buying a tuk tuk in Udon Thani - Samlor

[udonjohn]

Hello everyone, I'd like to buy a new tuk tuk, what is the price for a nice one ? where is the best place to buy one ?

[kopkei]

hi john,
can you specify what tuk tuk you want to buy, like the nongkhai ones or bangkok ones , i can give you info on all 2, as i have had them before..., so to keep the info short let me know....

[maaka]

yeah, could you elaborate alittle on what you think is a tuk tuk, as some here will call it a samasar, or some such word, for the motorbike looking version, and some will call a tuk tuk, the one with the small car tyres, and sort of scooter front end.
my ex's papa had the chinese motorbike version with the chain drive, and the family called it a tuk tuk, so thats what I refer too it as..some come with chain drive or shaft drive, depends what you want it for, and if you want to service it yourself....there is a tuk tuk shop in Prajac Road if I remember rightly, near Thungsi Muang end of town, the place where they hold all the festivals..

a couple of years ago a new tuk tuk was in the region of 60,000 baht

[udonjohn]

thanks so much for the help, really I'm just looking for one to ride rather then a motorbike, to me they look safer, maybe now a nice one is about 75,000 baht I'm guessing

[Stevo]

The motorcycle engined version is called a 'samlaw kreuang', meaning three (sam) wheel (law) engine (kreuang).
There is a shop selling these on Phosi road, opposite Nongbua market (between the railway crossing and the junction with soi Nongbua/soi Nittayo) it's on the left hand side if heading out of town.

[pompui]

Hello everyone, I'd like to buy a new tuk tuk, what is the price for a nice one ? where is the best place to buy one ?

Thought Chris at Factory Pub was wanting to sell his special tuktuk.

[ting_tong]

you need a minimum of a 550cc engine up to a 850cc engine or you will regret what the cars, trucks, busses ect. will do to you when you drive here, you will be at the bottom of the pecking order, just above a pedal samlor

no power = problems
slow tuktuk = w@nker

please see the other thread on buying a tuktuk

[Stevo]

The main advantage of the 125/150cc motorcyle engined samlaw, is it's fuel economy. If however, you value comfort & safety then I would recommend the car/van engined type usually fitted with a Daihatsu 550cc or 850cc motor, as these have rear suspension and 'proper' rear brakes (as opposed to the V belt friction brake and no rear suspension). As ting tong states in his post, these have a decent turn of speed/acceleration to boot. Well worth the extra expense IMO.

[kopkei]

no guys , no tuk tuk new at 65.000 bath , as i want to buy also one again ( nongkhai style) i went to look aek panit about 3 months ago , price 95.000 bath than ( now?)
as for the bangkok style tuk tuk , you can still buy them in ayutthaya, they use second hand ones , but renew everything so he looks like new , price 95.000 bath gasoline, 120.000 bath LPG, they also build new ones with new chinese engine , these ones are custom build to your size,
all is made by hand , even the bodywork ( like a rolls ) price arround 220.000 bath
all these revised tuk tuk are sold with second hand daihatsu ( most common ) or suzuki 12 valve engine,( 660 cc)
you also have some other company's in bangkok but at the time i bought mine they where way to expensive ,
i looked into all this ,between 180.000-250.000 same the one i bought for 95.000bath,
when i was in ayutthaya or bus station wang noi, many tuktuk drivers tried to sell theirs , went to look at a few but also way to expensive , they think they drive gold, 140.000 bath and more for their second hand sh*t....
and as of ting tongs remarks , i have driven 8 years tuk tuk without any problems with other traffic users , but i never drive more quickly than 70-80km/h, ( these tuk tuks are not meant to race with their small engine ) and it is not important to me to have a flying start and go first every time at the stop lights , but hey , i am not 18 anymore like
ting tong

[kopkei]

also on this subject , do not forget when you buy a tuk tuk, you will need tuk tuk driver license!!!, at least that is what they told me at local office ( khonsong ) , i told them to make me one , but they told me i have to do a test ( in my case i can not show idl) , my remark i all ready have thai car dl, which is bigger than tuk tuk , (thai translation 4 wheel bigger than 3 wheel) was useless, no logic here again , maybe some of the members can inform about this at udon office next time they need to be there ....
thanks for any update on this....

[jhomap]

Hi Udonjon,


There's a lot of choices where you can buy Tuk-Tuk. You can buy in United Kingdom, Thailand, China, Singapore. Maybe you can buy the cheapest Tuk-Tuk in Asia.

[Krusher]

This is going to sound so wrong, but I was speaking to an Aussie guy the other day while chatting to a nice young Thai lady I had met in a bar. She claimed a brand new tuk tuk can be had for 20K bhat in Udon Thani. She sid she bought a second hand one for 7K. That is incredible. The Aussie and I quizzed her, and this guy drives trucks so probably knows a bit, and she reckons jing jing cheap as because cannot go fast. She said they are becoming a preference to many families over a bike because can transport the whole family etc. She also said a number of Farng in UT own them!

[kopkei]

it does not sound wrong but ridiculous, and surely coming from the mouth of a bar lady must be true...
next time you see here ask where to buy so she can confirm her stupid talk....
and i will withdraw this comment... :-"

[Khun Paul]

My only comment on this is speak to Atipongs, they sell tuk tuk and build them to spec. prices on application tell them I recommended them, you wont get it any cheaper but they will know that I will check up on them , I know the whole family. They also speak english, at least the sons do, the father speaks a smattering.

[kopkei]

sorry paul , atipong only sell samlor or skylab,( motorcycle engine) like you see the most in udon, tuk tuk ( car engine )
nongkhai style only available with aek panit

[KHONDAHM]

The Udon-styled ones are called Samlors, not tuk-tuks. Only farangs get them confused. The samlors are THB 52-54,000. Skylab is the best model. I have one bought last year and still love it.

As for "pecking order" on the road: YOU are individual vs cars and motorbikes. Nobody except a large truck will risk hitting a samlor. Go where you please, when you please.

To wit: When was the last time you ever saw a samlor in an accident, or even with collision damage? Never, right? I sure haven't seen any collision-damaged samlors in 12 years. Cheers!

[jonny_w]

I am thinking of getting the Obama Model
http://www.atipongmotor.com/eng/product/obama/

I want mine with the mustang spoiler and squealing brakes! =D>
60 KMph is fast enough for me.

[Krusher]

The Udon-styled ones are called Samlors, not tuk-tuks. Only farangs get them confused. The samlors are THB 52-54,000. Skylab is the best model. I have one bought last year and still love it.

As for "pecking order" on the road: YOU are individual vs cars and motorbikes. Nobody except a large truck will risk hitting a samlor. Go where you please, when you please.

To wit: When was the last time you ever saw a samlor in an accident, or even with collision damage? Never, right? I sure haven't seen any collision-damaged samlors in 12 years. Cheers!

All I know is that when you walk past a 3-wheeled motorised vehicle, a Thai man says 'tuk tuk?'

Kopekei or whatever, I told you that it was hard to believe re price but she insisted, why not ask her yourself, she is called Tik, works at The Meeting Point, cashier, tall and skinny, good English, everyone knows her, as her and then report back if I am bullshitting, oh, and if you want to give her one I'd bag up as I've been there a few times.


Now, seeing as I have sorted out the nonsense thread about what is going on in Udon, I can retire.
Oh, Mr Helm, I take it you are a modertor, and you asked why should the thread be closed.
Simple really, the OP fatbastard is a troll. He and his family have never set foot inside the IC. Now someone who posts something inaccurate and inflamatory to stir up trouble is by definition a TROLL. His worry/point was that he could not take his family there AGAIN. Fatbastard is a troll, ban him.


Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

[thalenoi]

Now someone who posts something inaccurate and inflamatory to stir up trouble is by definition a TROLL.

She claimed a brand new tuk tuk can be had for 20K bhat in Udon Thani. She sid she bought a second hand one for 7K.

Well, that's at least inaccurate

How possibly can you believe such rubbish???

Go to one of the Atipong shops in Udon and ask how much, then you will know.

Well, I did and bought one 1 month ago: 130cc, 4 speed, no clutch handle, just click the gear at your foot, same Honda waive motorbike. Paid 58.500 iso 56.500 because of aluminum roof. They had a 150cc, 5 speed (5th being reverse) but witch clutch handle, same price (58.500)

Oh, and they are called SAMLORs, not tuk tuks.

[Krusher]

Listen to what I said, or rather read it. Walk past any 3 wheeled motorised vehicle in Udon and the driver will say 'Tuk Tuk?', not Samlor, now try it and tell me if I am right or not. Perhaps they technically are not tuk tuks, same as a Hoover isn't a vacuum cleaner, but it is the popular name.

Also, I said at the start that the Aussie guy and I found her story incredible, but she insisted. Now why would I make up something to attract attention? If you don't fancy finding the girl, try the Aussie guy. He has 2 more weeks in Udon, staying at Top Mansion with his Thai wife. He often has coffee/lunch at the IC outside, and I have seen him in the evenings. He is about 170cm stocky build shaved head, earing in each ear, always wears a singlet top. He will verify my story.