Tote Gote

A tote gote is an off-hiway trail scooter/motorcycle made by the Bonham Company in the United States from 1958 to 1970. They were made in three plants across the United States. The main plant being in Provo, Utah a smaller plant in Pomona, California and the smallest plant being in Keysor, West Virginia.

Some history:

The tote gote was inveted after the creator Ralph Bonham got tired of walking when he went hunting. He got the idea in 1957 about making a "Off hiway cycle" He then started playing around with several designs. After about a year he had his first "Mechanical got" he later called it a catchy tote gote. Because it would "Tote" deer out of the woods. The first tote gotes could only go 5 mph up hill or down. It was to slow for functional use. He played around with the design. And after changing the design four times the first tote gote was created in November of 1957. He then used the tote gote for its intended purpose to haul deer out of the woods, and just exploring the back country. After sparking the interest of several hunters. He decided to produce one and see how it would sell. With in a few months of completion the second tote gote (first of production) sold on June 1, 1958 to a man named David Andrews from Salt Lake City. That same year he decided to mass produce tote gotes. He estimated that he would sell 25 a year at the end of 1958 he had sold 119. In 1959 he sold 1,200. In 1960 it was 3,700. And 1961 the Bonham Corporation was shooting for 7,000. It is unknown (after 1959 there was no record published on how many tote gotes were produced). Soon after he had developed the Tote-Gote, Ralph called in his father to help with the business.  His father, Bond Bonham, who has had some limited success with previous inventions, was president of Bonham Corporation. Ralph did what he liked best research and development work. He worked on continual improvements to the Tote-Gote as well as on several new products. Some new products over the years were the loadstar III a three wheeled tote gote. A more street based model called a colligete, A regular mini bike call a "mini gote", A few mysterious 4 wheeled prototype vehicles made for the military, Tote Gote trailers For hauling a tote gote, A trike called a "dune gote", And several models of the "NOVA" shaft drive tote gotes. The earliest models used chain drive and had an advanced system of gears, Pulleys, Sprockets, springs, etc they first tote gote were single speed using jack shafts, sprockets, belt pulleys etc. Im order to keep your games legs from getting stuck in the chains and belts Bonham used side screens mounted on the sides of the frame. The early models did not offer a lighting system. Models such as the collegiate came stock with a lighting system. The later NOVA model series incorporated a worm gear drive shaft rather than a chain. The Nova series also incorporated several other features and options such as a two speed centrifugal clutch. A Special lever that can change the speed (Hi-free-wheel-lo) and also to take it out of gear for pushing the NOVA. Another interesting thing about the nova is that the engine mounted forward rather than sideways. There is little to no information on the "dune gote" the three wheeled. Model 103 trike. But there is some information on the "Loadstar III" Some other later models also had a more extensive features the charger 501 (formerly the loadstar III they abonded it because charger sounded more peppy) had a 3 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, The model 505 was the same as 501 but had a higher load capacity. The model 504 was more of a people carrier than a workhorse. The model 502 was the "Big Brother" to the models 502/504 and featured a six horse Tecumseh engine, a quarter-ton load capacity, and a swing down tail gate. The loadstar and Spartan had 3 wheels (III meaning three wheels) it's intended propous was to not go on trails but to provide a utility vehicle for around construction sites and wharehouses.But as for trailers Bonham made some basic models they included were simple with sheet metal sides, and no tail lights, turn signals, etc. Some trailer models included: Model 101 a simple two wheel trailer that could carry 4 tote gotes and did not have sides. Model 102 was the same as 101 but it had sides and three wheels (Two in back one in front).The idea behind the three wheel idea is that it would stand upright when unhitched. This was more for commercial use as well as non-commercial. Model 103 was the must rugged model and had a 500 lb. payload. Had larger wheels, and could carry four tote gotes or two chargers. Another model Bonham made was a Snow mobile/Dune buggy vehicle called a Spartan. The Spartan consisted of a rear track driven sled type vehicle using a six horse power Tecumseh engine and the Bonham "Climb-away transmission" (centrifugal clutch. It came with skis for the front of the machine but it also came with wheels for use in sand, dirt, swamp and during the summer months. The max speed of the Spartan was 28 mph. An accessory for the Spartan was canopy curtains so you could keep rain and dirt and snow off of you. After producing Tote Gotes for thirteen years the 

Bonham Company closed its doors in 1970. They sold off the remaining parts off for several years after they closed. Meaning New Old Stock parts (or NOS) are impossible to find. Today tote gote are still very trail worthy machines and an out climb most dirt bikes. You can still get several parts from a few small online retailers. Or fuel petcocks at you corner hardware store. All and all the tote gote forms to make a Powerful, Strong, Easy to ride and pleasant to the eye machine.

Some of the other models were:

Model B (first model) Chain drive

Model P Chain drive

Model 403 Chain drive

Model 600 Chain drive

Model 610 Chain drive

Model 665 Chain drive

Model 666 Chain drive

Model 430 Chain drive

Model 430 Chain drive

Model 430-5 Chain drive

Model 431 Chain drive

Model 431-5 Chain drive

Model 530 Chain drive

Model 531 Chain drive

Model 750 Chain drive

Model 760 Chain drive

Model 770 Chain drive

Model 670 "NOVA" Bonham worm gear drive (Actually made by national tire and wheel.)

Model 780 "NOVA" Bonham worm gear drive (Actually made by national tire and wheel.)

Model 303 Collegiate (Street and trail based, collage campus bike)

Model Trail skeeter (tote gote)

Model 500 (mini gote)

Model 101 (trailer)

Model 102 (trailer)

Model 103 (trailer)

Model 660 (Spartan snow mobile/Dune buggy)

Model 501 (Charger 3 wheel trike)

Model 502 (Charger 3 wheel trike)

Model 503 (Charger 3 wheel trike)

Model 504 (Charger 3 wheel trike)

Model 505 (Charger 3 wheel trike)

Model Dune Gote (More family fun designed trtike)

Various prototypes such as a few 4 wheeled vehicles for military use. Several prototype tote gotes (The was one on eBay® in November 2005)

Some Tote gote facts:

Ralph Bonham Originally wove basketball and fishing nets. After selling several nets he started to produce these in his basement at his house and the Pomona plant (which would later house the tote gote plant) He invented a machine called a jig that could weave these nets. And had ladies weave these in his basement of his home through the early and mid 50's.

There was originally a company before Bonham called "Luther trail gote" after Bonham’s tote gote came along toe Luther company had to change there name to "goat" instead of "gote".

Some accessory’s where:

Front metal box for gas can or other items, A front saddle bag (Bonham called it a “Grab Bag”, A 6-volt delta Head light, Or sealed beam general electric head light (White only), A rear rack that folds down (Bonham called it a “Pak Rack”), Snub downs later called snuber rubbers also known as bungee cords, Front and rear tie chains for snow, a snow plow blade, either a front Buddy seat or a rear buddy seat with rear foot pegs, Tail lights ( The collegiate came stock with rear tail lights), A side car, and front brakes (Although most models had front brakes some did not thus is why it was a option.)

Some tote gote competitors were Tule trooper, CYCLE-TRAC using a rear snowmobile track, Cushman with there trailster model using there own Cushman husky engine, Luther trail gote/goat, Yard marvel, Pack-mule, Blazer (after the Bonham company closed several employees tried to start another trail cycle company it failed), Trans-sport, Mustang, Hathkit, HillBilly, Forester, Trail King, Pak-cycle? And Explorer there are probably many more the 50's and 60's was the golden era of the trail scooters.