Anybody ever been on a Big Bud tractor?

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Anybody ever been out in the western USA and saw the Big Buds or other 4wds run around? I had the chance last year. Visited Meissner tractor in Havre, MO - where the Big Bud tractor was built. Classy people - really really nice. Even gave me a picture of the 747. Big Power, where the orignal owner has an office, was also nice.

I sat on one as well - their nice tractors. Too heavy for row crop country, but the tractor isn't too shabby. Even comes with an optional fridge.

If you ever get the chance to be out there, take it. It's awesome country.

2 websites - www.meissners.com
www.bigbud.com - will get you some info

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Have been there a few times but not in recent years. Montana and bordering states and provinces were probably the pioneer area for use of the four wheel drive farm tractor. I assume they replace  crawlers there. It seemed there used to be more steel tracked crawlers in the triangle area compared to other areas on the plains where I don't think I've seen any. If you looked enough you could probably find an early 8010 John Deere or IH 4300 sitting on a lot 10-15 years ago. Some of those are pretty rare tractors. Did you see any old yellow Wagners around the area?  I think the Big bud designs may have had some common heritage with the Wagner which was out of production when Big Bud started making tractors. Rite also built somewhat similar tractors in Montana about the same time and may have been partially descended from the Wagner design. "Big Tractor" posters show a yellow colored Rite as well as the Big Buds on one of their posters I think.

[FarmerJohn]

I saw a great video with those big tractors you just named. It's called Big Iron and they must have a website somewhere. I believe it's called www.traktortotal.com. I guess it comes as close to the real thing as possible.

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The BigIron video i´s made by Peter Simpson, author of "Ultimate Tractor Power, articulated tractors from around the world"-book.
Peter Simpson has a website at www.bigtractorpower.com, (managed by Jason Hasert of Toytractorshow.com)

It is a great Video indeed, I wonder if it works on american VHS format though.

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I'm glad you guys posted the Traktortotal and Big Tractor Power sites. I never thought about the VHS consideration on ordering videos. I clicked on pictures on the Traktortotal site and there are some great pictures of Big Buds in white and Rite's in yellow. The second picture from the left on the bottom row is a FWD Wagner. The first one in the bottom left in yellow is a Rome (forgot the original name) which was built in Texas for the rice fields. Some of them went to 600 HP and used Cat components.