With over 30 models made through just over a dozen years of production, and not much information given by the seller, we don’t know the exact model of this 1960s Tote Gote. These are interesting and rugged mini bikes, made from 1958 through 1970. The mesh is meant to keep sticks and other material from the mechanical parts, so you can return from your mountain hunting expedition without any mechanical issues. This example can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and the seller is asking $600. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
I’m always bummed to see a replacement engine on a minibike. I know they’re much more reliable, better engineered, probably get better MPG, are easier to start, and just overall better than a 60-year-old Briggs & Stratton engine that would have been on most Tote Gotes. The good news is that the seller says the original engine goes with the sale, so if you’re a stickler for originality, as I am, you can get it working like new again and reinstall it. The seller says this Gote has new tires, but dang, I would have cleaned and polished the heck out of this one before taking photos, but that’s just me. I would have added new footpeg rubber as well. It’s looking a bit rougher than it could have been for its debut in a craigslist ad. A cool feature is that the footrests retract so they don’t catch on anything on the trail, just like on my Rokon.
There are only four photos in the listing, all verticals, unfortunately. But hey, it’s 2025, nothing surprises me anymore. We do get a good overall view of this Tote Gote, including the tractor tread rear tire, originally made for traction while hunting. A gentleman named Ralph Bonham came up with the “Mechanical Goat” to help with his love for hunting in his native Utah mountains. It was a tough little machine, which was eventually called Tote Gote, and production started in 1958. The company made a dizzying number of models, and I wish we had more information about this one, but maybe the seller doesn’t even know the model.
This example doesn’t have any lighting, and there’s no front suspension, so it isn’t one of the “fancy” models. It does have a front brake, so it’s likely a 600 model, but that’s just a guess. The model number typically starts with the horsepower of the engine, and this one is now fitted with a new engine of unknown make and horsepower. They say it has never been started, and that’s a little worrisome, but hopefully it works as it should. An automatic-type variable clutch system and “Climb Away” transmission send full climbing power to the rear wheel, and gets you to places a regular minibike won’t go. I’d get that original Briggs & Stratton working and then restore this little jewel to how it would have looked when new. Have any of you heard of the Tote Gote?
Nice write up, for a motorized Have-a-Heart animal trap.
This looks like a case of, “Hey, boss- we’re done with the job, but someone ordered way too much expanded metal mesh. What should we do with it?”
Funny you mentioned have a heart traps. Just this morning at church when others arrived someone said they smelled a skunk (glad I took a shower since I can’t smell much anymore – a sign of dementia onset I heard, not smelling much and possibly not showering much either). But the story I told them is true. I had been trying to catch ground hogs on the church property so the old people won’t break an ankle in the holes while checking the graves. Their not easy though, but evidently skunks are easily caught, two of them, nice Christian ones I guess, one at a time in the trap. I transported those skunks across the 12 lanes of US route 1 Roosevelt Boulevard, to discourage their return. Only their progeny showed up later we think. I let the skunk out at a nice wooded area of the Poquessing Creek, or tried to let it out, opening the trap door, but that skunk wouldn’t leave. I tilted the trap but the skunk wouldn’t leave. I shook the trap and the skunk finally left. It waddled away down toward the creek, never sprayed, nice skunk.
Neat find here. Tip of the hat to Lothar for the find. I saw it on Fast Finds and said…. Yep. Scottys going to write it up. And glad you did. This does look and sound familiar. And I’m going to have to say that the $600 seems very reasonable. Glad to see they’re including the original engine with it as well. Olds Briggs engines usually aren’t all that finicky to get running. Probably just needs the tank cleaned out and a carb rebuild and you’d be up and running again. Nice write up Scotty!! I enjoyed it!!!
What’s “Fast Finds”?
It’s where you can see all the tips that come in. There’s a link at the bottom of the page. Check it out.
Howard, I’ve seen tips you’ve submitted on there as well. Its wkrth checking out, for members only.
Well, shiver me timbers, first I’ve heard of it and I’ve been here over 10 years. Yeah, I’ve made great strides, but the digital age still slays me. I take back what I said about me and the tips, apparently it’s overwhelmed with such, and clearly the key is to inundate the site with tips. And I hate to kvetch, but will, and MY tips are so much cooler,,it’s okay, no biggie, at least I’m enjoying the ride.
Driveinstile: I hope you catch some of my odd submittals. Most of them are aimed squarely at Scotty, because I know he enjoys them and it is great to read his well-researched articles. But even he can’t write up everything – LOL!
PRA4SNW, absolutely yes!!! I can always tell when one is submitted for Scotty!! I like Fast Finds because things pop up I would not have even thought of looking for in the first place. Things I’ve forgotten about, or never heard of.
Driveinstile: I agree, Fast Finds is great and I’m glad they let us view all of the submissions. It’s clear that they can’t write about everything, and who better to dig up the interesting stuff than us BFers.
I wish I had more time in my life to view Fast Finds more often. Maybe in a few years when I retire…..
Holy mackerel-a Tote Gote!!! Haven’t thought of them in decades, yet the were the frugal sportsman’s Rokon. You’d be up in the mountains sweating your brains out following a stream when you suddenly hear what sounded like someone mowing their lawn-just to have one of these come chugging and wheezing by at 6500’ with a weekend’s worth of gear aboard, FOG pilot smiling away. (FOG-Freakin’Old Guy).
You guys pick the best stuff, especially the stuff on 2 wheels.
And again Dave you nailed it-rebuild that archaic B&G for posterity and a backup motor, remember to oil the chain while it’s still hot.
Anything that uses a wheel barrow front tire is okay by me. This is very typical of the kind your buddies dad was building from parts from the supply room. I’m pretty sure the jackshaft was an easy way of gearing these down, and with a top speed of 14 mph, it was tough to get hurt. Originally these had a 3 HP B&S, and while the newer motor looks out of place, I think some may have forgotten the B&S engines of yore. I remember large factories had these for the maintenance dudes. Saved a lot of steps. I’m not sure what you would do with it, be great for flea markets and such, but I just don’t think kids have much interest in these anymore. Not like we had, anyway.
I think there’s got to be a few 55 to ’65 year old “kids ” that would be interested in it Howard……
-Dave
Thanks Dave, I did check out Fast Finds, never saw that feature, and I now see why my tips don’t make it. I tip once, some tip 50 times. My tips were on like page 37. Job security for the writers, huh.
Anyway, I think you are right, in fact, I bet there are more of “us” that would use this than most kids today. Them old legs just h’aint what they used to be. To be clear, the 3hp B&S was their best motor,,,for its time. I think it was Briggs most popular motor used on a multitude of devices. I see B&S ( I think)3hp horizontal shaft motors are available, but close to $500, and this , what looks like a Harbor Freight motor(?) was a lot cheaper, and probably works just as well.
Hey Howard, I believe you’re right. The Harbor Freight motors as well as many, many, others are oftentimes called “Clone” engines. Many coppied the very successful Honda GX series engines. Some clones are better than others. It was probably easier for them to do that then get the old Briggs running.
First time hearing of Tote Gote in decades! Rode one up into the mountains outside Provo in 1962. Good ride, easy to maneuver on narrow trails.
Fond memories of riding (slowly) on a Tote Gote (and a Tule Trooper) years ago. Tule Trooper was much faster.
Why mount a new engine and not start it.
I can only think of one reason…
In the mid-60’s, I bought a heavily used one of these when I was a 12-year-old Idaho ranch kid. $15, which I got from selling my Schwinn. It had been sloppily repainted “resale red.” The seat was missing, so I sat on a 2×8 chunk of board I found. The brakes were feet-assisted. The old B&S took a lot of pulls to get started, but when it was running, it worked pretty well and was a lot of fun. It was my very own “motorcycle.” I got some good street cred in the 6th grade just telling kids about it. I didn’t have any more money to fix it up, and I could never take it very far, because of the high likelihood I’d have to walk back. But it was a memorable phase of my early years.
I did my first ride on a tote goat 1960. Ten years old, went right over the handlebars in a dirt field. Dad was a WWII Marine and he hunted, thus the Tote Goat. I believe this could be a buy based only on the rarity of the thing. I haven’t seen one since….1960. Very cool.
I had a Tote goat Nova with a fully automatic transmission and a tecumseu motor. That thing would climb a mountain straight up and down like nobody’s business. Wished I had kept it.
It would be in my garage this afternoon if I wasn’t on the other side of the country. First engine I ever rebuilt. 1959 age 9. Slow as a snail but could pull up small tree stumps.
My grandfather had a gun store (no longer into guns) and was always taking crazy stuff in trade. After the Tote Goat I got a Ridge Runner. Quite a step up. The frame was Aluminum angle bar and sheet. Also Briggs and Stratton. Love it. Three years later and a bit of a growth spurt and I had a Rokon (what a beast). The glory days!
It would be in my garage this afternoon if I wasn’t on the other side of the country. First engine I ever rebuilt. 1959 age 9. Slow as a snail but could pull up small tree stumps.
My grandfather had a gun store (no longer into guns) and was always taking crazy stuff in trade. After the Tote Goat I got a Ridge Runner. Quite a step up. The frame was Aluminum angle bar and sheet. Also Briggs and Stratton. Loved it. Three years later and a bit of a growth spurt and I had a Rokon (what a beast). The glory days!
Scotty, thanks for another highly researched article. I never heard of these, now I feel like an expert! The ads you linked to really show the progression of the model.