YALA — A 55-year-old welder in southern Thailand has gone viral after modifying a sidecar motorcycle into a raised vehicle designed to travel through floodwaters up to 1 metre deep.
Teepakorn Chankaew, known as “Chang Nui,” the owner of a sidecar workshop in Yala, built the unusual motorcycle after seeing residents struggle with flooding along routes around Noen Huk Wang Intersection and Wat Trimitt Road.
The area can become flooded after two to three hours of heavy rain, making it difficult for residents to travel in and out.
With more than 30 years of experience building sidecar motorcycles, Teepakorn worked with his son to modify an existing motorcycle. They removed some of its original components and added a steel frame to raise the motorcycle above the water level.
The modification took just three days to complete.
“The idea was to make it for our own use at home when flooding occurs for a few days each year,” Teepakorn said. “If there is an emergency before the water gets too high, it could also be used to travel through water around 1 metre deep to help people get out.”
He said the modification cost less than 10,000 baht, excluding the motorcycle itself.
Teepakorn said the motorcycle was never intended as a commercial product. His son posted a video of it online for fun, but the clip eventually attracted more than 3 million views.
The mechanic stressed that the modified motorcycle is intended only for emergencies and is not suitable for normal road use. He acknowledged that the modification does not meet standard requirements and is not compliant with traffic regulations.
Beyond the flood vehicle, Teepakorn also used the attention to highlight problems faced by sidecar motorcycle owners, including street vendors who rely on their vehicles for their livelihoods.
He said many owners support bringing sidecar motorcycles into the legal registration system but face difficulties over regulations governing vehicle dimensions, particularly because the rules do not adequately cover sidecar roofs.
As a result, some owners who have installed roofs for work are reportedly unable to pass vehicle inspections when renewing registration. They may have to pay mechanics to remove the roofs before inspection and reinstall them afterward, creating additional costs and disrupting their work.
Teepakorn called on relevant authorities to study the issue on the ground and consider revising the regulations so vehicle dimensions include the roof.
He said clearer rules could help residents and vendors register their vehicles legally without unnecessary additional costs.
