PM Trac -A Forestry Workhorse

Pm Trac – German engineering designed specifically for forestry use

With the presentation of the Pm Trac at the ZLF 2004 fair in Munich, Pfanzelt set new standards in the field of system tractors and in 2023, the company presented their latest models, the Generation 38 series with a power output of up to 292 hp for the very first time.

However, unlike many other forestry machines, the PM Trac is not based on the chassis of an agricultural tractor, but has been developed from the ground up specifically for forestry use. The chassis is an in-house development by Pfanzelt, which makes the Pm Trac stand out as probably the only real forestry tractor on the market.

80,000 Hours

That’s a remarkable amount of work hours for a single machine, the Norcar 600 owned by Erkki Rinne is taken well care of, it even has the original Diesel engine.
Kieran Anders Forestry

Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
Promoting safety in the workplace

It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
Glasfryn Fencing and Sawmill

Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
Keeping Timber Hauliers Safe

Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.

FIND US ON

The central feature of the machine concept is the centrally located XXL comfort cab, which offers an optimal overview. This design creates a central body space above the rear axle, which can be used in a variety of ways.

The Pm Trac shows its strengths especially in professional forestry use: For example, the rear body space can be used for a winch and a forestry crane. A unique feature is the front axle lock integrated into the frame of the vehicle, which gives the Pm Trac an otherwise unrivalled stability during crane work. Different crane types and winches can be changed within 20 minutes thanks to the Pfanzelt system mount.

In addition to handling timber, the Pm Trac is also suitable for use with a forestry mulcher or an energy logging grapple. Powerful auxiliary hydraulics which are driven directly by the gearbox’s power take-off enables the operation of a mulching head on the forestry crane. The rear PTO is accessible even when the crane and winch are mounted.

Another highlight is the variaDRIVE gearbox specially developed by Pfanzelt. It enables a smooth and fast change of direction up to 7 km/h without using the clutch and offers a pleasant road ride at up to 50 km/h as well as optimal off-road capability.

The uniqueness of the Pm Trac was also highlighted at the forstARENA live show on 28.02.2025. There, customers who have switched from agricultural tractors to the Pm Trac reported their experiences. In addition, impressive operational reports were shown, illustrating the performance of the Pm Trac in timber handling.

Engine with 205, 253 or 292 hp
variaDRIVE continuously variable split transmission, up to 50 km/h (max. speed with reduced engine speed)
Hydraulic system with 160 l/min at 210 bar (optional 200 l/min and additional power pack directly on the gearbox PTO)
New software and touchscreen operating terminals for machine control

Areas of application

Forestry

Forwarding of long and short timber

For long and short timber forwarding, the rear mounting space, which is located directly above the rear axle, is used for mounting the cable winch and forest crane. Depending on the area of application, a rear crane (low column) or a loading crane (high column) can be set up with a favourable centre of gravity.

With Pfanzelt’s system mount, the different types of cranes and the forestry winches can quickly and easily be assembled and disassembled.

Versatility in forestry

In forestry, the Pm Trac is not only convincing in classic forwarding use. In addition to the use with a forestry mulcher for area cultivation, the Pm Trac can also show its full potential with an energy woodcutting gripper. When used with a felling unit or a mulching head on the forestry crane which requires a higher hydraulic power, a powerful auxiliary hydraulic system can be installed.

The Pm Trac’s performance spectrum also includes the use of a shredder. In addition to shredders with their own engine, shredders driven by the tractor’s PTO shaft can also be combined. The rear PTO of the Pm Trac is still accessible even with the crane and winch mounted.

Municipality and landscaping

Thanks to the rear attachment space with rear power lift, other implements such as mower spreaders can also be driven in combination with an additional edge mower or area mulcher.

The Pfanzelt System mount serves as a support frame for the Pm Trac. The extreme forces involved when using heavy-duty forwarding cranes or mower implements are absorbed by the supporting frame and dissipated in a controlled way.

The Pm Trac is also the ideal helper in landscape maintenance.

For municipal use, a municipal coupling plate can be installed instead of a front hydraulic system.

Agriculture

As soon as the forestry implements have been removed, the tractor can be used for agricultural purposes without any additional conversion measures, as neither the rear power lift nor any other relevant components are modified for forestry operation. In addition to the rear and front attachment areas, front loader consoles are also part of the multipurpose tractor’s concept.

Technical details that impress:

Six-cylinder engine with 205, 253, and 292 hp respectively, Cleanfix changeover fan, and 400-litre fuel tank
Power-split, continuously variable gear unit variaDRIVE up to 50 km/h
Hydraulic system with 160 l/min at 210 bar (optional 200 l/min as well as additional power pack directly at the power take-off of the gearbox)
New machine control software for complete customisation of the operation to the driver
Pneumatically suspended XXL comfort cab with optimum all-round visibility and rotating operator stand
Support frame with 4 variable mounting and attachment areas for the heaviest implements
Pfanzelt system receptacle (PSA): Toolless quick-change console for crane and cable winch