The Deere Doctor: A Tractor Pulling Story Born in North Dakota
If you’ve ever been to a tractor pull in the Red River Valley or down in Florida during the winter, chances are you’ve heard of The Deere Doctor. That’s what some of Rob Bell’s longtime customers call him—and it fits. With over 41 years working in the service department at Valley Plains Equipment in Hillsboro, ND, Rob knows John Deere equipment inside and out.
But what sets Rob apart isn’t just his experience—it’s the tractor Rob built from the ground up and the way he brings it to life at every pull.
So, How Do Tractor Pulls Actually Work?
If you’re new to the world of tractor pulling, here’s the gist. You hook a tractor to a big sled that’s loaded with weights. As the tractor moves forward, the sled gets harder to pull—the weight shifts and digs in. Whoever drags it the farthest wins. And if you make it all the way to the end of the track? That’s called a “full pull.”
There’s a lot more to it than just mashing the throttle. You need the right setup, the right tires, and just the right gear. The track conditions matter. The weight balance matters. And sometimes, even the best-built machines can get caught off guard. It’s part horsepower, part strategy, and a whole lot of fun.
From Broken-Down to Built-Up
The Deere Doctor tractor started as a John Deere 4430 with a blown engine—bought from a customer. He sold off the cab, dropped in an engine he modified that came from a 9610 combine, and got to work building that pulling machine in 2016. Since then, it’s been turning heads and racking up wins.
These days, it runs on 20% soy biodiesel, thanks to sponsorship from Valley Plains Equipment and the North Dakota Soybean Council. The exhaust? Smells a little like French fries, believe it or not.
Every piece of the tractor has a story. The gear shifter is a deer leg. The helmet holder is a deer antler. The side panels? They’ve got a custom illustration of him wearing a doctor’s coat, holding a stethoscope to the chest of a buck. It’s got personality—and power to back it up.
Pulling in Two Worlds
When winter hits, the Deere Doctor and his wife, Rae (they’ve been happily married for 31 years) head down to Winter Haven, Florida. The tractor comes with outfitted with a bigger turbo to take on the tougher competition at the Florida Winter Pulls. That extra power comes with a price, though: it’s peeled the teeth off the high road gear twice.
Recently, after switching transmission cases, he rebuilt the tractor as a 4440 and is planning to upgrade the gearing with a stronger, faster set for the next season.
Up north, he’s been dominating the Red River Valley Pullers Association (RRVPA), winning the points championship every year since the tractor was built—except once, when a breakdown made him miss a pull.
More Than Just Pulling
Even in Florida, he doesn’t slow down much. One day a week, he works remotely for Valley Plains Equipment. A couple more days, he’s helping Florida farmers with repairs. It’s not just a job—it’s in his blood.
A Lifetime of Wrenches, Wins, and Wide Open Throttles
He’s been hooked on tractor pulling since 1989, starting with antiques and working his way up. What’s kept him going all these years? The challenge. The people. And a deep love for the machines that fuel American agriculture.
There are a lot of great stories out there on the pulling circuit—but none quite like this. The Deere Doctor doesn’t just fix tractors. He builds legends, one pull at a time.
Rob’s Latest pull is linked here!
