Driving impression: Powered by Cat engines, the Challenger MT800 crawlers put down their considerable marker at this year’s Smithfield Show. Their aim – and more particularly the aim of the 370kW/500hp MT865 flagship? To be new king of the high hp crawler sector. We drive the more ‘modest’ MT855 model
In that leapfrog game that is the high hp tractor sector, Challenger once more tops the pile, its 564hp max rated MT865 flagship now well ahead of nearest rivals, the 490hp Case STX450 Quadtrac and 485hp John Deere 9520T. Built in the DeKalb factory, Illinois, bought by Agco from Caterpillar in Mar 2002, the MT800 line-up is listed in the table opposite and goes on UK sale in time for Christmas. Now there’s a stocking-filler! For a closer look at what the MT800 has to offer, we travelled to Lincolnshire for an exclusive early drive on the MT855, the 333kW/450hp one-from-the-top model, back in October.
First point to note is that unlike the previous flat-track Challenger ‘E’, the still friction-drive MT800 uses a larger diameter drive wheel design and relatively smaller front idler, similar in configuration to the 235-306hp MT700s (profi 01/02). This is said to bring with it a number of key MT advantages, including a claimed improvement in track performance on hard/baked ground with a greasy surface on top.
In such work conditions, where the ‘E’ drive wheel used to slip inside the track, the larger diameter unit and increased track tension (47% up on E-series) is said to grip. Not only that, but the ability to hang ballast on nose, track frame and idlers takes the MT800 weight up from 17.5t to about 25t to help the rubber track cut through the greasy surface and then bite. This degree of ballasting was not an option on the ‘E’.
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