Looking to buy a tricycle

I need help in deciding how best to help some Filipino family friends. Buying a Jeepney just now is not possible but I thought a tricycle would be a good start. What do I need and how much do they cost - and can you buy good secondhand ones or are they past their use-by date when passed on? There are plenty of drivers in the family. Do you need a special licence? What would be the start-up costs and the annual ongoing fees? Would one tricycle driven a fair amount of the time bring in enough money to cover a wage and leave some left over for the one who would manage the little business? Eventually I would hope to go to two or three under the same umbrella. We are trying to set up an ongoing income for a very large number of people who are facing a very bleak future if we cannot help. I would be interested in any advice anyone can give. Thank you.

I think you can get one for about 70k($1500) for brand new but you can also get a 2nd hand trike for about 40k($1000). I'm not exactly sure with the prices but it would cost around that much. As for licenses, yes they require licenses and registration of the tricycle especially if it'll be for public use. If you want to know more, you might want the check the Land & Transportation Office website (LTO). You might also want to consider buying a motorcycle then have the sidecar custom made. It's possible. Hope this helps. If I get more info, I'll let you know.

[Rhoody]

graceyoh, thanks for the answer

Depending on the Trike, the numbers above seem to be a bit low, here in Dumaguete you won't get a new one for 70K. usually they run with 150cc bikes where you can count (unless you buy a Chinese one, which I would not recommend for private use) with about 60+K

the sidecars here are much bigger than in Angeles or Subic, so a bit more Material and labor. You should go to a welding shop which makes sidecars and ask them for your own design. Down here in Duma I know an Expat who designed his family trike and it is fregging cool.

cheers

Rhoody

is this thread still open? I mean, for Margaret, I just feel that what she is doing is quite a blessing to the family she wants to help.

We recently had a trike built (last year) it cost around P106,000 in total along with the sidecar and everything along with licensing.

I can say having one trike in the household can serve a decent income as long as the use is optimized.

Right now we are looking to sell the trike at around P85,000

so now you have an idea how much does a brand new one cost and a second hand could.

[Jung]

Don't forget the additional cost of the line. You can't simply buy a trike, paint a number on it and jump in a queue. Good way to get beat up or worse!

You need to buy a line or permission to work a certain section of town. About 10 years ago I bought a used trike with line for around 70k. This was a good second hand 150cc motorcycle with sidecar and the line. So I would do a bit of research and see if the area you want to operate the trike has A) line spots (sometimes a certain line is full and no more line permits are being issued) and B) if there is possibly someone on the line willing to 'retire' for some money and you can buy a used trike and his line permit.

That would be the easiest way (and cheapest I think) of getting your feet wet and seeing if it is a viable occupation for the family you are trying to help.

Too bad the family member I wanted to help and give a job was useless and never worked and just came to me for gas when he got a low tank. Then the thing was sold from under me during some turbulent times (long and painful story) but long story short, make sure you watch everything VERY closely and that the trike is actually being used for work purposes and not simply as a shuttle service for friends and family.

Peace,

- Jung