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A report by The Drive revisits footage of a New Zealand Pacific P510 logging truck fitted with two turbocharged Caterpillar diesel engines: one in the tractor and one in the lead trailer. The unusual rig was built for Marathon Trucking to haul logs in Kaingaroa Forest; its former driver says it is being restored, though the trailer’s whereabouts are uncertain.
A Pacific P510 logging truck shown in archival New Zealand footage carried a turbocharged Caterpillar diesel engine in both the tractor and its lead trailer, giving the unusual rig power at both ends of the combination. The Drive has revisited the video, which shows the truck working in Kaingaroa State Forest and describes a specialized solution for hauling heavy log loads over demanding forest roads.
The tractor used a 14.6-liter Caterpillar 3406B, while the lead trailer carried a turbocharged Caterpillar 3406A of the same displacement. The Drive reports that the two engines produced about 900 horsepower combined. Each was paired with a separate Allison automatic transmission, and both engines had Caterpillar BrakeSaver systems to help slow the rig on descents.
The source says the Magee family commissioned the truck for its Marathon Trucking operation. The trailer engine’s air intakes were moved to the back of the cab after dust caused problems for the engine. A commenter on the YouTube video, who said they worked alongside the Magee family, also described early difficulties with the truck’s differentials and said Mercedes-Benz axles with hub-reduction planetary gears were used on the front trailer.
The footage was posted by Trucks on Video – CP Productions, which published a 23-minute video identified as being filmed in 1991. The Drive says the video’s description draws on material that appears to come from New Zealand trucking coverage. Details about the truck’s present condition and restoration come from a commenter who said former driver Lance Magee had recently been given the vehicle and was restoring it.
Why the Trailer Needed Its Own Engine
Installing an engine in the lead trailer was a way to add power without trying to fit another large diesel under the tractor’s hood. That mattered in a logging operation where, according to The Drive, trucks could pull three or four trailers and had to work on steep or remote forest roads. The arrangement made the trailer a powered part of the working combination, rather than simply a load-bearing cart.
The rig also shows how operators adapted equipment to local demands before current electric trailer-assist systems drew attention to the idea. Its reported dual transmissions and retarders served a practical purpose on downhill runs, where controlling a heavy timber load was as important as pulling it uphill. The video offers a rare view of a highly specialized working truck, rather than a design proposal or modern demonstration vehicle.
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A Logging Rig Built for Kaingaroa
The truck worked in Kaingaroa State Forest, which The Drive describes as New Zealand’s largest plantation forest, covering nearly 1,100 square miles. The land was converted to plantation forestry during the 1920s and 1930s, with radiata pine and Douglas fir among the trees grown there. The scale and terrain of the operation help explain why a trucking company would commission a rig with an additional engine.
Adding drive to a trailer was not a new concept. The Drive points to Freightliner’s Power Dolly, tested in the 1960s with a Cummins V6 to assist multi-trailer combinations on steep climbs. That system did not advance beyond the prototype stage. Modern trailer-assist products have also appeared, but examples cited by The Drive use electric power and are not direct equivalents to the diesel-powered Pacific.
““Combined, they made something like 900 horsepower.””
— The Drive, describing the rig’s engine setup
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The Trailer’s Location Is Unknown
The most significant gap in the truck’s story is the front trailer’s whereabouts. The commenter who said the truck is being restored also said they had been told the trailer may have been cut up for scrap, but they did not confirm that it happened. The source material does not independently verify the trailer’s condition, whether it has been found, or how much of the original rig remains together.
The restoration report is also based on the commenter’s account, not a statement from Lance Magee or the restoration team. The source does not give a timetable, describe the work completed, or confirm whether both engines and transmissions remain operational. The reported horsepower is approximate, and no independent performance test is provided.
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Restoration Could Clarify Its Fate
The immediate development to watch is whether the Pacific P510 restoration progresses and whether the lead trailer can be located. The source provides no announced completion date and no confirmed public plan for the restored truck. Further updates from the Magee family or the people carrying out the work could establish which components survive and whether the truck will run again in its original configuration.
For now, the 1991 footage and the accompanying account preserve the clearest details available in the supplied reporting: a tractor and powered trailer, two Caterpillar engines, and a machine built for New Zealand’s logging conditions. The trailer’s fate and the restoration’s eventual outcome remain open.
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Key Questions
What engines powered the Pacific P510?
The tractor had a turbocharged 14.6-liter Caterpillar 3406B, and the lead trailer had a turbocharged Caterpillar 3406A of the same displacement. The Drive reports combined output of about 900 horsepower.
Why was an engine installed in the trailer?
The extra engine added power to a rig built for heavy logging work and multi-trailer hauling. The source says the tractor’s hood could not accommodate another large Caterpillar engine.
Where did the truck operate?
The footage is identified as being filmed in Kaingaroa State Forest in New Zealand in 1991. The Drive describes the area as the country’s largest plantation forest.
Is the truck being restored?
A commenter who said they worked alongside the Magee family reported that former driver Lance Magee had been given the truck and was restoring it. The source does not independently confirm the restoration’s progress or completion date.
Does the powered trailer still exist?
Its location is not confirmed. The commenter said they had heard it might have been scrapped, but did not establish that it was.
Source: rss
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