It's 1937 and the Great Depression has affected all households. Sales of new cars and trucks have dropped and most vehicle manufacturers have permanently shut their doors. The struggling GMC truck dealers must find ways to stay above the level of bankruptcy. Some dealers were marketing used cars, farm implements, and doing repairs of all makes of vehicles!
One of General Motors ideas was to increase sales by adding a new product for their GMC dealers. This is what they called it: a Trailabout. This all-purpose small trailer could be used by both car and truck owners. GMC produced it with little added expense. Most items were already used on their 1/2 ton pickup. The complete bed, taillights, fenders, wheels, hubcaps, etc. were in stock. The additional GM investment was the light weight metal frame with tongue.
The GMC “Trailabout” gave all the utility of an extra truck and which can be attached to or detached from your present car or truck as needed. GMC builds it for truck work—assuring you that it will stand up in hard service as you would expect of a GMC.
Equally important as per the photos—the “Trailabout” comes in four body types (1) pick-up body, (2) pick-up with screen sides, front and rear, (3) pick-up with wood plank sides, and (4) pick-up with screen sides, front, rear and top.
Sales were low during its two year production. It is suspected that the $350.00 price discouraged most buyers. During the depression people could make a trailer from a salvage yard pickup truck or just build one from used materials. The savings would be great over buying the Trailabout!
Trailabouts came in two chassis sizes: 101 ¼ inches and 115 ¼ inches, accommodating bodies of 77 inches and 91 inches in length, the payload capacity in both cases being 1000 pounds.
The “hitch” is of automatic take-up type—2 in. dia. Forged steel ball in machined socket—insuring safety and long life. It is noiseless and theft-proof as well. A folding “support leg” holds the trailer horizontal when detached. GMC says, “We now offer farmers the most valuable truck helper in years!”
Pulled by a car. Good advertisement.
The same scalloped wheels as the 1937-38 GMC ½ ton.
Today, finding a real Trailabout is next to impossible. They were bought for hauling and most were never garaged. Their wood floors were probably gone in less than 20 years.
One of the few Trailabouts known to exist belonged to Ron Loos. Its life began in 1937 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was trailered to a new home in Independence, Missouri in 1987, then was hauled to Ron's home in California mid-2008. Ron gave it a ground up restoration and pulled it to shows with his almost one of a kind 1938 GMC Canopy Express. It was the talk of any show!
We understand that Ron Loss passed away several years ago. It was then sold to a person named Bob in California.