Motoring in the third world

[ingenieur]

I'm starting this but cannot really add much as my only first hand experience of the third world is limited to having visited Birmingham.

I was randomly browsing Google Street View and came across this guy.




It cannot be that unusual if he just happened to be there when I was looking through random views of streets in Cambodia.

Our way of driving / owning a motor vehicle in the UK is so different to this in so many ways but dead similar in the sense that he's just getting from A to B.

I'd like to have a go on his rig... it looks like fun.

[donkmeister]

In many parts of the world, two wheel tractors are a thing and people tow a trailer behind to use as transport. If you remember Tom Goode's rotavator vehicle in "The Good Life", it is a very similar concept built on the same premise of "have engine, need transport".

However, whilst trying to find a picture of someone driving one I found that you can actually buy them in the UK! Doubt it would be road legal, mind.

https://www.bsgtractorsandmachinery.co.uk/product/...

[ingenieur]

That looks so easy to build. Seriously doubt it would be road legal. I often wonder if farmers ever do field hopping where they come out of one field and use the public road illegally for a 1/8 mile and drive into the next field. I don't suppose anyone really cares but I'm sure it goes on.

[911Spanker]

Probably more engaging to drive than 99% of the st on UK roads.

[ingenieur]

911Spanker said:

Probably more engaging to drive than 99% of the st on UK roads.

It's also safe as it has a gate on the drivers side.

[parabolica]

donkmeister said:

In many parts of the world, two wheel tractors are a thing and people tow a trailer behind to use as transport. If you remember Tom Goode's rotavator vehicle in "The Good Life", it is a very similar concept built on the same premise of "have engine, need transport".

However, whilst trying to find a picture of someone driving one I found that you can actually buy them in the UK! Doubt it would be road legal, mind.

https://www.bsgtractorsandmachinery.co.uk/product/...

Pretty common here in Romania, esp rural parts. Still a lot of horse and carts as well, but seeing more and more of the two-wheel motors.

[ingenieur]

they're essentially not much different to a front wheel drive car. Just very bare bones.

[triathlonstu]

donkmeister said:

In many parts of the world, two wheel tractors are a thing and people tow a trailer behind to use as transport. If you remember Tom Goode's rotavator vehicle in "The Good Life", it is a very similar concept built on the same premise of "have engine, need transport".

However, whilst trying to find a picture of someone driving one I found that you can actually buy them in the UK! Doubt it would be road legal, mind.

https://www.bsgtractorsandmachinery.co.uk/product/...

Was going to say exactly this after reading the first post. Nepal and rural China are full of things being towed by 2 wheel tractors!

[ingenieur]

Is the one above definitely a two-wheel tractor or is it a truck with the cab missing?

[donkmeister]

ingenieur said:

Is the one above definitely a two-wheel tractor or is it a truck with the cab missing?

The one in your OP is the latter.

Reminds me of how they deliver bus and truck chassis to the coach works in India! Can't find a pic sadly, but they literally drive them out of the factory like that.

[Ussrcossack]

donkmeister said:

ingenieur said:

Is the one above definitely a two-wheel tractor or is it a truck with the cab missing?

The one in your OP is the latter.

Reminds me of how they deliver bus and truck chassis to the coach works in India! Can't find a pic sadly, but they literally drive them out of the factory like that.

They used to do that from plaxton, Scarborough in the 1970s.

In all weathers

[2cool2cool]

Driven through Bradford many times. They have their own rules there known locally as "Bradford rules"

[ingenieur]

Ussrcossack said:

donkmeister said:

ingenieur said:

Is the one above definitely a two-wheel tractor or is it a truck with the cab missing?

The one in your OP is the latter.

Reminds me of how they deliver bus and truck chassis to the coach works in India! Can't find a pic sadly, but they literally drive them out of the factory like that.

They used to do that from plaxton, Scarborough in the 1970s.

In all weathers

How many weathers are there in Scarborough?

[2cool2cool]

ingenieur said:

Ussrcossack said:

donkmeister said:

ingenieur said:

Is the one above definitely a two-wheel tractor or is it a truck with the cab missing?

The one in your OP is the latter.

Reminds me of how they deliver bus and truck chassis to the coach works in India! Can't find a pic sadly, but they literally drive them out of the factory like that.

They used to do that from plaxton, Scarborough in the 1970s.

In all weathers

How many weathers are there in Scarborough?

Weathers is the correct grammar. I'm quite impressed by its usage.

[JakeT]

I’ve driven some real st in places like the Caribbean or in the islands in the Indian Ocean. I love it. It’s motoring at its most pure. Maybe slow, noisy and generally crap, but it’s better than walking. It really opened my eyes how ‘nice’ cars here are.

[Gigamoons]

ingenieur said:

I'm starting this but cannot really add much as my only first hand experience of the third world is limited to having visited Birmingham.

I was randomly browsing Google Street View and came across this guy.




It cannot be that unusual if he just happened to be there when I was looking through random views of streets in Cambodia.

Our way of driving / owning a motor vehicle in the UK is so different to this in so many ways but dead similar in the sense that he's just getting from A to B.

I'd like to have a go on his rig... it looks like fun.

Meh, I’m going to presume you don’t know anyone with a family farm. As a tool to be used on the land, that photo looks slightly above average condition

[ingenieur]

Gigamoons said:

ingenieur said:

I'm starting this but cannot really add much as my only first hand experience of the third world is limited to having visited Birmingham.

I was randomly browsing Google Street View and came across this guy.




It cannot be that unusual if he just happened to be there when I was looking through random views of streets in Cambodia.

Our way of driving / owning a motor vehicle in the UK is so different to this in so many ways but dead similar in the sense that he's just getting from A to B.

I'd like to have a go on his rig... it looks like fun.

Meh, I’m going to presume you don’t know anyone with a family farm. As a tool to be used on the land, that photo looks slightly above average condition

My family has a farm.

[zarlak]

These are fairly common in India and known as a "Jugaad" :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugaad

This is a pic of one I saw around 10 years ago south of Delhi:

[jonwm]

It makes me think when abroad in hot not so wealthy countries that the cars are driven in harsh environments with not much love for cleaning servicing etc yet no one bothers.

We over here are changing the oil and filters every 12 months/ 10k for fear of them car imploding.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

You see bare truck/bus chassis's driven on the road all the time in India (I imagine they are being transported somewhere to be built/rebuilt).

Not sure where this pic is from, but imagine the driver without a helmet and some knackered flip flops.

Edited by Ice_blue_tvr on Sunday 2nd July 08:16