Ryobi 18V 3/8″ & 1/4″ 4 Position Ratchet P344 PRC01B

Ryobi has launched another 18V cordless tool and it is the 18V 3/8″ 4 Position Ratchet P344! Edit (7/5/20) Ryobi has also made a 1/4″ version of this ratchet as well model number PRC01B .

3/8″ model

This isn’t the first time Ryobi has come out with a cordless 18 volt ratchet as it’s been available in part as a Jobplus attachment for their Jobplus motor head unit and you can read more about that specific model here, but with the P344, this is the first time Ryobi made a standalone 3/8″ ratchet tool and now with a similar 1/4″ drive model PRC01B.

1/4″ model

It may remind you of the sister brand Milwaukee’s M12 offering, specifically the brushed model and you’d be correct as both are made by TTI and offer similar performance. Ryobi’s 18V 3/8{ ratchet offers a similar 35 ft-lbs of torque just like the M12 brushed motor version and not the 55 ft-lbs of the brushless Fuel version. RPM’s are very similar on the Ryobi however a tad less at 230 max RPM. While the Ryobi 18V 1/4″ drive model offers up to 30 ft-lbs of torque.

There are a couple of features that are added to Ryobi’s models with the main one being a rotating head that can rotate and lock in 4 different positions to help in difficult spots. The second area is that while the M12 ratchet has one LED light, Ryobi’s units have two LED’s which illuminate but the bottom and upper section at a time that are said to cover and illuminate any position the head is in.

They use a variable speed paddle switch to operate and although it’s not mentioned in the HD site or Ryobi site, the manual makes mention of an adapter storage area that’s built into the top of the battery holder. One of the pictures shows the adapter being used, image below, although no mention of what it adapts to. We see the ratchet driving something very small in that image so maybe it might be an adapter to use 1/4″ hex bits for use with driving bits? I’m not sure but that might be one possibility.

The 3/8″ model is available now and is priced at $79 as a baretool making it a little over half the price of the M12 brushed motor 3/8″ ratchet baretool making it a pretty good option for anyone on a budget and already in the Ryobi 18V One+ system. The 1/4″ drive model has been spotted on the Ryobi site but not yet on the HD site so no pricing info at the time of writing for this model.

A big thanks to Joshua B, DrewBHAM, Russ Becker, Benigno Ng-Garcia II for spotting!

  • 35 ft./lbs. of torque for heavy duty fastening applications
  • 230 RPMs to drive and remove fasteners
  • 4-Position Rotating Head for use in tight spaces
  • Custom paddle switch for increased user comfort
  • 2 LED lights to illuminate workspace
  • Part of the RYOBI ONE+ System of over 125 Cordless Tools
  • 3-year manufacturer’s warranty
  • Includes: (1) P344 18-Volt ONE+ 3/8 in. 4-Position Ratchet and operator’s manual
  • Battery and charger sold separately

3/8″ model

1/4″ model


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