Taking top spot on the G. White Logging central Kaingaroa Forest skid is the John Deere 859MH zero tail swing tethered levelling harvester our Iron Test team has put through its paces. 

“This thing is an absolutely monstrous beast,” says Iron Test writer, Tim Benseman. “Obscenities are muttered quietly as we walk around it and start opening up the doors. The toolbox on/inside the track frame below the cab is surprising to see but fits in neatly. The levelling rams are huge. Because of the height of the cab above the tracks, several ladders are built in and slide out to make machine checks possible. 

“Being zero tail swing it is very compact but still somehow gives the impression of being well laid out and spacious. This new model has significantly increased engine power on the previous model up from 285HP to 300HP, with the option of getting a further 30HP from John Deere’s 6090H 9 litre diesel engine - but in the current configuration without that option it is producing 213kw with 1290nm of torque.”

To find out how it handles get your copy of the November 2022 edition of NZ Logger magazine, on sale from 30 October. Check the link on this page to subscribe to either a printed or digital copy (or both).