When we talk about “big” tractors, we aren’t talking about the one mowing your neighbor’s lawn. We are talking about machines that weigh as much as a Boeing 737, engines that drink diesel by the barrel, and horsepower numbers that rival supercars.
But here is the secret most lists won’t tell you: “Largest” is a complicated title. Are we talking about the heaviest? The most powerful? Or the one you can actually buy from a dealer today?
To give you the most accurate and original ranking, we’ve split this list into two categories: the Modern Production Kings (available in 2025) and the All-Time Custom Legends.
Part 1: The Modern Production Kings (You Can Buy These Today)
1. John Deere 9RX 830
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Horsepower: 830 Rated / 913 Max
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Engine: 18L JD18X
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Status: The New Production World Champion (2025)
The Unique Story:
Move over, Case IH. As of the 2025 model year, John Deere has officially stolen the crown for the most powerful mass-produced tractor on Earth. The 9RX 830 is a beast that doesn’t just break records; it breaks rules.
Insider Fact: The most “insider” feature of this tractor isn’t its size—it’s what it doesn’t have. The massive 18-liter engine uses a new exhaust gas recirculation technology that eliminates the need for DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid). That’s right—no blue jug. Just pure diesel power, a feature that has farmers cheering worldwide.
2. Case IH Steiger 715 Quadtrac
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Horsepower: 715 Rated / 778 Peak
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Engine: FPT Cursor 16L Twin-Stage Turbo
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The Look: “The Red Menace”
The Unique Story:
Launched just before the Deere 9RX 830, this was briefly the king of the hill. It is easily recognized by its aggressive new hood design, which Case IH calls “aggressive styling,” but farmers call “The Shark.”
The “Cool” Factor:
Lifting the hood on a tractor this size usually requires a gym membership. Not here. The Steiger 715 features a fully electric hood that opens at the push of a button, revealing a redesigned engine bay that removes the air cleaners from the exhaust stack to improve visibility. It’s a luxury feature on a monster machine.
3. MeriCrusher MT-700
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Horsepower: 768 hp
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Use: Extreme Land Clearing / Agriculture
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Origin: Finland
The Unique Story:
While often left off “Ag” lists, the MT-700 deserves a spot. It isn’t designed to pull a plow; it’s designed to eat the forest. It uses a mechanical power take-off (PTO) that is so efficient it can grind tree stumps and crush rocks into soil in a single pass.
Insider Fact: Unlike standard tractors that lose power through complex hydraulic transmissions, the MeriCrusher uses a direct mechanical drive to its crushing head. It’s essentially a 768-horsepower chainsaw on tracks.
4. Versatile 620 DeltaTrack
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Horsepower: 620 Rated / 665 Peak
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Engine: Cummins X15
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Origin: Canada
The Unique Story:
Versatile is the “old school” brand that refuses to die. While Deere and Case fill their cabs with touchscreens and AI, the 620 DeltaTrack is beloved for being the “mechanic’s tractor.” It uses industry-standard components (Cummins engine, CAT transmission) that are easy to repair.
Why It’s Unique: It features the largest cab in the industry. Seriously, you could almost host a dinner party in there. It offers 85.9 cubic feet of interior volume, giving operators a panoramic view that competitors still struggle to match.
5. New Holland T9.700
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Horsepower: 682 Peak
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Engine: FPT Cursor 13
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Design: The “Blue Power”
The Unique Story:
The T9.700 is a close cousin to the Case Steiger (they are owned by the same parent company, CNH Industrial), but it has a different soul. It is famous for its SmartTrax II system.
The Secret: Most tracked tractors have a rough ride because the tracks are rigid. The T9.700’s tracks are designed to oscillate and mold to the ground, meaning this 60,000-lb giant actually treads more lightly on the soil than many smaller wheeled tractors, preserving the soil for future crops.
Part 2: The Custom Legends (The “All-Time” Giants)
6. Big Bud 16V-747
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Horsepower: 1,100 hp
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Weight: ~100,000 lbs
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Status: The Undisputed G.O.A.T.
The Unique Story:
You cannot have a list without The Big Bud. Built in 1977 in Havre, Montana, for the Rossi Brothers, it was designed for one thing: deep ripping cotton fields in California. It is not just a tractor; it is a monument.
Insider Fact: The “16V” in its name doesn’t stand for valves; it stands for its engine configuration—a massive 16-cylinder Detroit Diesel. The tires were custom-made by a Canadian company and are 8 feet tall. When the tire company went bankrupt, the Big Bud had to retire to a museum because no one on earth made tires that fit it anymore. (Good news: It recently got new shoes and is running again as of 2024!).
7. Big Bud 950/50
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Horsepower: 950 (Upgraded to ~1,200 Peak)
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Status: The “Restomod” Monster
The Unique Story:
Think of this as the Big Bud 747’s younger, angrier brother. Originally a standard Big Bud, it was rebuilt by Big Equipment Co. in the 2000s. They dropped in a CAT engine that was capable of pushing 1,200 horsepower, arguably making it more powerful than the 747 for a brief time, though they throttled it back to save the transmission.
8. Rite 750 Earthquake
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Horsepower: 850 hp
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Engine: Detroit Diesel 12V-92
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Origin: USA (Montana)
The Unique Story:
Montana was apparently the capital of giant tractors in the 70s. The Rite 750 “Earthquake” is one of only 38 Rite tractors ever built.
The “Cool” Factor:
While Big Bud gets the fame, the Rite 750 has a cult following because of its engine sound. The Detroit Diesel “screamer” engine is known for turning fuel into noise—a distinctive, high-pitched whine that lets you hear the Earthquake coming from miles away.
9. John Deere 10X 890 “Copy Cat.”
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Horsepower: 890 hp
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Engine: V12 Caterpillar
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Status: The Fan-Made Beast
The Unique Story:
This is the only tractor on the list that wasn’t built by a factory. It was built by a passionate enthusiast named Ashton Lewis who wanted to recreate a legendary experimental Deere tractor. He took a standard John Deere 8960 frame and stretched it to fit a V12 Caterpillar engine.
Why It’s on the List: It is widely considered the 3rd or 4th largest tractor in existence, despite being a custom “garage” build. It proves that with enough welding wire and a big enough dream, you can rival the biggest corporations in the world.
10. Versatile 1080 “Big Roy.”
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Horsepower: 600 hp
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Wheels: 8 (Four axles)
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Status: The Museum Piece
The Unique Story:
Named after Roy Robinson (president of Versatile), “Big Roy” is a freak of nature. Unlike articulated tractors that bend in the middle, Big Roy steers like a car—but has four axles and eight wheels.
The Design Flaw:
The engine is located behind the cab. This meant the driver couldn’t see the tow bar to hook up equipment. The solution in 1977? It was one of the first vehicles in history to have a Closed-Circuit TV (CCTV) camera system installed just so the driver could see where they were going in reverse!
Summary: Who Wins in 2025?
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If you want to buy one: The John Deere 9RX 830 is the current king of production horsepower.
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If you want history: The Big Bud 747 remains the heaviest and most powerful tractor ever to turn a wheel.
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If you want tech: The Case IH 715 offers the most futuristic user experience.
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