Caterpillar Challenger 55 4WD – specifications
Series: Challenger
Build year not documented · Data origin: Directory data · sources
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Caterpillar Challenger – tracked tractors from Peoria: the range from 1987 to the 2002 handover to AGCO, outputs from 138 to 236 kW and engines from the 3126 and C-9 families
Caterpillar developed the Challenger range at its Peoria, Illinois plant as the first series-produced farm tractor with rubber-track running gear. Production began in 1987 and was handed over to AGCO in 2002, which has continued the Challenger brand for large tractors ever since. The register groups both the classic tracked models and later versions of the range under this slug.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 7 versions with 138 to 236 kW rated output at 1,000 to 2,100 rpm. The six-cylinder engines come from the Caterpillar range with the type designations 3126 and C-9 and produce between 7,200 and 10,466 cm³ displacement. Operating weights range from 9,977 to 15,000 kg, lengths from 5,360 to 6,000 mm.
With its track running gear, the Challenger occupied its own market niche between classic wheeled tractors and bulldozers: the large footprint lowers ground pressure and allows fieldwork even on wet soils where wheeled tractors would sink in. Competition came chiefly from John Deere with its own tracked-tractor range.
When buying used, the wear condition of the track belt, rollers and drive wheels ranks among the most expensive checks, along with the tightness of the tensioning gear. On engines from the 3126 and C-9 families, it is worth checking the injection pump, turbocharger and cooling system; spare parts run through either the Caterpillar or the AGCO network depending on the build year.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Caterpillar Challenger
Versions of this model in the register
Each row is a separate entry with its own data. The figures on this page belong to the row marked ●.
| Version | Built | kW | EU type approval | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHALLENGER 55 | 1998-1999 | 198.5 | — | Official register |
| ● Challenger 55 | — | — | — | Directory data |
Technical data
Engine
| Engine model | 3,126correct |
|---|---|
| Rated speed | 1,000 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 6correct |
| Displacement | 7,200.5 cm³correct |
| Coolant capacity | 32.9 lcorrect |
| Engine oil capacity | 33.3 lcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 5,360 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 498.1 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 10,320 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gearbox type | powershift transmissioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Forward gears | 16correct |
| Reverse gears | 11correct |
| Top speed | 28.6 km/hcorrect |
| Turning radius | 2,350 mmcorrect |
Working data
| Lifting capacity | 5,669 kgcorrect |
|---|---|
| Pump flow | 118.1 l/mincorrect |
| Hydraulic oil capacity | 121.1 lcorrect |
| Hydraulic pressure | 189.5 barcorrect |
| Fuel tank capacity | 473.2 lcorrect |
Other data
| Cab height | 3,188.2 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| PTO output | 241 hpcorrect |
| System voltage | 12 Vcorrect |
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Caterpillar Challenger 55 weigh?
The unladen weight is 10,320 kg.
What engine does the Caterpillar Challenger 55 have?
6 cylinders, 7,200 cm³ displacement.
How fast does the Caterpillar Challenger 55 go?
Top speed is 28.6 km/h.
What is the PTO output of the Caterpillar Challenger 55?
PTO output is 241 hp.
How much does the rear linkage of the Caterpillar Challenger 55 lift?
The rear linkage lifts 5,669 kg.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 22 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Other models in this series
Sources: RitchieSpecs equipment specifications (retrieved August 2026) · Data sources and cross-checks
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