SDLG L936H vs L938H: 3-Tonne and 3.5-Tonne Loader Selection Guide
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | SDLG L936H class | SDLG L938H class |
|---|---|---|
| Position | 3-tonne H-series class | Half-step above — website publishes 3.5 t payload |
| Website-listed | 11,750 kg / 1.8 m³ / 105 kW | 3.5 t payload / 2.1 m³ / 13,300 kg |
| Catalogue-listed | ≈11,000 kg, 3 t class | 3 t class / 1.8–2.2 m³ / ≈11,500 kg |
| Published value | Both models carry source conflicts — all figures shown, none blended; quotation carries the dated, nameplate-verified datasheet figure | |
| Indicative price position | Neither itemized on Oct 2026 list; anchors: L935H (3.5 t) KSh 6,400,000, L953H (5.0 t) KSh 9,200,000. Both quoted in writing in 24 hours | |
The SDLG L936H vs L938H question is the half-step decision in SDLG's compact-to-mid wheel loader line: two H-series machines in the 3-tonne neighbourhood, sold in Kenya by Trust Partners Geo-Group Ltd, separated by roughly half a tonne of payload and a real price step. Both are quoted in writing within 24 hours per the October 2026 price list terms. This guide compares the two classes on payload, bucket, weight figures and price position — publishing both source sets where the website and catalogue disagree, which on these two models is most of the specification table — and applies the pass-math that tells you when the step up pays and when it does not. The published L936H model guide covers that machine's own status in full.
Specifications: Both Models, Both Sources
The H-series line was refreshed across model years, and the website and catalogue reflect different configurations. Rather than pick the more favourable number — the campaign's rule forbids it — the table below publishes every source value for both models, and your quotation settles each figure from the official configuration-specific datasheet, dated against the stock-unit nameplate:
| Attribute | L936H website | L936H catalogue | L938H website | L938H catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 11,750 kg | ≈11,000 kg | 13,300 kg | ≈11,500 kg |
| Bucket | 1.8 m³ | Per configuration | 2.1 m³ | 1.8–2.2 m³ |
| Power | 105 kW | Per configuration | Per configuration | Per configuration |
| Payload class | 3 t | 3 t class | 3.5 t | 3 t class |
| Exact figures | Confirm from official configuration-specific datasheets before order; quotations record datasheet revision per unit | |||
Verification date on quotation: the SDLG desk records the datasheet revision and stock-unit nameplate against every quote. On these two models, request the datasheets before comparing quotes, not after.
Price Position in Kenya
Neither model is itemized on the October 2026 price list. The nearest published anchors on the same official list: the 3.5-tonne L935H at KSh 6,400,000 and the 5.0-tonne L953H at KSh 9,200,000, inclusive as indicated — framing where the H-series pair sits by class logic. Both models are quoted in writing within 24 hours of inquiry, and the step-up decision should be made on a same-day quote pair: same bucket basis, same delivery terms, both configurations itemized. Indicative only, not a firm offer; prices subject to change without prior notice per the list's terms.
The commercial terms buyers ask about most are verified on that list: lead times of about two weeks on stock machines and eight to twelve weeks on factory orders; the one-year/2,000-hour factory warranty honoured in Kenya and extendable to two; financing, lease-to-own, trade-in and hire-before-you-buy packages; and low-loader delivery to any county, priced by destination. The cost-estimate calculator gives a project-level budget figure, the SDLG financing hub sets out the packages, and the published deposit guide covers the upfront-cash side. Stock status changes weekly — call +254 718 686 967 or WhatsApp the SDLG desk.
The Pass-Math: When the Half-Tonne Pays
Strip the decision to cycles. A 10 m³ tipper of dry sand at roughly 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre carries about 16 tonnes. At a realistic 2.5-tonne effective payload for the 3-tonne class, that is six to seven passes; a realistic 3-tonne effective payload on the step-up machine does it in five to six. At fifty to eighty loads a day, the difference is one to two hours of loader time daily — which, priced at your loading rate across a season, is usually more than the step-up premium costs. Below that volume line, the extra half-tonne is idle capacity you are financing; above it, the smaller machine is burning shift time you are paying for. Run the arithmetic on your material density, truck count and daily tonnes before the quotes arrive: the numbers, not the badge, decide the class.
Choose the L936H Class When:
- Your daily volumes sit comfortably inside the 3-tonne class's economical reach — batching plants, estates, mid-volume sand and aggregate work.
- Site space or transport weight is a constraint: the lighter machine simplifies trailer pairing and yard manoeuvring.
- The budget difference funds a bucket set or a breaker instead — attachments that change daily productivity more than half a tonne of rated payload does at these volumes.
Choose the L938H Class When:
- Your programme runs at the top of the 3-tonne class's reach: sustained tipper loading on dense material, daily volumes that turn the pass-math above.
- The trucks are bigger — 10 m³ and above — and every pass saved compounds across a full shift.
- The machine's earning rate justifies the step: contract-backed work where recovered hours are billable, not just saved.
The boundary case is the growing contractor: quote both configurations against next year's volumes, not this year's, because the trade-in and upgrade paths mean buying for the programme you are signing — not the one you finished.
Ownership, Support and the Fleet Around It
Both classes carry the dealer's published package: genuine SDLG parts from Ruai yard stock, factory-trained technicians, the 24-hour response commitment and the extendable warranty per the October 2026 list, with delivery by low-loader and commissioning included. Daily care is the standard loader discipline across both machines — greasing, tyre and fluid checks, pin and bucket inspections — and the handover walk-through covers the operator checklist. The wider context for the decision sits across the published series: the L918F versus L936H comparison for the class below, the 5-tonne comparison for the class above, and the loader-versus-backhoe comparison for buyers still deciding the machine type. Fleet economics sit in our hire cost framework and current hire pricing, and the wider line-up on the SDLG wheel loader hub, within the full SDLG range — excavators, graders, rollers and the backhoe and compact range — with evidence-based brand comparisons for buyers weighing competitors first.
Get Both Loaders Quoted Side by Side
Tell us your materials, daily tonnage and truck sizes and the SDLG desk will quote both classes in writing — confirmed within 24 hours per the October 2026 list terms.
Prefer a written trail? Contact the SDLG desk
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the SDLG L936H and L938H?
Both are H-series wheel loaders in the 3-tonne neighbourhood sold in Kenya by Trust Partners Geo-Group Ltd: the L936H in the 3-tonne class and the L938H positioned a half-step above it. The website publishes the L938H at a 3.5-tonne payload with a 2.1 m³ bucket and 13,300 kg operating weight, while the catalogue shows both models in a 3-tonne class at approximately 11,500 kg — a genuine designation gap your quotation settles from the stock-unit nameplate. The published L936H model guide covers that machine in full.
Why do both models have conflicting published figures?
The H-series line was refreshed across model years, and the website and catalogue reflect different configurations. The L936H shows 11,750 kg / 1.8 m³ / 105 kW on the website against approximately 11,000 kg in the catalogue; the L938H shows 3.5 t / 2.1 m³ / 13,300 kg against a 3-tonne class at approximately 11,500 kg. Per campaign policy both source sets are published, none are blended, and every quotation carries the official configuration-specific datasheet figure, dated.
When does the extra half-tonne of payload pay?
At the pass-math level: on a 10 m³ sand tipper at roughly 16 tonnes, the step from a realistic 2.5-tonne effective payload to 3 tonnes cuts a pass per load, and at fifty to eighty loads a day that is one to two hours of loader time daily. When the programme's volumes, material density and truck count put you at the top of the 3-tonne class's economical reach, the step-up premium usually clears in recovered shift capacity; below that line, the L936H class does the job at lower machine cost.
How do the price positions compare?
Neither model is itemized on the October 2026 price list. The nearest published anchors on the same list: the 3.5-tonne L935H at KSh 6,400,000 and the 5.0-tonne L953H at KSh 9,200,000, inclusive as indicated. Both H-series models are quoted in writing within 24 hours of inquiry with the same-day pair comparison the step-up decision needs; indicative only, not a firm offer.
Do bucket choices change the comparison?
Yes — bucket capacity and material density decide the effective payload, and two machines with similar rated payloads can perform differently with different buckets. The dealer confirms bucket options, coupler type and payload implications from the official datasheet before order, matching the bucket to the material rather than quoting a generic machine.
Should I step past both to the 5-tonne class?
Only when the pass-math says so: loading 10 m³ tippers all day at sustained volumes pushes the economics to the 5-tonne class, covered by our published 5-tonne loader comparison. Between the 3-tonne and 3.5-tonne step, the decision is finer — which is why both configurations should be quoted against your actual daily tonnes before either is chosen.
Can I finance either model in Kenya?
Yes — the October 2026 price list states financing, lease-to-own, trade-in and hire-before-you-buy packages across the range. Approval, rates and terms rest with the lender; a written machine quotation is the first document any lender asks for, and the published finance and deposit guides walk the money side.
Where do I verify exact specifications before ordering?
Ask the SDLG desk for the official configuration-specific datasheets for both units and stock-unit nameplate photos. Every quotation records the datasheet revision against the machine — that document, not any web page or catalogue, is the authority at delivery, which on these two models matters more than usual.
SDLG L936H vs L938H: 3-Tonne and 3.5-Tonne Loader Selection Guide
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | SDLG L936H class | SDLG L938H class |
|---|---|---|
| Position | 3-tonne H-series class | Half-step above — website publishes 3.5 t payload |
| Website-listed | 11,750 kg / 1.8 m³ / 105 kW | 3.5 t payload / 2.1 m³ / 13,300 kg |
| Catalogue-listed | ≈11,000 kg, 3 t class | 3 t class / 1.8–2.2 m³ / ≈11,500 kg |
| Published value | Both models carry source conflicts — all figures shown, none blended; quotation carries the dated, nameplate-verified datasheet figure | |
| Indicative price position | Neither itemized on Oct 2026 list; anchors: L935H (3.5 t) KSh 6,400,000, L953H (5.0 t) KSh 9,200,000. Both quoted in writing in 24 hours | |
The SDLG L936H vs L938H question is the half-step decision in SDLG's compact-to-mid wheel loader line: two H-series machines in the 3-tonne neighbourhood, sold in Kenya by Trust Partners Geo-Group Ltd, separated by roughly half a tonne of payload and a real price step. Both are quoted in writing within 24 hours per the October 2026 price list terms. This guide compares the two classes on payload, bucket, weight figures and price position — publishing both source sets where the website and catalogue disagree, which on these two models is most of the specification table — and applies the pass-math that tells you when the step up pays and when it does not. The published L936H model guide covers that machine's own status in full.
Specifications: Both Models, Both Sources
The H-series line was refreshed across model years, and the website and catalogue reflect different configurations. Rather than pick the more favourable number — the campaign's rule forbids it — the table below publishes every source value for both models, and your quotation settles each figure from the official configuration-specific datasheet, dated against the stock-unit nameplate:
| Attribute | L936H website | L936H catalogue | L938H website | L938H catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 11,750 kg | ≈11,000 kg | 13,300 kg | ≈11,500 kg |
| Bucket | 1.8 m³ | Per configuration | 2.1 m³ | 1.8–2.2 m³ |
| Power | 105 kW | Per configuration | Per configuration | Per configuration |
| Payload class | 3 t | 3 t class | 3.5 t | 3 t class |
| Exact figures | Confirm from official configuration-specific datasheets before order; quotations record datasheet revision per unit | |||
Verification date on quotation: the SDLG desk records the datasheet revision and stock-unit nameplate against every quote. On these two models, request the datasheets before comparing quotes, not after.
Price Position in Kenya
Neither model is itemized on the October 2026 price list. The nearest published anchors on the same official list: the 3.5-tonne L935H at KSh 6,400,000 and the 5.0-tonne L953H at KSh 9,200,000, inclusive as indicated — framing where the H-series pair sits by class logic. Both models are quoted in writing within 24 hours of inquiry, and the step-up decision should be made on a same-day quote pair: same bucket basis, same delivery terms, both configurations itemized. Indicative only, not a firm offer; prices subject to change without prior notice per the list's terms.
The commercial terms buyers ask about most are verified on that list: lead times of about two weeks on stock machines and eight to twelve weeks on factory orders; the one-year/2,000-hour factory warranty honoured in Kenya and extendable to two; financing, lease-to-own, trade-in and hire-before-you-buy packages; and low-loader delivery to any county, priced by destination. The cost-estimate calculator gives a project-level budget figure, the SDLG financing hub sets out the packages, and the published deposit guide covers the upfront-cash side. Stock status changes weekly — call +254 718 686 967 or WhatsApp the SDLG desk.
The Pass-Math: When the Half-Tonne Pays
Strip the decision to cycles. A 10 m³ tipper of dry sand at roughly 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre carries about 16 tonnes. At a realistic 2.5-tonne effective payload for the 3-tonne class, that is six to seven passes; a realistic 3-tonne effective payload on the step-up machine does it in five to six. At fifty to eighty loads a day, the difference is one to two hours of loader time daily — which, priced at your loading rate across a season, is usually more than the step-up premium costs. Below that volume line, the extra half-tonne is idle capacity you are financing; above it, the smaller machine is burning shift time you are paying for. Run the arithmetic on your material density, truck count and daily tonnes before the quotes arrive: the numbers, not the badge, decide the class.
Choose the L936H Class When:
- Your daily volumes sit comfortably inside the 3-tonne class's economical reach — batching plants, estates, mid-volume sand and aggregate work.
- Site space or transport weight is a constraint: the lighter machine simplifies trailer pairing and yard manoeuvring.
- The budget difference funds a bucket set or a breaker instead — attachments that change daily productivity more than half a tonne of rated payload does at these volumes.
Choose the L938H Class When:
- Your programme runs at the top of the 3-tonne class's reach: sustained tipper loading on dense material, daily volumes that turn the pass-math above.
- The trucks are bigger — 10 m³ and above — and every pass saved compounds across a full shift.
- The machine's earning rate justifies the step: contract-backed work where recovered hours are billable, not just saved.
The boundary case is the growing contractor: quote both configurations against next year's volumes, not this year's, because the trade-in and upgrade paths mean buying for the programme you are signing — not the one you finished.
Ownership, Support and the Fleet Around It
Both classes carry the dealer's published package: genuine SDLG parts from Ruai yard stock, factory-trained technicians, the 24-hour response commitment and the extendable warranty per the October 2026 list, with delivery by low-loader and commissioning included. Daily care is the standard loader discipline across both machines — greasing, tyre and fluid checks, pin and bucket inspections — and the handover walk-through covers the operator checklist. The wider context for the decision sits across the published series: the L918F versus L936H comparison for the class below, the 5-tonne comparison for the class above, and the loader-versus-backhoe comparison for buyers still deciding the machine type. Fleet economics sit in our hire cost framework and current hire pricing, and the wider line-up on the SDLG wheel loader hub, within the full SDLG range — excavators, graders, rollers and the backhoe and compact range — with evidence-based brand comparisons for buyers weighing competitors first.
Get Both Loaders Quoted Side by Side
Tell us your materials, daily tonnage and truck sizes and the SDLG desk will quote both classes in writing — confirmed within 24 hours per the October 2026 list terms.
Prefer a written trail? Contact the SDLG desk
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the SDLG L936H and L938H?
Both are H-series wheel loaders in the 3-tonne neighbourhood sold in Kenya by Trust Partners Geo-Group Ltd: the L936H in the 3-tonne class and the L938H positioned a half-step above it. The website publishes the L938H at a 3.5-tonne payload with a 2.1 m³ bucket and 13,300 kg operating weight, while the catalogue shows both models in a 3-tonne class at approximately 11,500 kg — a genuine designation gap your quotation settles from the stock-unit nameplate. The published L936H model guide covers that machine in full.
Why do both models have conflicting published figures?
The H-series line was refreshed across model years, and the website and catalogue reflect different configurations. The L936H shows 11,750 kg / 1.8 m³ / 105 kW on the website against approximately 11,000 kg in the catalogue; the L938H shows 3.5 t / 2.1 m³ / 13,300 kg against a 3-tonne class at approximately 11,500 kg. Per campaign policy both source sets are published, none are blended, and every quotation carries the official configuration-specific datasheet figure, dated.
When does the extra half-tonne of payload pay?
At the pass-math level: on a 10 m³ sand tipper at roughly 16 tonnes, the step from a realistic 2.5-tonne effective payload to 3 tonnes cuts a pass per load, and at fifty to eighty loads a day that is one to two hours of loader time daily. When the programme's volumes, material density and truck count put you at the top of the 3-tonne class's economical reach, the step-up premium usually clears in recovered shift capacity; below that line, the L936H class does the job at lower machine cost.
How do the price positions compare?
Neither model is itemized on the October 2026 price list. The nearest published anchors on the same list: the 3.5-tonne L935H at KSh 6,400,000 and the 5.0-tonne L953H at KSh 9,200,000, inclusive as indicated. Both H-series models are quoted in writing within 24 hours of inquiry with the same-day pair comparison the step-up decision needs; indicative only, not a firm offer.
Do bucket choices change the comparison?
Yes — bucket capacity and material density decide the effective payload, and two machines with similar rated payloads can perform differently with different buckets. The dealer confirms bucket options, coupler type and payload implications from the official datasheet before order, matching the bucket to the material rather than quoting a generic machine.
Should I step past both to the 5-tonne class?
Only when the pass-math says so: loading 10 m³ tippers all day at sustained volumes pushes the economics to the 5-tonne class, covered by our published 5-tonne loader comparison. Between the 3-tonne and 3.5-tonne step, the decision is finer — which is why both configurations should be quoted against your actual daily tonnes before either is chosen.
Can I finance either model in Kenya?
Yes — the October 2026 price list states financing, lease-to-own, trade-in and hire-before-you-buy packages across the range. Approval, rates and terms rest with the lender; a written machine quotation is the first document any lender asks for, and the published finance and deposit guides walk the money side.
Where do I verify exact specifications before ordering?
Ask the SDLG desk for the official configuration-specific datasheets for both units and stock-unit nameplate photos. Every quotation records the datasheet revision against the machine — that document, not any web page or catalogue, is the authority at delivery, which on these two models matters more than usual.
