Moreland Kenworth LW924 restoration preserves harvest and haulage history

13 May 20

Our Stories

The successful operation of a plantation estate relies on many different individuals and businesses. We always appreciate the dedicated teams of our contractors, and are especially grateful for how they have helped us during the pandemic by ensuring our essential products make it to market, whilst observing the physical distancing protocols.

At OneFortyOne we are fortunate to have the support of businesses like Moreland Holdings, making sure our trees are safely transported to their destination.

Moreland has a rich Trans-Tasman history, with expertise gained over generations. Kelvin Moreland shared the fascinating history of his 1976 Kenworth LW924.

“This truck is a replica of my father, Colin Moreland’s, Kenworth LW924 that he used on pine and native logging in the top of New Zealand’s South Island in the late 70’s, early 80’s. 

His truck was actually a 1973 build. The truck was sold when we moved to Australia and went to 2 other owners. Hence why we have a replica.  The trailer is identical to what Dad had.

I bought the truck and chassis of the trailer in New Zealand and shipped it to Australia. This truck, while not Dad’s actual truck, is still one of the group of trucks ordered by Pan Pac in 1973 and 1976 for log cartage between Taupo and Napier on the North Island of New Zealand.  Mills-Tui in Rotorua originally built the trailer and the logging subframe.  Dad’s actual truck did not enter service with Pan Pac but was bought by an owner driver first up, and then Dad obtained it. I believe that this is the only Canadian built Kenworth in Australia.           

I picked the truck up from the Kaitaia area of New Zealand and drove it down to Rotorua, where I acquired the trailer (without axles), and then drove to Nelson where I shipped it to Melbourne.

I ended up stripping it down to a bare chassis.  I sent the cab and bonnets off to our truck painter, “The Truck Factory” in Adelaide, who made some new panels, painted and pin-striped it and put clear over the top.  We went to do a head gasket due to a bit of an oil leak but noticed a couple of cracked pistons so rebuilt the engine.  I had to re-core the radiator, run all new air lines and electrics and rebuild the interior.  Also built the whole logging subframe, cab guard and ring fender mountings from scratch.  I fitted new axles and whole new air system and electrics to the trailer, along with mounting the log bolster and building a new sliding drawbar.  I have built the truck to be as close to original as possible.”

“It is fully complianced to cart a full load of around 26 tonnes, probably a lot less than Dad carted back in the day! 

 After finishing the restoration, I have taken it to a few shows, both loaded and empty.  I am planning to take it to Alice Springs in 2021 for the big truck reunion show.”

The 1976 Kenworth LW924

Built in Burnaby, Canada and imported into New Zealand for Pan Pac, Napier.

While basically a W-model, the LW means that it was built specifically for logging in the Pacific North West and was built a lot tougher than a W-model.  The LW model later evolved into the C500 range.

Engine:                Cummins NTC350 Small Cam, 350 hp/1120 ft.lbs.

Transmission:    Roadranger  RTO9513, 13 speed overdrive.

Suspension:        Hendrickson RTE Walking Beam

Diffs:                    Rockwell SSHD at 4.89:1 Ratio

Trailer:                 1970 Mills Tui 2 axle jinker.  Built in Rotorua, New Zealand.


Dad’s actual truck loaded with Kahikatea and Rimu out of Mangarakau for sawmill near Takaka, New Zealand
The truck I bought in New Zealand, 2013
The bare bones
Restoration almost there
The fully restored Kenworth LW924


OneFortyOne acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their deep connections to land, water, and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all First Nations people today.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori communities have a strong spiritual connection between people and the land – the wellbeing of one sustains the wellbeing of the other. We strive to build meaningful relationships with iwi as tangata whenua (people of the land/region), to be responsible intergenerational kaitiaki (stewards/guardians) of the land where our forests grow.