact utility tractors, snow throwers, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and StarFire (a wide-area differential GPS). It is also a supplier of diesel engines and powertrains (axles, transmissions, etc.) used especially in heavy equipment.

In the 1962 Illinois Manufacturers Directory (50th-anniversary edition), John Deere, listed as Deere and Company, claimed a total workforce of 35,000, of which 9,000 were in Illinois. The corporate headquarters were located at 1325 Third Ave. in Moline, Illinois, with six manufacturing plants located around that city and a seventh plant in Hoopeston, Illinois. The six plants in Moline were listed as:The John Deere Vermilion Works was located at North Sixth Ave., Hoopeston, Illinois, where 140 employees were listed as making iron work and implement parts. Moline, with 42,705 residents in 1962, had the local 7,000 employees of John Deere represent 16% of the city’s entire population.In the late 1970s, International Harvester had pioneered rotary combines with their Axial flow machines and were soon followed by other manufacturers, but Deere continued to build only conventional walker combines through the 1980s and 1990s. In 1999, John Deere introduced the Single-Tine Separation (STS) system on its 9550, 9650, and 9750 combines, representing a step forward in rotary combine technology. The STS system uses less horsepower and improves material handling.

Current content usually includes a “Tip of the Month” article covering New Generation restoration written by Dan Brotzman, a “Youngtimer” article written by Tyler Buchheit, “Shop Talk” by Ron and JoAnn O’Neill, “Saw It On eBay” by Adam Smith and Benjamin Hain, “Scale Models” by Bill Proft, “What’s New and Old” by Greg Stephen, “Feature Model” by Benjamin Hain, “Do You Have One of These” by Richard Hain, and “Mr. Thinker”, which is said to be written by “a variety of experts”.On an episode of the Travel Channel series Made in America that profiled Deere & Company, host John Ratzenberger stated that the company never repossessed any equipment from American farmers during the Great Depression.

Deere & Company, doing business as John Deere (/ˈdʒɒnˈdɪər/), is an American corporation that manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains (axles, transmissions, gearboxes) used in heavy equipment, and lawn care equipment. The company also provides financial services and other related activities.According to information released by the company at the time of the event, John Deere dealers and key employees came to Dallas via the “largest commercial airlift of its type ever attempted”. During the 24 hours leading up to the event, 16 airlines brought Deere employees and salespeople from all over the United States and Canada to Love Field in Dallas. Bill Hewitt, then chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, welcomed the dealers and introduced the new tractors. Hewitt told the guests they were about to see “a line of entirely new tractors – completely modern in every respect – with outstanding features not duplicated in any other make of tractor”.

While ITP makes more aggressive mud tires than the Mud Lite II, we figure most John Deere Gators will not be used to tackle the deepest and nastiest mud holes. However, a lot of folks work in fields that can get pretty slick in the spring and fall and a tire with a little extra bite can make a world of difference. The ITP Mud Lite II uses the same basic tread pattern as the original Mud Lite AT, but with a little traction and slightly deeper lugs. The Mud Lite II also features a directional tread that works well in the slop and offers a reasonably smooth ride on hard pack terrain. Tread depth varies from ¾ to 1-1/8 inches deep, depending on tire size, and the tire features a 6-ply rated carcass for added durabilityThe John Deere Gator series of Utility Terrain Vehicles has become a staple in the industry over the past two-and-a-half decades, and that’s great news if you find yourself shopping for replacement John Deere Gator tires. The product line has so much clout that it’s all but impossible for tire manufacturers to ignore, which means there is an abundance of competitive, high-quality tires for John Deere Gator on the market, spanning a range of price points and terrain specialties.

Whether this is your first time shopping for new John Deere Gator tires, or you’re just looking to switch things up this next time around, we’ve put together this handy guide with our top picks for the best Gator tires on the market.You probably know Hoosier tires from their icon status in the world of drag racing, but did you know they also make multi-terrain tires for mowers, golf carts, UTVs, and the like? These certainly aren’t the most hardcore John Deere Gator tires on this list, but they provide plenty of usable off-road traction for tackling the hills on your property, and the tread design has been carefully crafted to minimize damage to your lawn. Contrary to the sort of tires Hoosier is best known for, call this the “practical” option.

As you’re shopping, it’s important to keep in mind that the goals of a Utility UTV tire are generally quite different from those of the average ATV tire. Utility UTVs tend to be heavier and more work-focused, with relatively high payload and tow ratings, so whatever you get, you’ll want to be sure that it can support adequate weight. Further, because of their less recreational focus, Utility UTVs seldom need the sort of hardcore, high-speed-performance mud-terrain tires that ATVs and Sport UTVs often do best on.The last of the John Deere Gator tires on our list are another model from Carlisle – and deservedly so. Similar to the Hoosier Super Turf, the Carlisle Turf Trac R/S was designed with the goal of providing maximum traction with minimal destruction to your lawn, and they’re so popular among round-shoulder UTV tires, we might even say no list would be complete without them. They’re available in a few different sizes and ply ratings, but for their durability and puncture-resistance, we recommend the 4-ply for your John Deere Gator.

Featuring a busy, complex tread design with a high number of tread blocks per square inch, these heavy 4-ply G003 all-terrain turf tires from SunF are compatible with most terrain types your liable to come across, with extra shoulder knobs designed to minimize the risk of sidewall damage. They won’t coddle your lawn quite like the Hoosier Super Turf tires listed above, but what you lose in lawn protection, you gain in outright traction.We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works.