94 Club Car DS got one need advice

[offgridman]

I just got a 94 Club Car DS cart with three year old batteries.
It could use a paint job and a good general clean up. It goes forward and backward and the charger works. I have not had a chance to run it far enough to see how the batteries hold up yet.

What I am wondering is it worth putting a lift kit, wheels tires and a paint job on it? or should I sell it and put the cash I could have spent on fixing it up and buy another cart in better cosmetic shape or is this practical. I am opening an RV park and would like a nice looking cart but realistically this cart should have an easy life with just cruising the streets checking the sites and the occasional errand around the park.
Moneys kind of tight so What do you guys think?

Thanks for your input.

[jlmurphy]

post pictures of the cart and of the batterie area. this may help with suggestions.

[OLD MEC]

Yes post pictures would help alot. With three year old batterys you may possibly be looking at $400-$600 for Qulity batterys right off the start depending on voltage? Also a question are you mechanically inclined? You like most of us are living on tight moneys and unless you have the ability to do some mechanical and paint work I would recommend getting a newer, or updated cart that is bascially what you want for looks. If you want to do a sharp paint job for looks and do other upgrades at later date when hopfully fund are more available? Also what about park itself is it hilly or flat as a battery cart, especially a 36 volt cart does not climb hills well, and at that age is not normally a solid state and batterys discharge much faster than newer carts. Again as to possible high hills in park adding a lift and larger diameter tires will cut the power for hill climbing so I would recommend a 48 volt solid state cart which is 1995 and up? NOTE NO REGEN CARTS in older models as they are hard to get parts and higher costs as well. Regen have a rocker type F&R switch under right leg to identify them easily. Once you get 2001 and above you would have a IQ model still using same switch under right leg. Up to about 2001 if cart has lever under right leg its a series model that is easier to work on.

[GLEEMO]

What he said ^^


Where are U located ???

[offgridman]

Originally Posted by jlmurphy

post pictures of the cart and of the batterie area. this may help with suggestions.

I am located in the Mobile, Alabama Area.

Right click the photo icons and select open in new tab if the photos don't show. Or use the photobucket URL below in your browser.













More photos are on photo bucket:

http://s1215.photobucket.com/albums/...cpZZ1QQtppZZ24

[scottyb]

It is a resistor coil cart .... but being a park cart means it will never be far from the charger..... I say run with it. And charge it often.

[GLEEMO]

and don't buy exide batteries the next time !

[scottyb]

offgridman, Are you going to charge the cart with the big wind generator pictured with the cart?

[offgridman]

Originally Posted by GLEEMO

and don't buy exide batteries the next time !

Thanks for the feed back. What kind of batteries would you recommend?
I have used Trojans T105's at my off the grid cabin before but they are pricey now.
The first set ones lasted 5 years. I am now on a set of 125's. (ten each) that have been in service about 3 years.

I all ways look for the lowest amp hr/cost ratio when choosing them for the cabin.

[offgridman]

Originally Posted by scottyb

offgridman, Are you going to charge the cart with the big wind generator pictured with the cart?

No, I have solar panels at my cabin and I have one of these winchargers that I restored with the intention of erecting it.
It stays in a storage room because I just don't want to see it in the weather again. It is such a classic piece. I have a new prop, tower, tail, motor, and all the parts for it.

I will most likely put 3 each 50 watt panels on top of the cart one day with a good charge controller.
I really like PV solar. My cabin has been on it since 1998 If it were up to me we all would use it. I think 10% of our power bills should be directed toward creating a huge PV solar farm in the desert. In a few years we would be independent from fossil fuels and could use hydrogen in our engines.