looking for ideas on an off road electric utility truck.

[Ryland]

I'm looking for ideas on building an electric utility truck, it needs to be able to haul two people and about 500 pounds of cargo, no extreme off road stuff here but it will see use on grass and gravel roads, street legal would be nice but not needed as a slow moving vehicle sign would work fine.

Now I can get my hands on a 1993 Toyota two wheel drive truck with a blown engine for about $500 from a friend, draw back to this vehicle is that it would need an adapter bought or made for the motor and it would need a motor sourced.
My other thought was start from scratch and build it using golf cart parts, or just base it off a golf cart, maybe even going as far as doing dual rear axles with dual motors? this would increase the weight that it could haul along with the traction, draw back of course to this would be increased cost with the larger controller needed and extra axle needed.

It seems like there are other solutions out there as well that I am not seeing so I'm open to all input, the budget for this is about $1,500 and if we can keep it lower that would be even better!

[Daox]

What kinda range you looking to get?

[Ryland]

20-25 miles would be great, it's for the grounds of the Mid-West Renewable Energy Association so if it could service their camp ground, haul stuff around for their week long workshops that they host, haul mulch and plants around for the landscaping, their current grounds vehicles are a F150 4x4 diesel and a garden cart and the F150 never gets warmed up so it should be saved for heavy loads and hauling stuff from town and when you are doing a bunch of work and paying someone by the hour a garden cart doesn't always cut it.

I told them that I'm willing to donate a set of 8 to 12 used Trojen T-105 6V golf cart batteries and I know that there are others that would do the same.
I also have a 40mph axle and motor from a Commuti-car that I could use... but I'd rather keep it if I could and I don't think they need 40mph, 15-20mph would be plenty.

[Daox]

Why not just go with an electric golf cart? A quick search on craigslist shows you can get a working electric cart for around $1k.

[Frank Lee]

Before I read any of the posts I thought get a golf cart and stick the appropriate wheel/tire package on there and jack it up if/as needed. If frame isn't strong enough/can't be made strong enough perhaps it can pull a trailer?

[Ryland]

I suspect a modified golf cart is going to be the route that will be taken, putting 12" or 13" wheels on it for higher speeds and a small truck bed for hauling dirt, plants and other stuff, I suspect that at that point an upgraded controller is going to be needed for the higher amps it will draw and of course making sure it's a 48v system and not a 36v could be a good idea as well.