# Bought a 2002 GEM truck from a government auction for real cheap
**URL:** https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485
**Category:** GEM Forum
**Created:** [March 25, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485 "2018-03-25T01:50:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BradGEM](https://community.electricforum.com/u/BradGEM)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/1 "2018-03-25T01:50:49Z")
I have been searching the sub forum for a wiring diagram, but I finally came across a thread that helped me realize why no one posts pictures: I need to post a few times first. Sooo… Let me tell you about myself and what I have got. Maybe by the end of the night, I’ll have picture access, and a few friends.
I am not a newb to repair. I bought an old GEM for really cheap hoping it had most of it’s insides. Got it home on a 12x6ft U-Haul. It now sits on my 10 acre minifarm. Hopefully helping me do maintenance someday.
Attached is an initial picture before the drive home.
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### Author:  [@BradGEM](https://community.electricforum.com/u/BradGEM)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/2 "2018-03-25T01:54:19Z")
First thing I did when I arrived home is plug it in. But nothing charged. So i took the seat off and connected all the batteries. They had unhooked them.
Plugged it in again, Still nothing.
So I took the dash apart. It looks like they removed … something. Good news is I have a T2 (I think) at least that is what the last 2 characters say on the device on the left. Still trying to find a wiring diagram or someone that knows what this thing is that is removed.
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### Author:  [@BradGEM](https://community.electricforum.com/u/BradGEM)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/3 "2018-03-25T01:56:10Z")
There is also what looks like a power cord for the back of a computer hanging out at the bottom. I think it is the main charge port power plug…
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### Author:  [@BradGEM](https://community.electricforum.com/u/BradGEM)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/4 "2018-03-25T05:46:53Z")
Okay. Tonight I learned that this is the Zivan NG1 charger, i think. … a $350 piece! That’s more than I paid for the whole GEM.
I have a few Golf Cart external chargers… I wonder if I could just get a female outlet for it and use two 36 volt golf cart chargers instead… hmm
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### Author:  [@BradGEM](https://community.electricforum.com/u/BradGEM)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2018, 5:56am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/5 "2018-03-25T05:56:21Z")
If anyone wants to know where I got the gem, in the states, the main gov auction website is [PublicSurplus.com](http://PublicSurplus.com). They had a lot of GEMs where I live. Unfortunately, they are all gone from my city.
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### Author:  [@diymatt](https://community.electricforum.com/u/diymatt)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/6 "2018-03-28T14:01:07Z")
hha, welcome to the forum. I did pretty much the same thing myself about a month ago. Same trailer. I bought mine from somebody privately however and mine has “most” of the parts. Plenty of great info on the site.
I’m still finishing up my lithium conversion and documenting all the modifications I’m making in hopes of helping other new people.
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### Author:  [@BradGEM](https://community.electricforum.com/u/BradGEM)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/7 "2018-03-28T15:01:37Z")
That’s fantastic! What thread are you documenting your conversion in? I haven’t been able to go through all the recent topics yet.
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### Author:  [@diymatt](https://community.electricforum.com/u/diymatt)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/8 "2018-03-28T20:04:32Z")
hootie hoooo
> [@Yet another lithium upgrade for dummies on a 2005 825 (some info needed)](https://community.electricforum.com/t/yet-another-lithium-upgrade-for-dummies-on-a-2005-825-some-info-needed/13374):
>
> I bought a used 4 seater GEM and the batteries are hilariously bloated and hosed due to Craigslist liars. Regardless, that’s not relevant to this, more of a warning to newcomers. (new battery doth not mean good battery). They kept enough of a charge to let me know the GEM does, in fact, turn on and lights up so there is that. Now the next step is to get new batteries. Due to the one conversation thread about “why on earth do people still use lead acid or gel batteries?” as well as “[lithium …](https://community.electricforum.com/t/volt-lithium-install-for-dummies-00-e825/13145/5)
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### Author:  [@Inwo](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Inwo)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/9 "2018-03-29T00:01:36Z")
Just checked out your upgrade thread.
Super job.
That should take some of the pressure off me, and you explain it better than I could.
Thank you!
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### Author:  [@diymatt](https://community.electricforum.com/u/diymatt)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/bought-a-2002-gem-truck-from-a-government-auction-for-real-cheap/13485/10 "2018-03-29T19:31:00Z")
Thanks @Inwo, none of it would have been possible without you.
I’m also making the video as we speak. I shoudl have that posted in the new few weeks.