Contemplating an electric go-kart as a small yard cart puller

[LouNY]

We have an electric SxS Polaris Ranger for around the property duties, and occasional short drive on local roads.
I just can't emphasize enough that for the short and frequent stop/start use it gets, the electric drivetrain is far superior to an ICE drivetrain. If you have longer distances to drive, or cannot charge it as needed, that is a different matter. Plus, plugging it in is so easy, it almost never runs out of battery on our use.
I did have to replace the batteries once (ouch!), possibly earlier than would have been needed otherwise due to dealer neglect of keeping them charged. I spent a little more money to replace the lead acid batteries with lithium, so should not have to replace batteries for a long time. Also don't have to water them, flush the battery tray to prevent rot and corrosion. Not to mention that draining them most or all the way does not permanently wound them as would be the case with lead acid. And the EV is 500 pounds lighter than with the original lead acid batteries.

I have to wonder about the lithium batteries in cold weather. I used one as a starting battery in my UTV it will not work in the winter, I have to use a jump pack to warm the battery and start the UTV after it's started and running for a few minutes it will work fine unless shut off for a couple of hours then it's jump pack again. Come warmer weather (above 45) it works fine again.

 

[pacosperson]

My wife does a lot of weeding, trimming and pruning, and generates a lot of yard waste; this gets put into a simple garden cart (10 cu ft) which is currently pulled behind our aged lawn tractor.
That lawn tractor as noted is old, and it's noisy, stinky, and lots of starts and stops just moving the cart a bit here and there is tough on its battery.

I have in mind something electric (battery EV) that can pull it around the land; that would allow her to move the cart fifteen or fifteen hundred feet to the next work spot if she wants with no bother about starting it, worry about leaving it running because it's just a quick stop or not, etc.

Range is a very low requirement - we've got 8 acres and this thing really only needs to do a few loops of the land at the most between charges - like, a mile - so it doesn't need a lot of battery capacity, and it definitely doesn't need a lot of power - just a nicely geared-down drive system that allows say 1-5mph speed. The land is bumpy enough that I don't expect it to need to go much faster than that.

Those requirements, of course, rule out pretty much everything on the market. An electric UTV with a dump bed would be pie-in-the-sky ideal, but they're way bigger than we want (one person capacity and narrower would be better) and have way more capability (30+mph, miles and miles of range) and way way way more cost.

I'll deal with dumping the cart instead of a dump bed, and the rest of the unit... I've been coming to basically an off-road go cart, converted to electric, with a welded-on trailer hitch. Probably gear it way down in the conversion process, which should make pulling the trailer trivial (the trailer never gets more than a hundred pounds anyways, and she's light, and I'm not particularly heavy either if I need to use it). The low-slung nature of a go-kart, with bigger wheels & tires on the off-road version, is appealing for stability as well.

Anyone here play with off-road go carts much? I see some cheap electric versions, but they seem really small even the "for adults and teenagers", though it would probably be fine for my wife. Still wouldn't mind something slightly bigger...

This is probably one of those "someday I'll do this" projects.

A used golf cart that has lost its sheen and is no longer attractive is likely your best bet. You don’t use a lot of vanity pulling weeds. They’re designed for 18 holes so would likely have sufficient range even with older batteries. They even have sunshades!! Older people can get on or off easily. Worst case is you have to invest in more aggressive tires. Check the used sites such as Craigslist.

 

[scootr]

Don't overcomplicate the application. A good used golf cart can do this. I've worked in the golf cart upgrade market for many years. We have 2 on our ranch. A 2008 and 2011 Ezgo. These are on the TXT platform. Both upgraded controllers, motors, Lithium battery, big tires, and cargo box. They have tow hitches on them for trailers and carry my 16 gal sprayer. But you can just fill the poly cargo box with weeds and transfer to the dumpster or whatever with a plastic manure fork. A big single lithium battery and charger from Chins is $700 Amazon. Cheaper than nasty old lead acid.
PM me with any questions

 

[Jaygyver]

Unless your wife is still in her 20's I would think twice about a go-kart, unless you're going to weld in a tall seat. My wife would throw her watering jug at me if I were to suggest that. lol

You have to remember even the larger karts are fairly narrow and even pulling 100# in the trailer and it's a pretty good idea the cart probably weighs another 50#. You would be surprised how much the trailer actually affects the pulling machine. Especially going up and down hills and on the rougher areas. Being electric would be a bit heavier than the gas engine but not by much with that small of a machine.

Unless you need it to be as narrow as the mower, as @scootr mentioned, I would think about an older golf cart. In the long run I think it would just be more stable and safer. The bed on the back would be the cat's meow but you can always put a hitch on it for the trailer to put the heavier things in, just a bit lower helps.
Worst case, you have a tractor that could widen the trails just a bit more. What helped me a bit on the rocks in the ground was to just put a bucket of dirt/gravel over them and spread it out and no one knows it's there.

A simple way would just be to get another used mower and go from there as you already have the setup you've probably have used for years.

I bought a (gas) SxS a few years ago and the wife use's it quite a bit in the summer to water the outlying plants and new trees and such. We just have too much mud for a golf cart. I bought her a portable 14 gal water tank (was made for gas) with an electric AC/DC pump that stays with the SxS and if she needs more room then she just hooks the trailer up.

 

[ning]

Here is my unconventional thoughts on this. First, I have a little go-cart that I bought to let my friends kids ride when they are over at the property. I found it to be GREAT for riding around and picking up rocks and stick as I can sit and drive it around and just reach over and pick up things off the ground without having to even get out of the seat. I put a container in the passenger seat to put the items in.

With that said, it is difficult to get in and out of for people who are of a certain age. You know, us guys that obsess about what size fruit our prostate is! 8>) So it really wouldn't be great to have to get in and out of it more than once.

Have you looked at a used quad ATV in your area? Normally they are pretty affordable (not electric), but you can find them for less than 2 grand almost all the time.

But, I think most people overlook a great option. If you property will allow it, what about just getting a beater car? Even better if you can find a wagon. Something like a Subaru or something with all wheel drive. A/C Heat, radio, comfort, and getting in an out of it is a breeze. Plus, if you want to insure and register it, you have an extra car and you can use it to pick up dirty loads. Just another idea.

Yes, I think the UTVs are WAY overpriced for what they are. Golf carts are a great answer, but battery replacement is very expensive.

My wife would likely agree with your wife shortly after I gave her a go-cart, it's a valid point. I personally work on lunges & squats regularly (just body weight, it's what the equipment was built for and I'd prefer not to have to go replacing bits) so I don't mind getting up and down...

Beater car - way too big. The gator is likely too big too, I'd like to go with a 4' max.

Golf cart - I have strong doubts that there's enough of a suspension to keep both drive wheels on the ground on the rocky "road" (which can't be improved without either significant amounts of fill, or blasting; neither of which I'm likely to do for a very short road) to her garden, so I doubt that a golf cart would make it up there.

I'm considering a quad ATV, but I'd convert it to electric. A big part of this potential project is not caring about starting it up, moving it 25 feet, and stopping it; it's obviously hard on the lawn tractor's battery and would be tough on anything else's battery too, besides the fact that this is a perfect electrical application - total of probably 100 yards on a typical use-day with a very occasionaly day max of maybe 1/2 mile, and lots of short moves.

The lawn tractor makes a fine mower (well, kinda) but it's stinky, noisy, not the right thing for this task, and won't go up the garden road either...

 

[shooterdon]

I can't imagine a lawn mower being better at dealing with a rocky road than a golf cart.

 

[ning]

I can't imagine a lawn mower being better at dealing with a rocky road than a golf cart.

neither can I

 

[John_Mc]

I can't imagine a lawn mower being better at dealing with a rocky road than a golf cart.

You'd be surprised what they will do if you remove the mower deck. Still, a gas lawn tractor (or slightly bigger "garden tractor") does not sound like what he is looking for.

 

[John_Mc]

I wonder if this might do it for you:

Electric Offroad Golf Cart: Kruiser 4P Element | Kandi America

Discover Kandi's Kruiser 4P Element– a 4-person electric golf cart perfect for neighborhood drives & off-road adventures. Shop now at Kandi America!

www.kandiamerica.com

 

[LouNY]

Or this;

Mars Cars LLC / Mars 4X4 72 Volt Golf Cart EV: Electric Side by side UTV

 

[newbury]

How about a small donkey?
Might be able to use the lawn waste and create fertilizer.

 

[Frxdy]

Golf carts are convenient and have their place.....start saving now for when you have to replace all batteries.

I bought an electric golf cart that came with six (dead) 6 volt batteries. ($1,500 to replace!) I replaced them with three 12 volt lead acid deep cycle batteries. About $125 each. I have never tested to see how far it will go, but it's doing what I need it to.

 

[shooterdon]

I nearly bought my first EV this week. A golf course is selling some of their electric carts for $2000. If I had a place to store it, I would have picked one up. They said the batteries were replaced in 2024 so lots of life left in them. But if not, a Lithium battery upgrade is about $800 and they are supposed to last over 8 years. Maybe in the spring. They have five carts and doubt there is much demand with over 10" of snow right now.

I can put up a shed for not a lot of money with the wood I have when my buddy gets his bandsaw mill running. I have metal roofing and will be on the look out for windows people sell when they upgrade. I think I can put up a 10x12 shed without a permit.

 

[scootr]

I bought an electric golf cart that came with six (dead) 6 volt batteries. ($1,500 to replace!) I replaced them with three 12 volt lead acid deep cycle batteries. About $125 each. I have never tested to see how far it will go, but it's doing what I need it to.

Deep cycle batteries are design for a sustained 20 amp discharge, not 200 amp golf cart draw. So be careful, they may not last a real long time. Replace those once and you could have bought a big single Lithium battery/charger combo on Amazon for $600-700 that should last 8 yrs

 

[newbury]

I think I can put up a 10x12 shed without a permit.

Make it the max size if you can.
My zoning in Alexandria limited a non-permitted shed to 150 sq ft when I built it in ~1986, then they changed the rules a few years ago, now I can expand it to 250 sq ft

 

[scootr]

We were limited to 10x10. So I built the 10x10 with a 10x10 patio and closed it in a few yrs later. Now I have 10x20 shed with a center wall. That wasn't big enough. I built a 12x16 next to that. Nice...but I outgrew that then I said F it. If nobody's checking....I built a 24x24 garage.
Neighbor pulled a permit a few years back and the inspector said I see you have a large unpermitted shed in the back. Neighbor started apologizing claiming ignorance of the law or such. The inspector said don't worry about it, everybody out here does that.
That's when I grew the balls for the garage.
Oh, and, most of the 5 carts I have sit outside, no problem

 

[ernemats]

Look at Greenworks 60 volt line up of products. I have the mower tractor and it is very good on my hilly land it climbs 25 degree slopes with no problem and it has a front trailer hitch and rear towing connection and a small area behind the seat to carry tools, clippings , etc. Also there are fat wheel electric trikes with articulating rear wheels and also off road ones with all wheel drive that have towing hitches

 

[zzvyb6]

Couple of things to know about the battery golf carts. I have 2: lead-acid & lithium.
What kills the lead acid batteries is the old-technology 'dumb' chargers that evaporate the water out of them. Get a new 'smart charger' and this problem goes away. Don't run them down 'flat' as this does the damage. Also, the heavy lead-acid batteries provide a huge amount of rollover protection (I hope I don't have to explain why, you can't be sure anymore). My lithium cart (it's 48V battery is 1/10 the weight) is quite a bit more likely to get 'tippy' if you sense a problem, but has traction control to reduce the likelihood of a tip-up. It also has an 'auto-park' feature: When you stop, the motor gets locked. Not so with the older cart which can take off downhill if I forget which cart I'm using and don't set the brake. And, lead in snow will make it go, not necessarily with the lithium, even on better tires.

The lead-sled batteries make the cart gradually slow down as the voltage drops from use. Not so with the lithium package. Full power until only 1 line is left on the electron tank. A solar charger on the roof is a great battery maintainer I put on the lead sled.

Around here, used viable golf carts go from $1000 to $3000 depending on condition and battery age. However, why buy the more expensive 6 or 8V cart batteries, when 3 or 4 12V marine batteries work just as good when charged after use instead of when they are dead. I converted to 12V lead right away and have not had any complaints from the Complaint Department.

BTW: it's 20 degrees F right now and the Lithium cart still goes 20 mph (measured). And finally, I still have concerns about a lithium battery fire during charging, so It's parked outdoors. A few days ago I heard an EMS radio call about an 'electric' lawnmower catching fire while parked next to a garage. I'll bet it was a low charge lithium battery getting a high rate charge.

 

[scootr]

Lead acid batteries want to be fully charged all the time. Maintenance chargers that maintain a full charge can extend the useful life of these batteries when not in constant use/charge cycles. Water evaporates and more so under heavy charges so the water levels need to be replenished. The evaporating water contains corrosive elements so connections need to be cleaned regularly and cables degrade which need to be replaced periodically.
Lithium should be LifePO4. This chemistry is safer than earlier compositions and rarely if ever catches fire under charge if the proper charger is used. There is no water in these batteries so none of the maintenance associated with LA batteries above is needed. Storage voltage is ideally 50%. Weight is significantly reduced. About 300 pounds less for the average cart. This should not effect CG but may adversely effect traction. Lithium batteries have less voltage sag under load (more power) and they typically run the carts farther than LA. They last longer bringing the cost of powering the cart down. It's a win win situation. I will never buy another set of LA batteries. And you shouldn't either.

 

[2manyrocks]

Interesting thread because I started a thread here about potentially buying one of the Yardmax gas powered tracked carts to use in a wooded area here filled with honey locust thorns. The deterrent was the $2300 price tag.

Conceptually, I think it'd would be pretty handy if a dump cart could be converted to an affordable battery powered self propulsion system. The price tags for the electric dump carts new seem a little steep. But I could see where one would really be handy to have.