Caterpillar Challenger 55 Tractor Specs & History

In this video we spend time out in the field and up in the cab of a 225 hp Challenger 55 produced by Caterpillar from 1996-1998. Viewers will also learn about this tractors specifications, history and the tracked tractors connection to the New Holland Genesis Tractor
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[@MichaelTJD60]

Never knew that CAT had a joint venture with New Holland....learn something new every day. Thanks for the video!

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@AgricultureINDIA-91]

Amazing video and nice Tractor and implement! Thanks for sharing! Have a good one!

[@bigtractorpower]

Glad you liked it. Thank you for watching.

[@arthurmiller9434]

Thank you BTP for the comprehensive history of the modern track machine.

[@bigtractorpower]

You are welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@barryplassman4647]

Spot on with the facts and nice video. I visited the Winnipeg plant back then and it was interesting to see both the Genesis and Challenger going down the line. I believe the cabs, transmission and hydraulics were the same but Cat definitely did the design work on the engine, tracks and final drives.

[@bigtractorpower]

That is very cool that you got to see production in person.

[@paddypoolfc3579]

Great video and a nice bit of back story. Cracking bit of kit.

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@dehavenfamilyfarm]

That's some cool history!

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@pinchface]

Just seen one of these for sale and never knew about the joint NH venture! Cool!

[@bigtractorpower]

From a distance it looks all CAT but up close you can see the tractor is all New Holland mounted on CAT tracks. It’s a solid machine.

[@AlextheDutchDairyfarmer]

Nice video! Had a fault in the milkingrobot and have to wait a few cows to see it works properly again. Watching BTP during the wait. Nice!👍

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you. I am glad the video could fill some time.

[@embassypictures.5629]

This explains the two traced new holland tractor that i saw a picture of. Really interseting video.

[@bigtractorpower]

Yes New Holland was working on a tracked Genesis and Versatile. In 1999 when Fiat the parent company of New Holland acquired Case IH and with Case came the Quadtrac. With Quadtrac in hand Fiat dropped the tracked New Holland concept.

[@daramulholland5256]

Very quiet tractor, Inside and out. Would like to see some more similar ventures between CAT and NH, but very unlikely. Thanks for the video and keep up the good work!

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching. With New Holland as part of Fiat’s Case New Holland and Challenger with AGCO it is doubtful we will see any cross over projects any time soon.

[@fab8657]

bigtractorpower This is my dream: CNH buys Challenger from AGCO, but this will probably always be just a dream...

[@lonestar5233]

Love the CAT challengers great video

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@craigsibley8161]

Nice video 👍👍👍 Every day's a school day (the New Holland joint venture)...

[@mackwoodcock7484]

Great Video!

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@sharpshooter7127]

Nice video BTP. Don't get me wrong I have green in my blood but the cat/challenger's seem to be by far the best rubber track tractors out there with the exception of the Case quadtrac 👍

[@bigtractorpower]

Challenger has well built machines in the past and today. I am very impressed by them.

[@flemmingskorstengaard3872]

Hi big power tractor. I been see you videos for the last year. It is very interesting to see the tractor in the us because a lot of them I don't see in Denmark where I com from. One of the things I really like to see is the big case 620 track tractor. I have a dream about driving one, one day. I been a farmer for 25 years. Now I am working on construction of big houses.

[@bigtractorpower]

The 620 Quadtrac is impressive. I know a farm that runs one. It’s always neat to see it in action. It’s an honor to have a viewer in Denmark. Thank you for sharing.

[@4gauge10]

Nice machine B.T.P.,runs fairly quiet too.

[@bigtractorpower]

It is a quite tractor.

[@LaHaSi4208]

Amazing Video! 👍

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@darwinos2132]

Cool I love caterpillar brands

[@spliceoncharlie]

Great tractor.

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@markbrett4273]

Have you made any Big Tractor Power hats yet? If you have let me know thank you. Love your videos very informative.

[@westonmoeller7694]

Nice video and a cool tractor. What kind of disc is it pulling?

[@bigtractorpower]

The tillage tool is a Verti Till 2600. It is a farm made vertical tillage tool that is 26ft wide.

[@jamieshields9521]

Loving old school 55 Challenge n not bad for price, I am thinking you could do vid on tractor prices comparison with same era of tractors thanks👍

[@bigtractorpower]

I will see what I can do on that.

[@leejamestheliar2085]

Why,do I love stuff I'll never get to play with? ......jus do! Thank ya.....

[@bigtractorpower]

I am with you on it. I would like to farm with all these machines.

[@jfdb59]

I hear that. Ever since I can remember as a small kid always obsessed with machines. And 99% I'll never get to run. It's a shame.

[@Joelontugs]

I love how the front end looks like it floats

[@dirtthunder1638]

I have seen a few pictures of a White and a Massy Ferguson prototype tracked tractors from the late 1990's. I was told they canceled by AGCO when the deal to by the Challenger line went through. Do yo have any info on something like this J?

[@bigtractorpower]

You have the same info I do. Other than the pictures I have not heard much on the tracked AGCO machines.

[@SteveHolsten]

This Challenger is one more fine tractor, BTP. I wish I could've driven something newer than a JD 4430, but my last year to do tractor work was 1977. I really missed out on getting to drive something articulated or tractors on rubber tracks.

[@bigtractorpower]

The 4430 set allot of new standards in farming. It is amazing how machines have changed in the past 4 decades. Thank you for watching.

[@SteveHolsten]

@@bigtractorpower I didn't think about the 4430 like that.

[@scruffy6151]

Thank you BTP. First track tractor I seen was a cat.

[@bigtractorpower]

I hope to film a 95E in 2019 and keep adding to the Classic Challenger footage.

[@mackowen9337]

Still looks good

[@bigtractorpower]

It has been well cared for.

[@switzerblitzer2701]

Very nice video BTP! The 55 Challenger seems to be a great tractor. Challenger sure is coming up with some very competitive equipment. I like the vertical tillage machine and the Brillion combo spike hoe and basket leveler is a very interesting machine. Seems to do a great job on the corn stalks.

[@bigtractorpower]

Challenger had made and continues to make some stand out machines. The Verti Till 2600 and the converted Brillion do a nice job working up the corn stalks.

[@samuelrunions5]

These tractors have one of the best transmissions ever made

[@bigtractorpower]

👍

[@johnandchristy9845]

Funk Xsmn

[@brunospolidori]

Hi! Great video! What did you mean by the challenger and NH using the same base? What components did they share?

[@bigtractorpower]

The tractor part of the Challenger 55 like the frame, hood, cab, controls are all the the Genesis. In a basic explanation Caterpillar put tracks and a CAT engine on the Genesis.

[@jamiesmith143]

I was just wondering, could you adjust the width of the tracks between the tractor frame?

[@bigtractorpower]

Yes you can.

[@embassypictures.5629]

Did the challenger tractor switch from manitoba to jackson minnesota when agco bought challenger or is it a factory in between the two.

[@bigtractorpower]

After Manitoba the new MT700 Row crop tractors were introduced in late 2001 and they were built at first at the CAT Dekalb, IL factory. AGCO later moved Challenger MT700C production to Jackson.

[@rustyrelicsfarm2406]

It would be awesome if you can film a J I Case 1070 Black Knight Demonstrator in action in the feild.

[@bigtractorpower]

It sure would. That’s on my dream list to film in the field. Maybe some day.

[@timwestendorf8303]

The neighbors had one a d we helped each other chop silage, we both had the same gehl 3 row choppers and we pulled ours with an 8300 deere, very similar in how each would handle the heavy load but the cat never got stuck in a wet season

[@bigtractorpower]

That is an awesome chipping team. I would love to film a Challenger on a Forage Harvester.

[@timwestendorf8303]

@@bigtractorpower it was quite the show, we could chop 70 acres a day in the right conditions! Thought we were big time lol! Love a the vidoes and time you put into the channel its much appreciated learning about all the different tractors!

[@albertusmostert5418]

If you spread dry fertiliser can you work it into the ground with a vt

[@bigtractorpower]

Yes. They are working in fertilizer and wheat seed in this video.

[@elguerotacopwr1124]

Nice tractor power cat

[@bigtractorpower]

Challenger has had some stand out tractors over the years.

[@farmerstephen]

In the Uk Claas also made this tracked tractor in green with, I think the same model numbers.

[@bigtractorpower]

Claas and Caterpillar did a cross promotion. Caterpillar dealers sold Claas Lexion combines in yellow and Claas dealers sold the CAT Challengers in Claas colors. This happened from 1998-2001. The Claas Challenger Row crops were built at the New Holland factory in Canada.

[@farmerstephen]

Where were to cat combines made? In Germany or also in USA.

[@bigtractorpower]

In Germany in the late 1990’s and from The early 2000’s through today in Omaha, NE at the Claas plant there.

[@billylindauer3636]

You mentioned that the tractor was a row crop, I was wondering why the tracks were so far apart, so you think you could get a video of the cultivating?

[@bigtractorpower]

If I could find a classic Challenger cultivating I would love to film it. Unfortunately it’s hard finding any farm cultivating corn and soybeans these days with round up ready crops. I am always on the look out though.

[@billylindauer3636]

Ok Thanks:) ;)

[@ih1206]

The Mennonites around here really like these tractors. Their bishops still makes them bolt steel cleats to the tracks but they get around so much better than their steel wheel tractors.

[@bigtractorpower]

Very interesting.

[@lgpadilha]

Do you know How this tractor handle soils with small Stones and non pavemented roads in Fields movings?

[@bigtractorpower]

It should do fine. I have seen the larger Challengers on gravel roads. They seemed to not have an issue. On a Stoney field they should tool over the stones as they have lots of surface space and boogie wheels to absorb the impact.

[@grenzhochspannungshindernis]

what means 225 PTO hp and why are the rear disks so big? Are the chassis that wide for ... better balance?

[@bigtractorpower]

225 PTO stand for power take off. That is useable horse power to operate and implement from the engine. The wider stance gives a smoother ride. When the tracks are tight up against the frame the tractor feels the jolts and bumps in the field allot more.

[@codyludwig2811]

cool video but if I got a track tractor I'd prefer a Quad trac, More flexible for following the land, Those 2 track tractor don't really have much flex to them they're better suited for flat land like this one's working on but I still do like the Ghallenger and John Deere tractors that look like this....

[@bigtractorpower]

Each machine has their pluses and minuses. I got to film a 9380 Quadtrac this year. You can see a video on the early Quadtrac at m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2Oal4iajs1nqKs

[@faustinopablo2877]

Is is possible to learn ? Seems tricky

[@markstengel7680]

Very cool. Like the history of tracked tractors. Is less compaction than wheeled vehicles a major concern when acquiring new machinery ? As far as appearance goes, i like the look of big round tires vs tracks, IMHO. JD has this type too on non articulated tractors and looks great. The way a product looks is very important to me, but must work well not less. Like your frequent uploads, this one went quickly. Best Regards 🇺🇸🚜

[@bigtractorpower]

As always thank you for watching Mark. Compaction is a concern because it restricts root growth which reduces yield. Tracks can help reduce compaction as they have a smaller foot print. I mentioned in the video other companies looked to emulate the Challenger 35, 45 and 55. John Deere followed right behind these CAT tractors first with the 8400T, 8300T, 8200T and 8100T in the row crop market and a few years later with the 9400T and 9300T. John Deere has now built T series tractors for over 20 years now with modern offering being the 8RT and 9RT.

[@lowercherty]

When did Cat sell this line to Agco? Is there anything Cat left in them besides the yellow paint?

[@bigtractorpower]

AGCO squired Challenger at the end of 2001. The track design used today is still the Caterpillar design.

[@NorthEastSaskFarmer]

I’d love to see a challenger 65

[@bigtractorpower]

Me too. I have not found one to film yet. I do have an 85E located to film hopefully this spring.

[@NorthEastSaskFarmer]

bigtractorpower ever looked at kirovets/Belarus/mtz 4wd? The new ones are labelled under MTZ, offer up to 435hp and offer with dual tires or tracks. The old ones are one crude hunk of iron, but still very cool. Not often you see a v12 in a tractor

[@Lidrien]

Anyone have any idea how or where i can get a wiring diagram? We have electrical problems constantly because of rats chewing the electrical wires.

[@bigtractorpower]

I would say a dealer. The wiring should be the same as. New Holland Genesis so a New Holland dealer could help. An owners manual on eBay might be another option.

[@FairScale-tx1qv]

Sowing, harvesting or tilling?

[@bigtractorpower]

It is tilling and incorporating seed at the same time.

[@Mark-vc7rm]

Nice to see cats in the fields.

[@bigtractorpower]

I always like seeing Challengers working.

[@Thatguy9117-p]

Is the 55 a 12 or 24 volt system

[@bigtractorpower]

I am not sure

[@jankotze1959]

Nice tractor, it was great learn about NH and CAT business deal with this model, you mentioned the Genesis had a Ford engine, which specific tractor was that, thank you for the video

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching. The Genesis in the video was a 145 hp 8670 Genesis with a New Holland 892 Forage Harvester and Artsway Forage wagon. It has a 456 cubic inch 6 cal Ford engine in it.

[@jankotze1959]

@@bigtractorpower Thanks very much!!!

[@bensnyder719]

Why do the tracks look like they are moving backwards?

[@jsmvb]

You cant see every moment of what is happening, your brain only can compute some pictures a second. So your can see the pictures of the chains etc. in some moments and you see them in the moments that it looks like they are moving backward.

[@bigtractorpower]

Thanks for the informative reply.

[@dwightl5863]

This may help explain the stroboscopic effect: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6bYlIZrm9ynrLc

[@vancedishman2086]

We use this tractor and a kinze 3600 for planting beans

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool. I saw a set up just like near Lincoln, IL yesterday planting alongside the interstate.

[@vancedishman2086]

bigtractorpower Nice. I am a big fan of the older tracked challengers myself.

[@dr.medwurst4547]

The Caterpillar Challenger were sold in Europe in Claas colors.

[@andrzej6190]

In Europe it was a Claas?

[@bigtractorpower]

Yes CAT tractors were sold through Claas in Europe. The Claas Lexion combine was sold in yellow through Caterpillar dealers in North America.

[@lindsayhengehold5341]

❤ these tractors but they need better safety measures at their plants to prevent workers deaths.

[@bigtractorpower]

I had not heard of any one being killed at the Winnipeg plant where these were built. What happened?

[@alexwhite1751]

What about tractor blades.a rollerblading with a track.

[@bigtractorpower]

You can mount a blade on a 55. Leon offered a blade and a front end loader for the 55.

[@caterpillarford3988]

I think cat shouldnt have sold and i want a CAT garden tractor while im at it lol

[@bigtractorpower]

Cat made one lawn mower in the early 70s as a prototype. My friend owns it.

[@armandodidomenico9722]

En Argentina quiero venderlo 1998

[@jonym45]

Smallest weights I have ever seen!!!

[@TheKreshica95]

this tillage rig is wierd

[@bigtractorpower]

It is a home made tillage tool. It does a nice job chopping the stalks and finishing the field.

[@generationll]

Caterpillar got out of the business when they sold their Challenger line of tractors to Agco 2001.Unlike Deere,Cat did not have a line of parallel wheel tractors with their 3 models.Also remember that Deere claimed they had 50 percent of this market within a year or 2 after their 8000Ts were introduced in 1996

[@muscletractorfan2441]

I gotta say this has some good history but I have missed watching your last four videos. I just don’t get notifications when you post and kinda forgot about BTP. Mn Millieniel Farmer, How Farms Work and Welkers get most my attention. I am seriously considering only watching ag channels out there with 200K subs like Mn and HFW. Channels like BTP and OLF with only 100K subs are kinda getting to be small potatos to me anymore. You 100K guys gotta step it up on your videos or you ain’t going make it.

[@bigtractorpower]

Not sure what to say here. You are pretty critical of every video I make so I am not sure BTP will ever live up to your standards even if the channel meets the 200,000 mark you have imposed. There are allot of great farming channels and I would not want to miss out on them based on a number rating. Good luck to you.

[@clintonstubbs2319]

bigtractorpower I like watching your videos because you show equipment that isn't common in Georgia. Honestly we can't please everybody. But I am a big fan. I may try to come to the National Farm Machinery Show in February in Louisville, Kentucky. Thanks again for your videos. I can tell that you do a lot of research on the equipment. I like learning the specifications as well as what the equipment can do, which is quite a lot.

[@bigtractorpower]

Clinton thank you for watching and for your comment. It’s fun tracking down these classics. I hope you can attend the NFMS. It’s a great show.

[@jfdb59]

modest hp by today's standards but I'm willing to bet that tractor is one pullin son of a bitch with cat's background in dozers. Great video again.