Learn about Jenna Industries rebuilt heavy haul trucks, the founding and where the company is today.
Jenna Industries was founded when two friends, Ron Coulson and Lyle Newton, reminisced about the good old days in the logging industry over scotch and cigars. The conversation inevitably turned to the legendary durability of the iconic heavy-haul ‘Fat Trucks’ built in the 1960s.
These trucks were the backbone of the logging industry on Vancouver Island and the Pacific Northwest during the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. From these reflections came the belief that rebuilt ‘Fat Trucks,’ if fitted with today’s advanced technologies, could be repurposed for other industries.
Dane Magdanz oversees the rebuild operations. Dane is the great-grandson of Cliff Coulson, a logging pioneer who started logging in 1947 after returning from the war. Cliff’s first truck was a Kenworth, and his first new truck was a 1956 Hayes HD, affectionately known as a ‘baby Hayes.’ The ‘baby Hayes’ was completely rebuilt in the early 1980s by Coulson’s friend John Casnave and is still displayed at Island truck shows. John was the renowned designer and builder of the famous Challenger trucks, of which 14 were built. Coulson later owned many off-highway heavy-haul trucks, all purpose-built in British Columbia to serve the Pacific Northwest logging industry.
During that time, heavy haul trucks included Pacific P16, Kenworth 850, and Hayes HDX, collectively called ‘Fat Trucks on the Coast,’ ‘Prime Movers in the oil fields,’ and ‘Sows in Alaska.’ Notably, production of these trucks began in the early 1960s and continued through to the mid-1990s, a true testament to the design and strength of these purpose-built units.
The Supermax Heavy-Haul A1000 has a 175-ton capacity with hydraulic or stationary 5th wheels. These brutes are designed and custom-built to pull a 250-ton low bed and are ready to meet extreme heavy-hauling ratio requirements.
Original Pacific, Hayes, and Kenworth trucks are stripped to the bare frame, sandblasted, primed and painted. Our team completely rebuilds the Clark rear-ends, either the BD121s or BD91s, based on client ratios and specifications. After conducting an in-house analysis, we find most clients want Allison 6061 transmissions powered with C15 Caterpillar engines – a winning combination. During the build process, turbos and starters are replaced, while radiators are rebuilt to spec.
Our updated cabs are sandblasted, with new glass and insulation installed. New interiors are customized to customer specifications, including optional upgrades such as air conditioning, GPS, electronics, LED lights, and backup and side cameras. The brakes, tires and lights are meticulously designed and installed to enhance performance, safety and efficiency.
Once rebuilt, these ‘Fat Trucks’ leave the Jenna factory with a new standard of excellence while preserving the qualities that made them the best off-highway heavy-haulers.
Our team of expert heavy-duty mechanics are capable of constructing anything a client requires and can innovate and improve to meet the most demanding customer needs. Our talented welders and red-seal painters are perfectionists. Each team member is highly qualified in their respective fields, with years of hands-on experience.
According to Sean Karasiuk, one of our Heavy Duty Mechanics, “I’m like a kid in a candy store. This is a dream job. We take these vehicles, tear them down to the frame and completely rebuild them…better than when they came out of the factory. We modernize them with custom-built components. We bring them up to the highest 2024 standard.”
Jenna Industries works collaboratively with clients to meet their heavy-haul needs. We do this by rebuilding engines, transmissions, rear ends, installing new interiors, completely rewiring electrical systems, and more – all modernized for today’s use. Details like LED headlights and GPS location capabilities make these heavy industry vehicles equipped for the demands of today’s environment.
We offer a variety of hard-to-find pre-owned logging equipment, as well as dump and gravel trucks, along with parts and accessories. “Here at Jenna Industries, our entire team takes pride in working closely with customers to customize our products according to their specific hauling needs. Through direct consultation, we aim to meet every requirement and ensure that each client’s truck is unique and perfectly suited for its intended use” according to Dane Magdanz.
Jenna Industries specializes in hard-to-find Pacific’s P16, Kenworth’s 850, and Hayes HDX Off Highway Logging trucks and low bed trailers.
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