Suzuki Carry Van conversion

Have you made or bought a converted vehicle if so this is for you
RobSmith
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:32 pm

Suzuki Carry Van conversion

Postby RobSmith » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:26 pm

I have been offered a quite tidy Suzuki Carry van.
It looks like it would make quite a good conversion.
Our daily mileage would be 20 miles on one charge.
Our speed requirements would be roughly 55-60mph flat out, 50mph on straight bits of road, 40mph average for the journey.
A section of the rear floor comes out to allow rear seats to go in.
It has a live rear axle so an easy connect up to the propshaft. Crownwheel and pinion ratio is probably around 3:1 with those small wheels.
The van is fairly lightweight
The front has a big empty space for electric power steering pump and vacuum pump. I am not sure if there is a non-power steering option.
The underside has two big spaces that look like they could be adapted for taking batteries.

Anyone converted a suzuki Carry van?

Can anyone start me off with where to look for a suitable motor and batteries / charger and what controller or how to make one.
I am very hands on and can make / modify / fix most things so if there is a good way to avoid buying the expensive 'proper' thing I tend to do that.
Rob

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retepsnikrep
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Location: North Yorkshire England
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Re: Suzuki Carry Van conversion

Postby retepsnikrep » Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:58 pm

The carry is pretty similar to my old solar van project you can find all that detailed via google.

40-45mph tops is a more realistic speed. 60mph is a big ask considering the aerodynamics of the vans.
Regards Peter

Two MK1 Honda Insight's. One running 20ah A123 Lithium pack. One 8ah BetterBattery Nimh pack.
One HCH1 Civic Hybrid running 60ah A123 Lithium pack.

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ChrisB
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Location: Hampshire on the Southcoast
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Re: Suzuki Carry Van conversion

Postby ChrisB » Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:49 pm

Brick on wheels springs to mind :lol: :lol:

My Fiesta would do 75mph but even that was chewing up 200amps @ 120volts to do that :shock: and the batteries wouldnt let it do it for long, about 10mins and that was it :lol: :lol:

The Berlingo, while it will do 60mph, the 28kw motor is gobbling up huge amounts of power from the nicads to do that sort of speed and its not something you want to do for long periods.

ChrisB
I reject reality and substitute my own !!!!!!

RobSmith
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:32 pm

Re: Suzuki Carry Van conversion

Postby RobSmith » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:51 pm

retepsnikrep wrote:The carry is pretty similar to my old solar van project you can find all that detailed via google.

40-45mph tops is a more realistic speed. 60mph is a big ask considering the aerodynamics of the vans.


I realised the top speed might be fairly high but our round trip would only be 20 miles so was hoping the motor load could be sustained for the shortish distance. Much of the journey would be down below 40mph with a few faster straight bits between the villages.
The next time I drive that way I will watch and get a better idea of the speeds we do and for how long.


Edit: Does the solar van still live?

Edit 2: Just found the bit on the web site that says you sold it to a nice man in London.
Edit 3: Have spent a little while looking at the Solar van Web site. I am impressed. Looks like a lot of expense.
Rob


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