The Tote Gote is an

off-road Off-roading is the act of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, or other natural terrain. Off-roading ranges from casual drives with regular vehicles to competitive events w ...

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike; uni (if one-wheeled); trike (if three-wheeled); quad (if four-wheeled)) is a lightweight private 1-to-2 passenger personal motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar from a saddle-style ...

that was produced from 1958 to 1970. It was developed by Ralph Bonham.

History

Bonham created the Tote Gote to relieve the exhaustion of walking through the

Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...

mountains while hunting. First called the "Mechanical Goat", it was renamed to refer to its ability to "tote" (carry) deer out of the woods while climbing inclines with the skill of a

mountain goat The mountain goat (''Oreamnos americanus''), also known as the Rocky Mountain goat, is a cloven-footed mammal that is endemic to the remote and rugged mountainous areas of western North America. A subalpine to truly alpine species, it is a s ...

. The first Tote Gotes could reach speeds of only 5 mph (8 km/h), too slow for functional use, and the front wheel rose off the ground when too much

throttle A throttle is a mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by construction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased. The term ''throttle'' ha ...

was applied. The design was eventually perfected in November 1957. The first Tote Gote was sold on 1 June 1958. After entering

mass production Mass production, also known as mass production, series production, series manufacture, or continuous production, is the production of substantial amounts of standardized products in a constant flow, including and especially on assembly lines ...

, 3,700 Tote Gotes were sold in 1960. The second version of the Tote Gote entered the market in 1959, called the Model A or the "Scamp". Ralph Bonham's father, Bond Bonham, became president of the Bonham Corporation while Ralph focused on research and development. Improvements were introduced, such as rear and side screens to protect the

wild game Game or quarry is any wild animal hunted for animal products (primarily meat), for recreation (" sporting"), or for trophies. The species of animals hunted as game varies in different parts of the world and by different local jurisdictions, t ...

and drivers, and lighting systems. New variants were also created, such as the Loadstar III, a three-wheeled Tote Gote for use in warehouses and

plant nurseries A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to a desired size. Mostly the plants concerned are for gardening, forestry, or conservation biology, rather than agriculture. They include retail nurseries, which sell to the general ...

; a street-based model called the Collegiate for use on college campuses; a

minibike A minibike is a two-wheeled, motorized, off-highway recreational vehicle popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, but available continuously from a wide variety of manufacturers since 1959. Their off-highway nature and (in many countries) typically ent ...

called the Mini Gote; and a shaft driven series called the NOVA. After producing Tote Gotes for thirteen years, the Bonham Company closed in 1970 and sold its remaining stock of parts. A community of Tote Gote enthusiasts is still active.

Manufacture

Tote Gotes were painted with a low pressure flow of paint. The frames were placed over a large tub of paint with hoses on either side. The paint was pumped through the hoses while workers directed the flow of paint over the frame. Excess paint ran off the bottom and back into the tub. The frames were rotated while drying to minimize runs. Most were red, fewer yellow, and some green (mostly for the Forest Service). Novas were aquamarine. The paint used was lead-based

Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams is an American paints and coatings company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is primarily engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings, floorcoverings, and related products with operations in over 120 coun ...

Models

*B:

Chain drive Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles. It is also used in a wide variety of machines besides vehicles. ...

. The original model, also called the model A, the "Scamp," and the "Trail Skeeter". The Trail Skeeter included louvered sheet metal sides instead of side screens and a

Briggs & Stratton Briggs & Stratton Corporation is an American manufacturer of small engines with headquarters in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Engine production averages 10 million units per year as of April 2015. The company reports that it has 13 large faciliti ...

engine. The first models used the "Duster" clutch and

continuously variable transmission A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is an automated Transmission (mechanical device), transmission that can change through a continuous range of gear ratios, typically resulting in better fuel economy in gasoline applications. This contr ...

made by Deepco, originally for snowmobiles. Later models used a similar clutch, by Salisbury. *P: Chain-drive. As for the later Model B, except with a larger frame, a engine, and an arch design above the

clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that allows an output shaft to be disconnected from a rotating input shaft. The clutch's input shaft is typically attached to a motor, while the clutch's output shaft is connected to the mechanism that does th ...

mount. ''The first digit in each model number is typically the

horsepower Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are t ...

of that particular model; for example, Model 600 has six (6) horsepower.'' *303 "Collegiate": Street- and trail-based college campus bike. This model had rear taillights as a stock option and optional front headlight. It used a Briggs and Stratton engine and Bonham now produced their own "Climb-Away" clutch and transmission, with a broader range of ratios. *403: Chain drive *404: Chain drive *430: Chain drive *430-5: Chain drive *431: Chain drive *431-5: Chain drive *500 "Mini Gote": Competitor to the minibike movement of the 1960s. This model was designed with children in mind, with chain drive, front and rear suspension. The early models used a Briggs & Stratton engine and the later ones utilized a Tecumseh engine. *501 Charger 3-wheeler: Light duty tricycle, for recreation or light commercial use. *502 Charger 3-wheeler: The "big brother" to the 501/504; the second-most-powerful model with a low gear ratio and ability to pull of cargo. *503 Charger 3-wheeler: A six-horsepower tricycle, this model featured the "Climb-Away" automatic transmission, split rim wheels and roller bearings, a larger bed and a swing-down tailgate. *504 Charger 3-wheeler: A four-horsepower tricycle designed as a people mover. *505 Charger 3-wheeler: Same as Model 501, but with load capacity increased to . *531: Chain drive, full suspension. Climb-Away transmission. *530: Chain drive. Similar to 531, except with lower gearing. *600: Chain drive, Briggs & Stratton engine, double- jackshaft, Climb-Away transmission, lighting system. *610: Chain drive. Similar to 600, except with a rear wheel. *665: Chain drive. Similar to 600, except with full

suspension Suspension or suspended may refer to: Science and engineering * Car suspension * Cell suspension or suspension culture, in biology * Guarded suspension, a software design pattern in concurrent programming suspending a method call and the calling ...

. *666: Chain drive. Included rear wheel and full suspension with lower gearing. *670 Nova: Bonham worm gear drive. The fastest model, with a top speed of . Lighting system. Several deluxe variants with white-wall tires and red seats and grips were also made. *671: Similar to 670, except with lower gear ratio and slower speed and possibly, after 1968, a rear grab bar. *675: Same frame and engine as 670, however, gearing was lower. Was released in 1962. *680 Nova: Bonham worm gear drive, deluxe model made with large frame, full suspension, 12" rear tractor tire, front brake, tear drop gas tank, rear grab bar, Sold in 1964 for $794 *660 Spartan snowmobile/dune buggy: this was Bonham's version of the snowmobile. It utilized a rear track and front skis. The front skis could be replaced with Tote Gote wheels for spring and summer use. They were intended for recreation and patrolling areas inaccessible to road vehicles. *700: Chain drive. Only model using flat-cast metal on the swing arm and its mount. Included steel tubing on front of the frame and a mounted teardrop gas tank.

Tecumseh Tecumseh ( ; (March 9, 1768October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the Territorial evolution of the United States, expansion of the United States onto Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...

. One large seat instead of two separate seats. Similar to Model 500. *706: Chain-drive. Briggs & Stratton engine. Climb-Away transmission. Commercial grade 8"

aircraft An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...

-type tires, resulting in increased stability. *750: Chain-drive. Briggs & Stratton engine. Climb-Away transmission. Full suspension, tractor tire on rear wheel. A 5.70-8 front tire was offered as an option. *760: Chain-drive. Similar to 750 except with 8" rear wheel. *770: Chain-drive. Briggs & Stratton engine. Climb-Away transmission, 12" rear wheel, one-piece foam seat; only model that did not have a back fender. *780 "Nova": Same as Model 675, but with a slightly different frame. Full suspension; grab-bar in back; frame slightly chopped to utilize swing arm. Aircraft-type rear disc brake. This model was supplied to the

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...

, painted in forest service green. *781: Similar to 780 except with taller gearing. *Dune Gote: A tricycle designed for family fun, some variants used the same shock absorbers in the front as those used in the rear of the Model 500. It was known to have been produced in soft tail and hard tail versions. *Trail Skeeter, also made by Bonham Tote Gote: It was the model B frame but with sheet metal side covers and more options. This was the Later Deluxe Model B, released in 1959. Bonham made several one-off and rare prototypes, such as four-wheeled vehicles for military use and several prototype Tote Gote Trail Bikes. (The most recent Trail Bike was auctioned on

eBay eBay Inc. ( , often stylized as ebay) is an American multinational e-commerce company based in San Jose, California, that allows users to buy or view items via retail sales through online marketplaces and websites in 190 markets worldwide. ...

in November 2005.)

Trailers

*101 (trailer): Lightweight, two-wheel trailer with sheet metal sides that could carry four Tote Gotes. *102 (trailer): Medium duty, three-wheel trailer (two wheels in back, one in front) with sheet metal sides that could carry four Tote Gotes, with a fold-away storage bed. *103 (trailer): Heavy duty (500-lb rated) trailer with sheet metal sides that could carry four Tote Gotes, or two Chargers

Advertising

Among some of the photo advertisements there were images of Ralph Bonham on a Tote Gote shooting a rifle, a man jumping a Model B over a small sand dune, two Collegiate Tote Gotes parked on a lawn with people having a picnic in the background, and several other photos of people having picnics. Advertising illustrations included a family on Trail Skeeters, and a man riding a Tote Gote Spartan snowmobile to a mountain cabin.

Accessories

* Metal box in front for fuel can or other items * Front "Grab Bag" saddle bag * Six-volt Delta headlight, or sealed-beam General Electric headlight * Rear "Pak Rack" folding cargo rack * Snub Downs, later called Snubber Rubbers, or Rubber Snubbers * Front and rear tire chains for snow * Snow plow blade * Front buddy seat or a rear buddy seat with rear foot pegs * Taillights (standard on the Collegiate) * Rubber foot pegs * Sidecar * Front brakes (for models on which this was not standard)

External links

Tote Gote Land
nbsp;— Tote Gote information and message board

nbsp;— stories, parts manuals and registry {{DEFAULTSORT:Tote Gote Motorcycles of the United States Motorcycles by brand Off-road motorcycles Motorcycles introduced in 1958