Both utility · same LS Tractor lineup
LS MT342 vs LS MT7101CPS
| Spec | LS MT342 | LS MT7101CPS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | not published | ~$84,707 |
| What that price is | no published price | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Utility | Utility |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Power Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 42 hp | 100.6 hp |
| PTO hp | 35.7 hp | 85.5 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,396 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 5,139 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Three-point lift | 2,755 lbsat the ball ends | 8,378 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 13.7 GPM | 22.2 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | LS | LS |
| Weight | 3,935 lbs | 7,985 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 10.6 gal | 30.4 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | No |
| 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 MT7101CPS
What they like
- 8,378 lb of Category II lift, which is more than double what the 63 hp MT463 will pick up
- 24 forward and 24 reverse speeds through a power shuttle, so direction and ratio changes happen without the clutch
- 85.5 hp at the PTO from 100.6 gross is a 15 percent loss, good for a machine of this size
- Factory cab with heat and air conditioning is standard rather than an option, so there is no stripped build to regret
- 30.4-gallon tank and a 5,139 lb LL8100 loader make it a genuine working machine rather than a large hobby tractor
What they complain about
- LS publishes no price; the two dealer figures found were $84,707 and $88,777, and one of them notes pricing is subject to change
- Cab-only means there is no cheaper open-station route into the MT7 frame at all
- LS identifies the engine only as an 'F5G' and does not name its maker anywhere on the model page, unlike the Yanmar and Mitsubishi units lower in the range
- 22.2 GPM total flow is only 1.1 GPM more than the 63 hp MT463 carries, so the hydraulics have not scaled with the engine
- The 3-point figure is quoted at the hitch end here, where the MT4 series quotes 24 in behind - the two are not comparable even within LS's own range
- No loader measuring point is published, and at 5,139 lb that rating is doing a lot of work in the buying decision
- At 7,985 lb and 100.6 hp it is at the top edge of this catalog's coverage, with a correspondingly thin dealer network for parts