buying a tuk tuk in Udon Thani - Samlor

Post by JR » July 12, 2012, 4:12 pm

You can order both those types from APN, 117/2-4 Prajak Road, Udon Thani, Tel 042242290 or 223716. Ask for Khun Pook, sales manager and she speaks English. The one Kopkei has, gives more weather protection and a flat floor for the driver and a metal roof. Otherwise basically the same. Like Kopkei says, his model is more exxpensive, it was 100.000 last year.

Post by **fatbob** » July 12, 2012, 5:24 pm

Have a look at the pick-up style samlors a westerner is selling in the main street of Bun Dung, they are about 60,000baht and practical looking things, I have his phone number if any one wants it.

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 12, 2012, 5:29 pm

Where is Bun Dung? Or do you have any pictures?

Post by **fatbob** » July 12, 2012, 7:45 pm

These are the machines, five forward gears with reverse.

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 13, 2012, 8:57 am

coxo, can I get his phone number from you?

Post by **fatbob** » July 13, 2012, 12:06 pm

Yes, send me a PM and I will forward it to you.

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 13, 2012, 12:32 pm

OK, I think I've sent you a PM but I'm not sure as it's my first and I'm no computer wizard

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 18, 2012, 2:25 pm

Well here with the update on my samlor quest. On Sunday the 15th I found and purchased a samlor kreuang in Na Gae. It has a 1400cc Daihatsu 5 speed engine and can carry well over 1 ton of weight in the back (so I was told. Haven't loaded that much into it yet, only 4 people from the family). On Monday I got my Yellow House Book and took the house book and the sales slip from the seller's shop that had the engine # down to the local Transportation office and was able to get insurance for 400 baht but was told that they can no longer register samlor kreuangs. They used to under a previous administration but no longer. Yesterday I drove it back to the transportation office and received my samlor kreuang driver's license. I don't have a work permit as I'm on a retirement visa and there was no problem. The written test was a bit different than what I had expected as some of the questions and answers defy logic but I answered enough to their liking in order to pass the written and the driving part was very easy. Go forward and then reverse and do a parallel park and then pull up and stop close to a curb, Pay 155 baht and done! Now the question is what will the police do when they see me coming. So far many locals have big smiles on their faces when I drive past, hope that's the same with the BIB. I carry a copy of the sales receipt (which was 84,000 baht) which shows the engine number and a copy of my insurance policy and of course my brand new samlor kreuang driver's license. I'll keep you posted when I get stopped by the BIB.
Oh almost forgot. I had originally ordered one from a shop in That Phanom but they're back logged with so many orders that they couldn't finish mine until 10 Aug at the soonest. I had given them a 2,000 baht deposit on a 80,000 baht price. Yesterday we went in to tell the owner that we no longer need them to build one for us and expecting him to say ok but you don't get your 2,000 baht back. I was totally surprised when he said ok and reached in his wallet and handed us the 2,000 baht deposit! Life is good!

Post by **bumper** » July 20, 2012, 7:16 pm

That's a nice rig where did you find it?

Post by **kopkei** » July 21, 2012, 9:57 am

hi richard, only to inform you that the samlor you bought does not have a 1400cc engine , but a 550cc or 660cc , 3 cylinder daihatsu engine , there is no 1400 cc daihatsu engine..., but for what ever reason they write 1400 cc on the side , same story for the nongkhai style tuk tuks.... , or i must be mistaken...

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 21, 2012, 4:30 pm

Hello bumper. I bought it in Na Gae. I have their phone number if you want. There's also a shop that builds one with the 660cc 4 speed in That Phanom and I have their phone as well.

Hi kopkei, apparently there's a Daihatsu charmant 1400 cc. But I'm definitely no expert on engines. You could be right. It's definitely a 5 speed if that makes a difference?

Post by **bumper** » July 21, 2012, 6:42 pm

Yes I would like the number, the one you have would be perfect for the farm and a heck of a lot less then a pickup.

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 21, 2012, 6:49 pm

Hi bumper. There are 2 places that I found up here near my place. One is in That Phanom and the name is in Thai and I can't read it but the phone number is 089-7121420. This is where the man quoted me a price of 80,000 baht for I think a 660cc 4 speed Daihatsu. The other place where I actually bought the one I have is located in Na Gae and the phone number there is 042-571294. This is the 1400cc 5 speed Daihatsu for 84,000 baht. Now you may have a 3rd place as the name on the actual paperwork that I got from this shop had the name TGM Autopart Limited and has an address in Bangplee Samutprakarn and it's phone number on the paper is 02-3250483--5. Maybe it was made there. Now remember I was able to get insurance and my samlor kreuang driver's license but I was not able to get it registered.

Post by **bumper** » July 21, 2012, 6:55 pm

Thanks much appreciated.

Post by **kopkei** » July 23, 2012, 4:24 pm

well richard if it is a 1400cc it must be a 4 cylinder not 3 , easy to see , how many sparks it has...

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 23, 2012, 4:34 pm

kopkei, I only see 3 spark plugs. Does that mean it's a 550 or 660cc? If so how do I tell which one? Thanks

Post by **bumper** » July 23, 2012, 5:55 pm

Anything in the 600 range is good power for something lite.

Post by **kopkei** » July 24, 2012, 9:33 am

the engine size is somewhere on the engine block but maybe hard to detect , anyway between 550cc or 660cc not much difference...maybe because you say it is a five speed it is the 660cc, so many different daihatsu engine types ....
if you can detect the engine number you can find some info on the internet......

Post by **richardnrenu** » July 24, 2012, 9:38 am

OK thanks kopkei I'll do some searching around the engine and internet. Maybe I can figure out what I actually bought.

Post by **Arosolius** » September 1, 2012, 11:57 am

I take delivery of a new Diahatsu engined tuk tuk next week. The company that's making it for me tells me it's a 650 cc.

BTW. I'm selling my old one which has been fantastic. See my ad in the classifieds. Pic attached.