Mikey307 wrote:stripped down and caged as a roller as it sits should be in the 2600# range and it would live in low range always. Full weight would be around 33-3500. That's where most people are starting at before batteries yet with a mini truck. A good friend of kj and I is a circuit board genius lol so iam sure building a 1000amp controller would be doable on $400-500 give or take.
A waggy rear axle will not fit on a J-Truck. The J-Truck rear axle is 9.5" wider, and even that is barely wide enough.
You are going to be way heavier than 3500lbs. With no interior, and the engine gone, you will maybe drop it to the 3200lb range. But then you have to count adding the motor, and then a lot of batteries. Not sure what battery chemistry you are going for, lead acids will have the least capacity, and weigh the most.
Also, be sure to look at how many kW that forklift motor is rated for. Most of them are only 6-10kW (60min rating). You can run them a bit hotter for short periods. But 10kW is only 13.5hp. Thats enough to move it in low range sure, but not real easily, and certainly not fast. Oh, and those motors are typically only 48VDC, so your current draw is going to be really high. My friend that I mentioned above had his motor running at 144VDC, and a 500A Curtis controller wasn't enough for it (it burned up(twice)). Although it was a 63kW motor (peak). Actually, he roasted the motor two and moved to a much larger one later on.
Also remember that brakes are vacuum, so you need a vacuum pump as well. And depending on your battery capacity, you are looking at about 4-6 hours (with lithium) to charge if you have a high current 220vac generator.
I am not trying to discourage you, I really like electric cars, and the technology developing around them. I just don't want you guys to try it, and then get in over your head, and out some money.