I scored a sweet little folding trailer today the Pennville Trade Day this morning.  It has an ID plate on it, but it's been painted over.  All I can read right now is the stamped in serial number.  I'm going to try to remove the top layer of paint and try to save whatever is under it, but if anyone has a clue to who might have manufactured it, please let me know.  I want to figure out how it's supposed to fold up BEFORE try to fold it up wrong and break something.

The old guy I got it from said he hadn't folded it up in years (in fact he had put screws in it so it couldn't be folded) and he couldn't remember exactly how to do it.  The tongue comes out of it and the bed folds over . . . and I'm not sure how to release the wheels, but they are supposed to rotate around and fold flat.  He said when it was folded up, you could pick it up and carry it around like a suitecase.  I don't know what it weighs, but it isn't much.  I removed the tongue and picked it up and put it partially in the trunk of the Passat by myself to get it home, so I think Homer can pull it.  I'm hoping to make it my Kiddie Car hauler.

Again, if anyone has seen one like it and knows anything about it, please let me know.

I got the gray paint off the ID plate and was able to make out the manufacturer's name, Germain and Lejour S.A.  A quick google search pulled up one now deleted ad from The Samba.  Through the magic of google's cache, I pulled the ad up anyway!

Rare 1980 Besco Folding trailer   Price: $800 / OBO  
Rare 1980 Besco Folding Trailer in good condition. Trailer was manufactured in April 1980 by Germain & Lejour S.A. of France. Tongue weight of 73lbs. and payload of 330lbs. GVWR: 398lbs. Trailer has a blue cover. One of the fenders on the right side has been damaged. Call with questions.  

Below are some pictures of what it's supposed to look like.  Mine is missing the rear bumper and lights and the basket . . . but I only gave $40 for it.  I think I did OK . . .

Here are some more pictures of mine:

There wiring is missing, but the housing is still in both ends . . . the wiring harness was originally split at the end of the tongue and plugged up as you slid the tongue in place.




It's hard to read, but if you get the light just right, all the info is still showing on the ID plate.  This one was manufactured in May 1980

Zen, that thing is freakin sweet.   I haven't seen one before, but def do like that one. I'm gonna be on the lookout for some kind of vintage trailer to drag behind the bus now that i gotta hitch.  Thanks Brian.

Of course, i haven't finished the bus yet, but that's not important. :wink:

I've been sort'a keeping an eye on eBay for another one of these little dudes but I haven't seen one come up at auction.  I've seen two or three for sale on thesamba.com, but they were always EXPENSIVE.  I figured the cheapest place to get one would be craigslist.org . . . but since you have to select a city, it makes searching over a broad area way too time consuming.  At least it did till I found out about http://www.craiglook.com . . . WOOO HOOO!!!  I can now search all craigslist in one search OR, go from my zip code up to 250 miles away in 5 mile incriments.

So, the past couple of days I've been searching for Besco Trailer . . . there were 3 yesterday.  One in CA that was listed a few days ago for $600 is gone today . . . must have sold.  There are still two listed in the US.  One for $800 and one for $1450.  I thought I did OK getting this thing for 40 bucks . . . I'm begining to feel like I got a bargin!  Can't wait to get it on the road!   

Actually I was planning on putting a 1 7/8" ball on the back of my single wheel . . . then the tequilia wore off . . .    

If anyone is interested, here's one that's complete, including the basket and according to the ad has never been on the road . . . and the best part is it's just $250!  The down side . . . It's 1200+ miles away.  But then, it only wieghs about 65 pounds, so it might not cost too much to have it shipped . . .

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/spo/1914255078.html

Yeah, I didn't think that one would last long.  I think it was posted Monday.