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A 23-minute video documents a Pacific P510 logging truck working in New Zealand’s Kaingaroa State Forest with a turbocharged 14.6-liter Caterpillar diesel in the truck and another in its lead trailer. The unusual setup reportedly produced about 900 horsepower combined; a firsthand commenter 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 with a turbocharged 14.6-liter Caterpillar diesel in both the tractor and its lead trailer, an unusual arrangement intended to add power for heavy forestry work. The video, posted by Trucks on Video – CP Productions, documents the rig in the Kaingaroa State Forest; a commenter with firsthand knowledge says former owner Lance Magee has since received the truck and is restoring it.
The truck’s tractor was powered by a mechanical Caterpillar 3406B, while the leading trailer carried a similar Caterpillar 3406A. Both engines had turbochargers, and the source report estimates their combined output at about 900 horsepower. Each engine was connected to its own Allison automatic transmission, giving the trailer’s axles a separate source of drive rather than relying solely on the tractor to pull the load.
The setup was commissioned by the Magee family for use by its Marathon Trucking company. The video description identifies the footage as filmed in Kaingaroa State Forest, where logging operations could involve multiple trailers. The source report says the trailer engine’s air intakes were eventually moved above the truck’s subframe to reduce dust entering the engine after an earlier dust-related failure.
A commenter claiming to have worked alongside the Magees described other design challenges. They said the rig used Mercedes-Benz differentials with hub-reduction planetary gearing on the front trailer after the builders could not obtain the preferred Renault units and initial Meritor Rockwell differentials could not handle the weight. The commenter also recalled spring-loaded bolsters designed to fold inward during loading. Those details come from the commenter’s account, rather than independently verified engineering records.
Why the Trailer Had Its Own Engine
The P510 illustrates a practical response to the demands of heavy logging and multi-trailer hauling: instead of fitting another engine under the tractor’s hood, the builders installed one on the lead trailer. That arrangement gave the trailer driven axles and added power to a combination designed for demanding forest roads.
The configuration also points to the trade-offs behind the design. A second engine and transmission meant more machinery to operate and maintain, while dust protection and drivetrain durability posed real problems, according to the firsthand commenter. The account says both engines had separate throttle controls in the cab and transmission retarders, alongside Caterpillar BrakeSaver systems. The commenter recalled that the braking effect on downhill runs was strong enough to be unsettling, but that description is a personal recollection, not a measured performance test.
Caterpillar 14.6L diesel engine for trucks
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The Kaingaroa Logging Operation
Kaingaroa State Forest is described in the source report as New Zealand’s largest plantation forest, covering almost 1,100 square miles. Planted with species including radiata pine and Douglas fir after development in the 1920s and 1930s, it has supported substantial commercial forestry. The forest’s scale and rugged working conditions help explain why operators needed trucks capable of moving heavy timber over remote roads.
The idea of adding power to equipment between the tractor and trailers was not entirely new. The source report notes that Freightliner tested a Power Dolly in the 1960s, using a Cummins V6 to assist multi-trailer combinations on steep climbs; the project did not progress beyond prototype. Modern powered trailers have also drawn attention, mostly with electric drivetrains, but those designs differ from the P510’s diesel engine, transmission and driveline to the trailer axles.
““The first engine was dusted and that’s when they relocated the air intake and air rams up over and above the subframe of the truck.””
— A YouTube commenter who says they worked alongside the Magee family
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The Trailer’s Current Whereabouts
The source report does not provide independent confirmation of the restoration, its progress or the truck’s present condition. The commenter says Lance Magee received the truck and is restoring it, but does not establish when the work began or whether it remains underway. The commenter also says they were told the powered lead trailer may have been cut up for scrap; its fate is not confirmed.
The combined output of about 900 horsepower is presented as an estimate, and the supplied account does not give a test record or precise engine ratings for this specific rig. The video and comment offer useful documentation, but some technical history and operating details remain attributed recollections.
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Restoration Details to Watch
The next meaningful update would be confirmation from Magee or the restoration team about the truck’s condition, the work being done and whether any original components survive. The lead trailer’s location is a separate open question: the commenter says Magee had asked about it, but offers no verified answer.
Until more information is available, the archival video remains the clearest supplied record of the P510 operating as a twin-engine truck-and-trailer combination. Further reporting could establish whether the tractor can be returned to working order and whether the trailer engine, drivetrain or loading equipment can be documented or recovered.
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Key Questions
What was unusual about the Pacific P510?
It had a turbocharged Caterpillar diesel engine in the tractor and another in the lead trailer, with each connected to its own Allison automatic transmission.
How much power did the two engines make?
The source report estimates about 900 horsepower combined. It does not provide a formal test result for the truck.
Where did the truck operate?
The footage is identified as showing the rig in Kaingaroa State Forest in New Zealand, hauling logs for Marathon Trucking.
Is the truck being restored?
A commenter who says they knew the Magee family wrote that Lance Magee received the truck and is restoring it. The restoration status has not been independently confirmed in the supplied source material.
Does the powered trailer still exist?
Its whereabouts are unclear. The commenter said they had been told it may have been scrapped, but that has not been confirmed.
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