Both utility · same LS Tractor lineup
LS MT345E vs LS MT355E
| Spec | LS MT345E | LS MT355E |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$33,713 | ~$35,809 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Utility | Utility |
| Transmission | Gear | Gear |
| Engine hp | 45 hp | 55 hp |
| PTO hp | 36 hp | 44 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,360 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 2,360 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Three-point lift | 2,910 lbsat the ball ends | 2,910 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 13 GPM | 13 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | LS | LS |
| Weight | 3,724 lbs | 3,724 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 13.7 gal | 13.7 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | No | 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 MT345E
What they like
- 2,910 lb of Category 2 lift on a 3,724 lb tractor is more hitch capacity per pound than anything else at 45 hp, and it takes full-size implements that a Cat 1 machine cannot
- The L3C19-T is the same turbocharged 114.7 cu in three-cylinder LS puts in the dearer MT347 and MT352, so the value line is not running a de-rated engine
- Priced several thousand under the MT347 despite sharing the engine block, which is the whole argument for the E line
- 36 hp at the PTO from 45 gross through a gear box, and the HST version actually reads higher at 38.2 hp
- 13.7 gal of fuel is more than the cab-capable MT347 carries in ROPS form
What they complain about
- ROPS only - LS builds no cab on the MT3E frame, so this is not a winter machine
- The 8x8 synchro shuttle still goes through the clutch on every direction change, which is felt on loader work
- 2,360 lb at the loader is below what the MT347's LL4106 manages, so the hitch is stronger than the front end
- LS states no measuring point for the loader figure, unlike its own 3-point rating
- LS publishes no price, and the two dealer lists found for this model are a model year apart
- No cruise control, and the value line drops the integrated features the MT3 gets as standard
LS MT355E
What they like
- 44 hp at the PTO is enough for a 6 ft rotary cutter and a 6 ft tiller without the engine working, and the HST build reads 46.7 hp
- Same L3C19-T engine, same 2,910 lb Category 2 hitch and same LL4105 loader as the MT345E, so the ten extra horsepower is the only thing being paid for
- Among the least expensive routes to 55 hp with four-wheel drive and a loader-capable front end anywhere in the US market
- Two-year bumper-to-bumper and six-year powertrain cover, with no deductible
What they complain about
- Carries the identical 2,360 lb loader and 13.0 GPM pump as the 45 hp MT345E, so the extra power does not reach the hydraulics at all
- ROPS only - no cab is built on the MT3E frame
- At 3,724 lb it is light for 55 hp, so it needs rear ballast or loaded tires before the front end can use the loader hard
- 8x8 synchro shuttle only on the E, so direction changes go through the clutch
- LS publishes no price and states no loader measuring point
- The 13.7 gal tank is sized for a 45 hp machine, and at 55 hp it empties correspondingly faster