Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55
Built: 1998-1999 · Series: Challenger
More machines from model year 1998
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
Technical data
Engine
| Engine make | Caterpillarcorrect |
|---|---|
| Engine model | 3,126correct |
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
| Power | 225 hp (198.5 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,100 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 6correct |
| Displacement | 7,200 cm³ (422 cu in)correct |
| Bore | 4.33 in (110 mm)correct |
| Stroke | 5.0 in (127 mm)correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 5,580 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,605 mmcorrect |
| Turning circle | 0correct |
| Unladen weight | 9,977 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 12,238.5 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | tracked undercarriagecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | powershift transmission with power shuttlecorrect |
| Forward gears | 16correct |
| Reverse gears | 9correct |
Working data
| Lifting capacity | 12, 500 lbs; 15, 000 lbs (opt)correct |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank capacity | 125 galcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Plant | USAcorrect |
|---|
Other data
| Linkage category | Cat II, Cat IIIN, Cat IIIcorrect |
|---|---|
| PTO speed | 1,000correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 19.9 kW/t (198 kW / 10 t)
Power class: Heavy (> 180 hp)
Stronger than 96% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55 have?
The Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55 delivers 225 hp.
How much does the Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55 weigh?
The unladen weight is 9,977 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55?
12,238 kg.
What engine does the Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55 have?
6 cylinders, 7,200 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
What are the dimensions of the Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55?
5,580 mm × 2,605 mm.
When was the Caterpillar CHALLENGER 55 built?
Production years: 1998-1999.
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.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- 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 29 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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