# Gem eL XD... shortening wheel base... **URL:** \ **Category:** GEM Forum\ **Created:** [June 6, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852 "2018-06-06T01:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/1 "2018-06-06T01:27:04Z")
Hello New Member here šŸ™‚ I just picked up a 2016 Gem eL XD which is coming without any rear bed system (just naked frame rails). Iā€™m considering shortening it to make it easier to transport behind my RV (possibly on a Hyrdalift) or in a trailer. Has anyone ever done this before? It looks pretty simple to do. I am hoping to get it to shorter than 8ā€™ so I can carry it sideways on a Hydralift [http://hydralift-usa.com/side-by-side-lift/](http://hydralift-usa.com/side-by-side-lift/) then build my own rear bed for it. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Houseboater](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/old_houseboater/32/544_2.png) [@Old\_Houseboater](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Old_Houseboater)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 4:05am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/2 "2018-06-06T04:05:47Z")
Cut it to the same wheelbase as a 4 passenger so you can use stock Ebrake cables. Rodney ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 11:39am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/3 "2018-06-06T11:39:51Z")
Great idea, but I think I would need to be closer to the two person versions. The e4 is still over 11ā€™ with a 101" wheel base. ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 11:45am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/4 "2018-06-06T11:45:38Z")
e2 is 103" long with 69" wheel base. Thatā€™s close but still a little long. I think I can make it work but shortening a cable if need be is very possible. Really from what I was looking at, shortening the brake cable and brake line seem to be the only functional issues. Making new brackets or cutting and shutting the existing frame to move everything forwards doesnā€™t seem to be too far out of the possible. I am picking it up today and will take a bunch of photos. ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/5 "2018-06-07T01:52:48Z")
So here she is šŸ™‚ Nick named ā€œBullyā€ as her face reminds me of a Bulldog and she will even more so once she is short and squat. šŸ˜ƒ ![IMG_20180606_181720](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/b/bb240f75221eee9a03524a415cad59f775b5c701.jpg) Only one image per post ā˜¹ for new users so more to followā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/6 "2018-06-07T01:53:50Z")
I am thinking I can cut out everything between these two cross members. Line them up and then weld them together. The battery tray will need new supports but the whole tray unbolts and moves so that should be easy to move back and between the wheels. The top brackets where it attaches will need a little more fancy work and then a few extra cross members and we should be good. It will take out 43.5" from the wheel base to get me down to 8.5ā€™ and then I am going to clip the back as short as possible after the wheels to get me under 8ā€™ overallā€¦ ![IMG_20180606_181712](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/6/6592630cd26c92909c5dca867bbe97be17fe109d.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/7 "2018-06-07T01:54:38Z")
A few more pictures for anyone curious about the chassis. ![IMG_20180606_181833](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/6/6c76edb8521891d82a69053093138201f2940484.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/8 "2018-06-07T01:55:13Z")
![IMG_20180606_181802](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/3/32f97354378daaec58894a171075027e6a655d4c.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/9 "2018-06-07T01:55:50Z")
![IMG_20180606_181734](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/0/0d447decc123aa5663f9e2c35005a15bb120b66b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/10 "2018-06-07T01:56:24Z")
![IMG_20180606_181730](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/f/f15ccad83fdcd91aa1c93831b34b0fe0d7a1c07e.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Vern](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/mr.vern/32/2658_2.png) [@Mr.Vern](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Mr.Vern)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/11 "2018-06-07T17:18:41Z")
It almost looks like everything aft of the cab just bolts on. Are the main frame rails welded or bolted? Looks like a fun project! Next step should be to go lithium so you can drop a few hundred pounds and lighten the load on your hitch mount. ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/12 "2018-06-07T18:29:56Z")
Wouldnā€™t it have been awesome if we could just unbolt the rear sections and swap between wheel basesā€¦ Alas the main frame rails run all the way under the cabin and the majority is welded together. Still shouldnā€™t be too much of an issue. Iā€™ll likely machine solid inserts to help align where I make the cuts, bolt it together, and then go and get it welded. I only do short distances so as much as I would love the Lithium idea itā€™s really hard (impossible?) for me to justify right now. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Vern](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/mr.vern/32/2658_2.png) [@Mr.Vern](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Mr.Vern)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/13 "2018-06-07T19:01:13Z")
Thereā€™s probably a very good reason that frames arenā€™t bolted together. If you sell enough of them, one will come unbolted. I get it on the lithium. I was lucky that mine needed batteries when I bought it. Lithium ended up being about the same price as lead but could easily have been done for less had I not hot rodded it. ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/14 "2018-06-08T00:16:35Z")
Yeah, the way they built the frame makes a lot of sense for strength and manufacturing processes. Just makes it a little harder for silly people like me to modify it. Not that much thoughā€¦ šŸ™‚ Do you have a 2016 Gem also? I am very interested in being able to increase the top speed if I can. Thereā€™s a lot of 35mph roads that it would be great to be able to keep up with traffic on. Is there a list of fault codes anywhere? This one has the wrench warning showing on the dash. I am wondering if it is just something simple like not having rear lights connected or something more. Also is there any where to get parts? I need the rear lights and may want to replace the front bumper/skirt on as it is cracked where it joins the side panel. ---
**Author:** ![Inwo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/inwo/32/1067_2.png) [@Inwo](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Inwo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/15 "2018-06-08T01:26:02Z")
Is this a classic model with GE controller? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Vern](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/mr.vern/32/2658_2.png) [@Mr.Vern](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Mr.Vern)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/16 "2018-06-08T03:48:54Z")
Mine is a 2002. Iā€™m not sure if your 2016 is the same as Grantā€™s 2013. If so, heā€™s the guy that can help you ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/17 "2018-06-08T17:53:23Z")
Inwo, I am not sure. How do I check/find out? I believe 2016 was a new model year. Itā€™s the new body style, but I am not sure what components it shares with the previous platforms. ---
**Author:** ![Jag73e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58956e/32.png) [@Jag73e](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Jag73e)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 9:19am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/18 "2018-06-14T09:19:11Z")
Following with interest as Iā€™ve a 2015 E2 which will need new batteries. Has a T5 controller which Iā€™ve been told cannot be reprogrammed for higher speed. Also curious about the lithium upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![Inwo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/inwo/32/1067_2.png) [@Inwo](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Inwo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/19 "2018-06-14T16:02:28Z")
@Jag73e The magic magnet removes the speed limit on all cars with dc motors a speed sensors. Taking the lead out will make it fly. Getting a junkyard Chevy Volt is the best bang for the buck. Or if budget permits, I have an extra 50 mile Bolt module. Grant should be posting soon. In the middle of his Bolt conversion. ---
**Author:** ![manike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@manike](https://community.electricforum.com/u/manike)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852/20 "2018-06-14T19:24:07Z")
Are there details anywhere on how to get one of these magnets and where to place it? I looked and saw talk of it, but no details on how to still get them? Thank you. [Next page](https://community.electricforum.com/t/gem-el-xd-shortening-wheel-base/13852.md?page=2)