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A 23-minute YouTube video shows a Pacific P510 logging truck working in New Zealand’s Kaingaroa State Forest in 1991, with a turbocharged 14.6-liter Caterpillar engine in both the tractor and the lead trailer. The unusual arrangement reportedly produced about 900 horsepower combined; a former colleague says the truck’s former owner is restoring it, though the trailer’s whereabouts are uncertain.
Archival footage shows a Pacific P510 logging truck hauling timber in New Zealand’s Kaingaroa State Forest in 1991, with a turbocharged 14.6-liter Caterpillar diesel engine not only in the truck but also in its lead trailer. The unusual setup reportedly made about 900 horsepower combined to help the rig haul heavy loads across demanding logging roads.
The footage, which runs about 23 minutes, was posted by the YouTube channel Trucks on Video – CP Productions, which says it recovered the original recording. The Drive’s report identifies the vehicle as a Pacific P510 commissioned by the Magee family for its Marathon Trucking operation. The video description says it was filmed in the forest in 1991.
The truck’s tractor had a turbocharged Caterpillar 3406B, while the leading trailer carried a similarly sized, turbocharged Caterpillar 3406A. Each engine reportedly drove a separate Allison automatic transmission. Both were equipped with Caterpillar BrakeSaver systems, which use an oil turbine to help slow the engine. The trailer engine’s air intakes were moved above the truck’s subframe after dust caused problems with the engine’s air supply.
A person who said they worked alongside the Magee family during the truck’s operating years described the build and its challenges in a comment on the video. The commenter said the rig used Mercedes-Benz differentials with hub-reduction planetaries after other options proved unsuitable or unavailable. The same commenter said former owner Lance Magee had received the truck and was restoring it, but did not know whether the powered lead trailer still existed.
Why the Trailer Had Its Own Engine
Putting an engine in the trailer addressed a practical limit: the tractor’s hood could not accommodate a second Caterpillar engine, while the operation faced the demands of hauling heavy timber on forest roads. The source report says New Zealand logging rigs may pull three or four trailers, making power and downhill control important considerations. The P510’s arrangement spread propulsion across the truck and lead trailer rather than relying on a longer or more powerful tractor alone.
The design also highlights how specialist equipment can be shaped by a specific job. Its separate engines, transmissions, air intakes and braking systems made the combination more complex than a standard tractor-trailer. The account of dust-related engine trouble and the search for suitable differentials shows the practical trade-offs behind the unusual configuration, not just its headline power figure.
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A Forest Built for Timber Hauling
Kaingaroa State Forest is described in the report as New Zealand’s largest plantation forest, covering almost 1,100 square miles. The land, formerly volcanic scrubland, was converted in the 1920s and 1930s to grow radiata pine, Douglas fir and other species. Its scale and commercial forestry helped create the demanding hauling work for which the P510 was commissioned.
The idea of adding propulsion to equipment between the tractor and its trailers was not entirely new. In the 1960s, Freightliner tested a powered-axle connector known as the Power Dolly, fitted with a Cummins V6 to assist multi-trailer combinations on steep climbs. According to The Drive, that project remained a prototype. Modern powered trailers have also drawn interest, but the examples cited in the report use electric motors rather than a large diesel engine and mechanical driveline.
““One of the biggest problems when they first started was keeping dust out and a clean air supply to the second engine.””
— A commenter who said they worked alongside the Magee family
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The Trailer’s Fate Is Unknown
The truck’s reported restoration has not been independently detailed in the source material. It is unclear when the work began, how much has been completed, or whether the truck is currently operational. The commenter said the lead trailer might have been cut up for scrap but presented that as uncertain, not confirmed. The article does not provide an independently verified output figure, so the combined 900-horsepower estimate should be treated as reported rather than a documented test result.
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Restoration Details to Watch
The next meaningful update would be confirmation from Lance Magee or the restoration team about the truck’s condition, progress and plans for the engines and transmissions. The fate of the powered trailer is also unresolved: locating it, confirming it was scrapped, or identifying a replacement would clarify whether the original truck-and-trailer combination can be reunited. The available report does not give a restoration schedule or announce a public showing.
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Key Questions
What truck is shown in the footage?
The footage shows a Pacific P510 logging truck working in Kaingaroa State Forest, New Zealand. The Drive’s report says it was commissioned by the Magee family for Marathon Trucking and filmed in 1991.
How many engines did the rig have?
It had two turbocharged, 14.6-liter Caterpillar diesel engines: a 3406B in the tractor and a 3406A in the lead trailer.
How much power did the two engines make?
The report gives a combined estimate of about 900 horsepower. The source material does not identify a measured test or provide documentation for that figure.
Is the truck being restored?
A commenter who said they worked with the Magee family reported that Lance Magee had received the truck and was restoring it. The source does not provide a restoration schedule or independent confirmation of its current condition.
Does the powered trailer still exist?
That is unclear. The commenter said they had been told the trailer might have been cut up for scrap, but did not confirm its fate.
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