First cart. 48 volt question

Marauder

Sent this question to a vendor here but got a very generic response so wanted to ask the crowd.

I had been looking for a cart a while ago but put it off till now.

I found a nice 36 volt 2004 TXT that is very clean with 1 year old batteries. I am going to put street tires on it with 12 or 14 inch wheels, convert to 48 volt, upgrade controller to 500 amp for future proofing along with any other required upgrades (cables are obvious). Then will look into a new motor in the near future.

My question to this vendor was something to the affect of what would I have to upgrade day one if I negotiated a credit on the purchase price if I tested the cart first and the seller kept the batteries so I could immediately buy new batteries to go 48v???? The seller looks to be fixing up carts so I am sure he could use these batteries in another cart.

I also mentioned in my correspondence with the vendor that I am a bigger guy at 6'6" and 270 or so and that I was still trying to come up with wheel and suspension combos that would work so I dont make it scrub.

The response I got was that I should just pursue a txt 48v to begin with due to my weight plus a passenger and really no other details.

Are there any big advantages to going with a factory 48v txt day one over getting a decent deal on a 36v and working out getting 48v batteries immediately after purchase?? I know I would need a new charger as well. Wasnt sure if I could get by on the rest until I placed an order for the new controller etc.


I asked something similar when I was looking years ago but I know upgrade parts change and improve over time so maybe the answer is different now.

BGW

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Gregorio

In my research, I've seen 36v carts priced somewhat less than 48v to begin with. Why pay for inferior 48v parts when you plan to upgrade anyway?

JohnnieB

There were two different drive systems installed in the 2004 TXT, Series Drive and SepEx drive (PDS). The series drive had a direction selector lever by the driver's right knee and the PDS and a F/R switch on the dash next to the keyswitch.

Which drive system does the 2004 TXT you are considering have?
What will you be using the cart for?

Rim size is cosmetic, it is the tire height that alters the final drive ratio and effects the carts performance.

Marauder

That's kind of where I was going with my question. But knew I could miss something pretty easily.

Marauder

Switch is on dash. I will include a link to Craigslist ad just in case.

This will be exclusively a road cart in neighborhood. No lift needed.

Feel free to give input on the cart. Price seems fair. But I hate paying for newer batteries that I am just going to pull out. I was going to ask him (he may not do it) how much credit he would give me to keep the batteries. It may not be worth it to go that route. But couldn't hurt to ask him.

https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/snw/6173381623.html

JohnnieB

Cart are typically lifted for tire clearance rather than ground clearance. If you stick with a tire height of 20" or less, no lift is usually needed.

Cart prices vary greatly by location, but I paid over a grand less for my 2008 PDS six years ago in 2011, but it was a plain Jane without lights, windshield or rear seat.

I see he mentioned a "20MPH HIGH SPEED upgrade", but didn't explain what the upgrade was. There is a stock cover over the controller, so I suspect it is a stock (Curtis 1206MX) controller and the only way I know of getting exactly 20MPH with a stock controller is using 19" tall tires.

I also noticed this statement: "Same cart as shown but solid black roof instead of fabric cover." That means the cart in the pictures is not the cart being sold, and without pictures of actual cart, I would not touch it with a 10 ft pole.

Both a 36V PDS cart and a TXT-48 (which is a sepex drive) will make a good NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle). Using an Alltrax XCT controller and stock motors, a 36V PDS upgraded to 42V or 48V is faster than a TXT-48, but with the same aftermarket motor installed, they are essentially equals.

The price of the controller and motor is the same for either.
The TXT-48 may or may not need new high current cables, but the 36V PDS will since the interconnecting cables for 6V batteries are too short to be used with 8V batteries due to 8V batteries having both terminal on same side of battery top. In either case, all ten of the high current cables ought to be 4Ga or thicker.

A charger will be needed to up the battery pack voltage in the 36V PDS, while the TXT-48 may come with a suitable charger. In either case, the best charger to get is the DPI Accusense (User selectable charge profiles for different brand batteries and it float charges after regular charge cycle ends).

Hope this helps rather than confuses.

agpfl

Did you see this one? https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/for/6154465795.html

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

JohnnieB

$650 less and 7 years newer.

Marauder

It definitely helps!!! Thank you.

I understand about your comments on his ad. If I look at this one I will pull out the gps and test his claim if only for negotiating purposes.

Also, he actually has an ad for the black one. Which is what he is talking about. I actually found the black one before I found this red one. So it does exist. (in pictures at least!) (edit- I see what you mean now. I just went back and reread the ad. Definitely would make me be more careful. )

agpfl

Also already 48v, so will not have to swap batteries or buy another charger.