Happy Trails
The Happy Trails trailer was built by the North Star Products Company of Hardwood Michigan which appears to be no longer in business. North Star Products Company was
incorporated on November 24 1947.
Golden Rod
The name “Golden Rod” was the name Dutton Lainson used for a group of hardware and automotive products they manufactured. The Trailer below is actually badged with a “Golden Rod” badge. Golden Rod also included the Rose Trailerette after Dutton Lainson acquired Rose Enterprises sometime after March 1926. Dutton Lainson also appears to be the manufacturer behind the Montgomery Ward & Company’s (Trailerette) Model: 61-8812, and Model: 84FDH-8800. There is only 3 Golden Rod trailers known to exist.
GemTop
From the 1960’s through 1990’s the name GemTop meant camper shell. Built by the GemTop Manufacturing Incorporated of Clackamas Oregon, not only did they build Camper Shells, but also at least a few Gem-Tote Trailers. From the advertising, it is estimated that the Gem-Tote Single Wheel trailer was built in the late 70’s to early 80’s. J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. acquired GemTop Manufacturing along with a large number of other pickup truck accessory manufacturers in 1994. Brand FX Body Company acquired GemTop Manufacturing in March of 2003. Fiberglass body with a steel frame is believed to be the construction. Overall dimension about 5′ long x 3 1/2′ wide, inside about 4′ L x 3′ W x 2′ H and requires double-ball hitch. GemTop Manufacturing was located at 36600 Industrial Way, Sandy, Oregon 97055 as of 2011 but is no longer there. There are 2 Gem-Tote’s known to exist.
Erdé
The Erdé is reported to be built by a company in France. They have been building trailers since the early 1950’s.
Efflow
The following trailers were made by Efflow Developments Ltd. They were located at Lower Teme Bridge, Worcester England. So far we are aware of are two different models produced by Efflow. Both were extremely unique and very well accessorized. There are less then 10 Efflow trailers known to exist.
Crescent City Sheet Metal Works
This trailer was manufactured by the Crescent City Sheet Metal Works company. A quick Google search and I found images of the facility the trailer was manufactured in. There is only 1 Crescent City Sheet Metal Works trailer known to exist.
Pack Horse I by Coleman
The Coleman Co. Inc. has long been celebrated for its dedication to crafting quality camping gear that enhances outdoor adventures. From tents and backpacks to coolers and tent trailers, Coleman has been a trusted name for campers everywhere. In the early 1980s, they introduced a unique product to their lineup: the Pack Horse 1 single-wheel trailer. This innovative trailer was thoughtfully designed and proudly manufactured at their facility in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
With its vibrant orange poly body paired with a sturdy brown steel frame, the Pack Horse 1 was built not just for durability but also for functionality. It featured an ingenious storage system: the front legs, the “Stand,” could be easily unpinned and swiveled down for convenient storage when not in use. Alternatively, the trailer could be propped up on its rear bumper, making it super easy to manage.
Weighing just 137 pounds when empty, the Pack Horse 1 was rated to haul an impressive 400 pounds, making it perfect for transporting all your camping essentials. It utilized a standard 4.80 X 8 trailer tire, ensuring that it was both practical and reliable on your outdoor excursions. 65″ Long, 42″ wide, 40″ high with 16 Cubic foot capacity.
Coleman also expanded its offering with the Pack Horse II, a two-wheel version of the trailer, providing even more options for those looking to enhance their camping experience.
Coffman
The Coffman body is made of fiberglass, and the wheel assembly is aluminum. The measurements are approx. 48 1/2″ long and 29″ high. The wheel assembly uses a 5″ rim. All the other single wheels that we are aware of use an 8″ wheel. The Tail lights are a very popular Grote 218 on the left, and we believe a 215 on the right. Can anybody confirm this? The 218 has a license plate light incorporated into it while the right doesn’t. The lenses are both labeled GROTELITE 215-218. We have mixed reports as to who actually built this trailer, Coffman Engineering or Rossell Inc. Was Rossell a reseller…Or? At this point, we don’t have any information one way or the other. There is a large number of Coffman trailers.
Chaigneau
“Brevete S.D.G.D” in french indicates a patent, registered without guarantee of the government. Lars Brandow emailed us also explaining that he believes the companys name is Chaigneau as it is stated at the top of the emblem in one of the pictures below. This is a french single wheel trailer built in Suresnes near Paris by Chaigneau. 3 Chaigneau trailers are known to exist.
Huckepack by Calberlah
The Huckepack or Piggback was manufactured and sold by Ewald Calberlahcan at 3 Hanover Kleefeld, Misburger 5tr. 87. The Piggyback is built of a sturdy, 3 sided, tubular steel construction 10 cm high and uses a 400-8 scooter wheel. The swing arm is stored in rubber and cushioned with suspension springs. The connection to the carriage is steerable in rubber maintenance. The wheel is mounted exactly in the middle, so the towing vehicle is not loaded. The Huckepack has a Payload of 220 lbs and Loading Platform of 27.5 to 35 inches. All info Translated from the German Brochure using Google Translator. 3 Huckepack trailers are known to exist.
Big Boot
The Big Boot Luggage Carrier is a charming creation born from the collaboration of a dedicated husband and wife team in Victoria, Australia. This innovative fiberglass box trailer quickly became a beloved option for campers and travelers, with around 400 to 500 units being crafted and sold at a price point of approximately $400 to $500.
One of the standout features of the Big Boot trailer is its customizable design. With special requests, customers could choose vibrant colors for their trailers by having the fiberglass dyed during the manufacturing process. This added a personal touch that could make your trailer unique!
Measuring about 1 meter (or 3.25 feet) square and standing 20 inches tall, the Big Boot box is roomy enough to carry all your camping essentials, yet compact enough for easy transport. The removable lid (which isn’t hinged) allows for convenient access to your gear, making packing and unpacking a breeze.
An interesting design element is the wheel positioning. Unlike traditional Single Wheel trailers where the wheel is tucked underneath, the Big Boot features its wheel located behind the trailer. This clever design choice helps to optimize the trailer’s balance, ensuring that with a maximum load capacity of 100 kg (or 220 lbs), the center of gravity is effectively distributed between the car and the trailer wheel. This thoughtful engineering enhances stability and makes towing easier.
While the majority of these trailers found homes in Australia, a few units made their way across the globe to the US, Japan, Iran, and Europe. It’s believed that these trailers were produced during the 1980s, adding a touch of nostalgia to their charm.
For those seeking a practical yet stylish solution for transporting gear on their outdoor adventures, the Big Boot Luggage Carrier has certainly left a lasting impression!
BeMo
This trailer is built in Fornåsa Sweden which as of 2010 had 443 inhabitants, by the O Ljungqvist company. We know of 2 BeMo trailers, both with different info on the ID plates. ID Plate one reads “B.EBERGS, MOTORVERKSTD, BERGS SLUSSAR”, Plate two reads “BeMo, O. LJUNGQVIST, Sweden, gornåsa”.
The trailer folds in half, and the wheel assembly detaches, for storage and transport. The trailer has no suspension similar to the Järn-orch Stålprodukter trailer also built in Sweden. These types of trailers were believed to be used for light farm work hauling feed and bales around smaller farms.
The Station Wagon
In the Fall 1949 catalog, another single-wheel trailer was added to the lineup. The two trailers seemed to share identical frames and load carrying capacity. They differed only in their cargo boxes. The new trailer was what Sears called a “station wagon” version, with two-piece sides. (A similar two-wheeled trailer had been made by Dunbar Kapple since around 1946.) The upper side-pieces were cut in a “streamlined” teardrop shape, separated from the lower pieces by a small gap. This body was varnished instead of painted, leaving the wood grain visible; the other body was painted blue. One of these trailers was probably the model 231-508 (“Formerly Model Nos. 249.8074, 249.8075 and 327.6215”) described in a parts list ca 1951. It’s the standard version, not the “station wagon” version. The spring 1953 catalog shows the same two trailers. The prices are now $66.50 and $71.50 for the older and newer versions, respectively. In the Fall 1953 catalog, only the prices have changed, each model now costing a dollar more. (Written and research provided by John LaTorre – A Short History of Allstate Single-Wheel Trailers)
The 1961 Spring-Summer catalog marked the beginning of a new era with the introduction of a leaf spring wheel assembly for trailers. Although this particular trailer was only featured in that one catalog, it stands out with unique characteristics not seen in other Sears trailers of the time. Unlike most Sears trailers, which were typically built in Chicago, this model was produced in a factory near Des Moines, Iowa. The inclusion of the leaf spring in this design hinted at future trends in trailer suspension.
This trailer has several distinctive features, including a curved leaf suspension, a hydraulic shock absorber, and front mounting arms that curve downward at an angle. These elements set it apart from its predecessors. The body design carried over some aspects from the earlier wood box trailer, including a dark blue color scheme and the iconic “ALLSTATE” U.S. map logo prominently displayed on the front. It also appears to have removable front and possibly rear panels, similar to the earlier Wood Box trailers.
While it may have been short-lived in Sears’ lineup, this trailer from the 1961 catalog remains a fascinating piece of history, showcasing innovative design choices and a glimpse into the evolution of wheel assembly technology.
In the Spring 1941 catalog, the “Cross Country” trailer disappeared. Instead, the Chicago-made trailer was joined by another trailer from the same source in Chicago. This newest trailer was designed to replace the “Cross-Country” in the product line-up, since it was sold for around the same price and carried the same 750# load. It had a wooden box measuring 54″ x 48 ” x 9-3/4″, using apparently the same construction as its little brother. The box differed not only in dimension but in its detailing, with an ornamental pattern painted in a different color than the main color of the panels. The new trailer also used a different frame, a trapezoidal “channel steel” chassis instead of the X-frame used on the smaller model. The same “universal mount” tongues and new coil-spring suspension were used for both trailers. The prices were $29.95 and $34.95. The Fall-Winter 1942 catalog showed the same two trailers with the same ordering numbers and specs, at slightly increased prices. After this catalog, no single-wheel trailers show up in the catalog until 1948. I presume that they were discontinued for the duration of World War II, since manufacturing was devoted primarily to the war effort and things like steel and tires were in short supply. There was a kit offered in the Fall-Winter 1945 catalog for a four-wheel trailer, but no other utility trailers were offered. (Written and research provided by John LaTorre – A Short History of Allstate Single-Wheel Trailers)
Anthony Company Incorporated.
1912 – 1917 – While working at the Streator, IL lumber yard, William C. Anthony has the idea for a dump bed to be mounted on Ford Model T’s. Early production units are hand made, but demand grows quickly. To expand production Anthony Company is incorporated and production is moved to a larger facility across town. From 1926 – 1938, the company leads the way developing hydraulic systems of all kinds used to transport cargo, becoming a weighty player in the transportation equipment industry. Inventing continued and the hydraulic lift gate was introduced. It was the brainchild of Frank Novotney, a Streatorite and employee of Anthony Company. The name “lift gate” was copyrighted. (This is the era it is believed that these trailers were produced.) Post war, the Anthony Lift Gate was a the primary focus of the company.
These trailers had a very industrial leaf spring suspension and were advertised with a few different body configurations. The plate riveted to one of the remaining trailers says “Timken Bearing Equipped” with a Date and Serial location. Dates and history from the Anthony Lift Gates page and an article no longer on the web, but luckily we kept a copy.
X-Frame
The Fall 1940 catalog showed the CrossCountry and a new, different trailer, with a “Knee-Action spring” (using a true coil-spring suspension) and the tongues that would become associated with Allstate trailers. These tongues were castings shaped into a sort of “question mark” shape and were designed to fit over or under a car’s bumper and attach to either the bumper brackets or the car’s frame. This trailer had an X-shaped frame and was only available for 2 years from Sears. The box was 48″ x 42″ x 9-3/4″, had 4 wood sides with “steel corner angles and four steel cross members,”. It was rated for 500 pounds of cargo, came from a “factory in Chicago”, and sold for $29.95
The earlier “Cross Country” trailer, with its 750 pound load capacity, was still available, with its Niles, Ohio source, and was priced at $37.95.
In the 1961 Sears Fall-Winter Catalog, Sears introduced another exciting new trailer to their lineup, continuing their tradition of innovation. This time, it was a wood box-bodied single-wheel trailer, but with a significant upgrade—an entirely new chassis. This model marked the debut of the straight leaf spring suspension system, along with height-adjustable arms, features that would go on to set the standard for all subsequent Allstate trailers.
The wood box body of this trailer seems to have retained the convenient removable front and rear panels from earlier models, allowing for easy access and versatility in loading and unloading cargo. This design choice continued the practical functionality that Sears Wood box trailers were known for.
In a nod to its roots, the trailer also brought back the classic “ALLSTATE” logo, proudly displayed as a symbol of quality and reliability. Unlike many of its predecessors, which were typically manufactured in Chicago, this trailer was factory-built in Des Moines, Iowa, further distinguishing it from earlier models.
This introduction in the Fall-Winter catalog wasn’t just another addition to the lineup; it was a step forward in trailer design, setting the stage for the evolution of future Allstate trailers. Whether you’re a fan of classic trailers or just appreciate clever engineering, this model from 1961 is a standout, combining tradition with innovation in a way that only Sears could.
Allstate – Steel Box
The third generation Allstate trailer debuted in the 1961 Sears catalog with a wood box, the steel box had replaced it by the Fall 1967 Sears catalog. This generation used a totally different tongue arrangement, using simple flat stock bent in two places. It also sported a different suspension system consisting of twin leaf-spring assemblies. The bottom leaves extended much farther out than the others, and bore L-brackets to which the axle of the wheel was attached. Like the other trailers, the cargo load was 500#. The trailer was now made “near Des Moines, Iowa” and sold for $89.95 from the factory. I have learned that this factory was the Ideal Manufacturing Company, based in Oscaloosa, Iowa. In the 1980s, this company was absorbed into Superior Industries International, now based in Van Nuys, California, but this was long after Ideal stopped making trailers. In the Fall 1967 catalog it sold for $96.95, with an optional metal top selling for $41.95. The Spring 1968 catalog carried the same information. In the Fall catalog of that year, the price is increased to $109.95, with the optional top selling for $44.95. In the 1972 Spring catalog, the price of the trailer jumped to $154.95. The optional top was no longer available. The body was painted “cinnamon brown” instead of white, and it bore a new stock number. In the Spring and Fall 1973 Catalogs, the price was $159.95, and in the Spring and Fall 1974 catalogs it was $164.95. But in the Spring 1975 issue, the price soared to $224.95. That price remained in effect until the Fall 1975 catalog, the last catalog to list the single-wheel trailer. Some of the model numbers for this style of trailer are 287.61830; 287.61530; 287.61961 and 287-61660. Sears also sold this same trailer with two wheels and possibly even a double swivel wheel, but it is unknown if this last example is a special order or custom built job. (Written and research provided by John LaTorre – A Short History of Allstate Single-Wheel Trailers)
A Clam Shell Allstate I picked up in AZ. At some point the OG mounts were swapped for what’s on there now so it could be used on a lowered VW Bus. The tire was swapped out for a bigger one too. Owned by VintageWarehouse
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