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Trivan

Manufactured in 1962 by the Roustabout Company in Frackville, Pennsylvania (USA) the Trivan was a 3-wheeled lorry with a fully enclosed cab for two people.  With seven years of testing, the vehicle was designed by C. Harry Payne, who was also became known as The father of the Jeep*, the originator of the military Jeep in 1939 that was used so heavily during World War II.

The Trivan's power came from either a Kohler 32hp 2 cylinder 4 cycle air cooled petrol engine or a 30hp 2 cylinder 2 cycle air cooled diesel engine that powered the single rear wheel.   Both engines gave the vehicle a maximum speed of around 55 mph. The Trivan had a fiberglass body attached to a heavy duty steel tube chassis and airbag suspension.  All models had an open pick up type rear body with drop down sides.  A fully enclosed rear body was designed for a prototype but never manufactured.

Production ceased in 1964 after 112 vehicles had been made.  A number of them were purchased by East Coast Trailways affiliates.

*Information about C. Harry Payne provided on a 1962 brochure for the Trivan.

trivan

The Trivan. (My thanks to Bill Fidler for sending me brochures on the Trivan which provided most of the data and images for this page.)

trivan2

The Trivan with prototype body.

Supporting Documents:

None.

Related pages on this web site:

None.

Museums:

The museum of Bus Transportation in Pennsyvania (USA) have a Trivan. http://www.busmuseum.org

Further Information and related Web Sites:

Trivan:  http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/01/01/the-trivan-and-the-curse-of-small-delivery-vehicles

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