History of the Columbia trailer company

[69hayes]

I can not seem to be able to find any history of this company on the internet other then a company with the Columbia name down south, is this the same company from Howe St in Vancouver?, I know they made a lot of off hwy trailers and on hwy log trailers but just can not find any history anywhere, Thanks

 

[Jumbo]

I am not positive, so probably I am wrong, but the Columbia I know in Clackamas OR is a dump truck operation. They have been around since 1903, so perhaps they did do log trailers at one time. I have never seen one though.

 

[Doug1966]

Hi. Columbia Trailer- BC was mainly a local company, they started down on Howe St, moved around Surrey -Langley. They were Columbia Remtec for awhile doing mostly tankers then it seemed they were just phased out. The last time I did any searching all I got was a American company that did tankers. I was after them for some info on the logging trailers for model building. Thanks Doug.

 

[69hayes]

Thanks Doug, it's almost like they didn't exist

 

[hd54]

the logging trailer part of columbia trailers was bought out by peerlees page they have all the blue print casting john gregg at peerless may help you

 

[Greatwestcam]

I drove a few trucks with Columbia rigging and found it to be well built, the bunk cup and saucer set up never seemed to crack the welds and the trailer walking beams would go a long time before requiring maintenance.
Here is an old add from the "truck logger" mag

 

[69hayes]

Here's three more from 1960- 61

 

[Greatwestcam]

1967 Truck Logger mag add

 

[Blk prince]

Just came upon this thread. Columbia Remtec also made a set of chip boxes and chip pups.

 

[Denis Bourk]

I can not seem to be able to find any history of this company on the internet other then a company with the Columbia name down south, is this the same company from Howe St in Vancouver?, I know they made a lot of off hwy trailers and on hwy log trailers but just can not find any history anywhere, Thanks

I know the some of the history of Columbia trailers as I worked there from 1969 to 1981

 

[Denis Bourk]

Hi. Columbia Trailer- BC was mainly a local company, they started down on Howe St, moved around Surrey -Langley. They were Columbia Remtec for awhile doing mostly tankers then it seemed they were just phased out. The last time I did any searching all I got was a American company that did tankers. I was after them for some info on the logging trailers for model building. Thanks Doug.

Columbia trailers went from Howe street to Brighton Ave Burnaby where it stayed until Columbia Remtec took over all their operations in Canada. the Van Raden family based out of Oregon had owned it. they still had some patents for logging equipment

 

[Hank R]

 

[Denis Bourk]

thanks for finding me I'm not used to this format

 

[Denis Bourk]

In the 70's Columbia trailers would build any thing with wheels, I built mostly tanker trailers but also worked on logging trailers when it was slow in the Aluminum shop. I worked on chip boxes, ore carriers, one Cement bulker a refueler and odd ball stuff the owner wanted built

 

[Denis Bourk]

Thanks Doug, it's almost like they didn't exist

I know these posts are old but I have to reply, started at Columbia trailer in 1969 quit in 1981 right before the recession. my 11 years there set me up for the rest of my working career.

 

[Hank R]

Great pictures thanks for sharing.

 

[Welder Dave]

I think Columbia trailers were pretty popular in the oilfield. Going back I seem to recall quite a few Columbia floats being sold at RB auctions.

 

[Denis Bourk]

I think Columbia trailers were pretty popular in the oilfield. Going back I seem to recall quite a few Columbia floats being sold at RB auctions.

I remember the Columbia steel shop building flat deck trailers with rollers at the back for Alberta, what did floats look like?

 

[Denis Bourk]

I know these posts are old but I have to reply, started at Columbia trailer in 1969 quit in 1981 right before the recession. my 11 years there set me up for the rest of my working career.

I got my start at Columbia trailers because of these Ore Containers for White Pass

 

[Welder Dave]

I think that's what they called floats. Usually behind winch tractors for pulling skids, buildings and other platform type equipment on. The pipe roller at the back made it a lot easier. Most of the huge bed trucks had the rollers too.