Utility against Compact · same LS Tractor lineup
LS MT342 vs LS MT335H
| Spec | LS MT342 | LS MT335H |
|---|---|---|
| Price | not published | not published |
| What that price is | no published price | no published price |
| Size class | Utility | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 42 hp | 35 hp |
| PTO hp | 35.7 hp | 28 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,396 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 2,185 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Three-point lift | 2,755 lbsat the ball ends | 1,808 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 13.7 GPM | 13.7 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | LS | LS |
| Weight | 3,935 lbs | 3,285 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 10.6 gal | 10.6 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr powertrain | 6 yr 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
LS MT342
What they like
- The LL4106 loader lifts 2,396 lbs and takes skid-steer quick-attach buckets, so the bucket and forks are not a proprietary line
- 2,755 lb three-point lift swings bigger implements than anything else near this price point
- Standard equipment list (tilt wheel, independent PTO, self-leveling loader option) reads like competitors' option sheets
- At 3,935 lbs bare - 4,446 with the cab - it is heavy for its class, which is what keeps the rear planted under a full bucket
- The 1.9L turbo three-cylinder is torquey and fuel-sippy for a 42 HP machine
What they complain about
- LS's US dealer network is the thinnest of the major value brands - if the nearest dealer is 90 minutes away, ownership gets harder
- Resale value trails Kubota and Deere clearly - you save up front and give some back at trade-in
- Only 8.2 of the 13.7 gpm reaches the implements; the rest is the steering circuit, so a high-flow attachment sees less than the headline figure
- Fit and finish is functional but not refined - switchgear and plastics feel a grade below Kubota
- No cruise control on the HST, a miss at this price
- A particulate filter is fitted, so a duty cycle of short light jobs runs regeneration cycles more often than steady loaded work does
LS MT335H
What they like
- 2,185 lb of loader lift from a 3,285 lb tractor is a high ratio for 35 hp, and the LL3116 is the same loader the 40 hp MT340HC carries
- LS builds the L3C19-T turbocharged common-rail engine itself, so the driveline is single-source from engine to rear axle
- 13.7 GPM of total flow on the hydrostatic with 8.2 GPM reserved for implements - more flow than the MT2 series gets
- The lightest machine on the MT3 frame at 3,285 lb, which makes it the MT3 least likely to mark turf
- Six-year powertrain cover with no deductible, twice the usual term at this size
- 28.0 hp reaches the PTO out of 35 at the engine, so a five-foot cutter is well within it
What they complain about
- LS publishes no prices at all, and no dealer consulted lists this model with a figure - the two dealers that print bare LS prices do not stock it and one dealer model-list shows it as 'Get Price'
- ROPS only; there is no cab build of the MT335H, so the cab buyer has to step up to the MT340HC
- 1,808 lb at the hitch is a Category 1 figure shared with the whole MT2 range, so the rear end does not match the strong loader
- LS does not state where it measures loader lift capacity, so the 2,185 lb figure cannot be compared with a Kubota or Deere pin rating
- 10.6 gal of fuel is modest for a turbocharged 35 hp machine doing loader work
- No cruise control is listed, which tells on long hydrostatic mowing runs