Lets talk golf carts.

John White · Aug 29, 2019

Do any of you use a golf cart and find it practical? When we built our house 12 years ago there was not room to build my shop right next to the house (past house all I had to do was walk about 30' and that was it) so I had to build it in the back of the lot behind some trees and it is about 150 yds away. At first I didn't mind it too much, making a dozen trips a day back to the house to go to the bathroom, get a drink, answer the phone etc. But now it is getting old and my wife does a lot of flower gardening and does the same. We have a UTV that we use to ride the back co. roads and haul our drinking water from a spring. But a UTV is not practical for yard work when you start and stop every 5 minutes. We have a recycling center about 1/4 mile away and I don't like to get the Kubota out just to do that as it never even gets warmed up. I was thinking about getting a used 48 volt golf cart. Have any of you used them. Don't want a gas, just another motor to work on and maintain.

Diggin It · Aug 29, 2019

I find paragraphs to be more useful than a golf cart.

Electric may not mean an engine to fuel or maintain, but it does mean batteries and expensive motors, charges etc. In my experience they don't do hills well if you try carrying much of a load. If it happens to run out of charge while away from a building, you can't carry a gas can to it. Using one as a personal taxi between buildings seems a bit expensive. If it's only for that purpose, maybe a bicycle or tricycle if you're physically able?

Off road vehicles are not permitted on roads for general or recreational use, even back country roads. There are some exceptions in some places about farmers using them to get between their own fields on the same road, but generally only for short distances.

rhunt · Aug 29, 2019

John, I have an EZ GO golf cart model 54 gas. It is a great cart and have owned it new in 2015 to today. It has had absolutely no problems since purchase. I would not have a electric vehicle period. Batteries need to be replaces periodically at great expense and must be charged on shut-down along with hoping you have enough charge to make it from a to b. Just my thoughts. Gas is the way to go. Bob

thepumpguysc · Aug 29, 2019

Great question as I'm in the same boat..
I have a 48v lifted ez-go.. its great for buzzing out to the shop & back 50x a week.. My shop is 100 yards away.{football field}
BUT as others have said, the batteries are a drawback.. 100.00 a piece x 6.. & u gotta plug it in.. OR WALK.. lol
& the electricals are no fun either.. my solenoid went out the other day & it wasn't any fun to change.. but after the change, she runs like a scalded dog..
I DID HAVE a 1 cyl Yamaha GAS cart.. it got caught up in a fire I had a few years back.. I LOVED that cart..
Just push the go pedal & off u go..
I like both but the gas was more reliable..
IF u like to tinker..?? I got mine from a golf course when I was fixing 1 of their mowers for an upcoming tourney..
They were so pleased I got the mower running, they asked if there was ANYTHING I needed.. free golf?? tickets to the tourney.??
I said u gotta an old GC u wanna get rid of.?? They pointed to an old Yamaha cart they had pushed out back & out of service..
& said, U can HAVE that one..
I showed up the next day w/ a trailer & took it home.. Sandblasted the spark plug, put it on a charger, put some fresh gas in it & it started..
I drove it for years w/ no maintenance..

mikester · Aug 29, 2019

Im on my second golf cart and prefer them over ATVs because of the easy entry, extra storage and easy stop-n-start. My rear seat is now a flat bed box, I have a 6 inch lift kit, ATV tires,and an 1 7/8 ball hitch. With the gas engine it will tow 1500 lbs. Its great for gardening with a wagon dump box or towing sprayers.

I originally wanted an electric for my second GC but was talked out of it by my neighbor. Batteries are only good for about 5 years and they are not maintenance free. You also lose on the towing capacity on the electric. The gas engine just needs a little gas and fires up whenever I need it even after sitting 6 months over winter. With the ATV tires it will drive through 6 inches of snow no problem. Ive run this machine for 17 years now and Id be on my 3rd set of batteries if it was electric.

Gem99ultra · Aug 29, 2019

I'm sure I'm on the other side of the fence on golf carts. I've has gas powered carts assigned to me for use in chemical plants. "When they run", they fine. They're faster than the electric powered carts, and perhaps are more powerful. But they always seemed to break down when I needed them the most.

Electric? Quiet, Instant 'On'. Cheap to operate. Everyone seems to be bent out of shape on the cost of batteries. Sure, they' close to $100 each, less at Big Box Stores, but they last forever - usually 7 years or so. So far I've had to replace one set.

I've had 3 on the farm here so far. Use them pretty much like 4-wheelers. The first one I destroyed by pulling a trailer with 1200 pounds of trees, limbs, and other things, up and down steep hills. That one was 20 years old when I bought it, and used it for 5 years. Not bad for an $500 tool.

Next 2 carts, both over 15 years old and bought CHEAP, have held up nicely. I do use my Honda Pioneer 500 to pull heavy loads rather than my electric carts. But the electric carts are just plain handy for the 20 short trips per day to the barn, pick up tools, mail, feed, and whatever. No muss, no fuss. Repairs over the past 5 years have amounted to about $200 total. Repairs, with the extensive help on Youtube, have been simple.

So, I'm not saying that the gas carts are better or worse than the electric carts - your preference. I do enjoy the silent sound of the electric cart when driving out through the woods, or simply running here and there around the place. Jump in, mash the pedal, and it goes. Reliable as a clock. YMMV.

zzvyb6 · Aug 29, 2019

I have both: electric and gas. Trailer hitches on both. Pull cart(s), garbage containers, go for dog walks (even the puppy prefers to ride on the floor rather than run), and for tending to the trees, carry a saw and pull the wood chipper. I get the mail and take trips down the road to visit the neighbors.

I prefer electric for winter (traction and instant start) and then gas for summer (runs all season on a few gallons of gas). I have a Dietz rotating emergency light on the gas cart (12v starting battery) hooked up to my driveway sensor. When its lights up, EVERYBODY knows I know they are here day and night.

Plus the kids and Mom can easily operate both types of carts. You jump on and press the pedal. I also replaced the rear seats with work platforms to carry any kind of stuff (even 4 bales of hay as necessary).

Range on the electric can be an issue if no one remembers to plug in the charger when the obvious happens. But, we can snag it back home by pushing it with the gas job.

Good used carts are $1500 to $2500 for gas. Electric prices depend on battery condition. Batteries from Costco about every 6 years [6 at $109 per). Cheap tires loose air, but quite a few on Craigslist for cheap.

I don't recommend a lifted cart if your property is hilly. Kids and amateurs will roll them over.

EddieWalker · Aug 29, 2019

I started out with ATV's and enjoyed them, but then when my brother moved here, he brought his golf cart and I found that to be a lot nicer for getting around and hauling stuff. When he bought his land and took it with him, I started looking for a golf cart to buy. The more I looked, the more I started to lean towards buying a UTV. They where a little more money, but had a lot more features. Eventually, I took the advice given to me by people on here and raised my budget significantly and started looking at brand new UTV's. I bought a brand new Kawasaki Transmule that can sit 4 people comfortably, or haul more then any of the other UTV's that I looked at back then. It's been awesome and it has become one of those things that I don't want to live without. One of the factors that sealed the deal for me was their financing. It was for five years at $80 a month after putting down $2 grand. I paid it off in less then 2 years, but enjoyed knowing that if I didn't have the extra cash, that all I needed was $80.

Industrial Toys · Aug 29, 2019

THAT is where my E-GATOR shines. My Diesel Mule hasn't been touched in a month! I hate to admit, when things get busy, I use the Gator, the two hundred feet, between shop and house all the time!

Golf Cart Drivetrain, with a Bed that holds a thousand Pounds (I believe). And not the Stigma of a golf cart. lol

And, QUIET!!! That's what we like the BEST.

snymat68 · Aug 29, 2019

Diggin It said:
I find paragraphs to be more useful than a golf cart.

Electric may not mean an engine to fuel or maintain, but it does mean batteries and expensive motors, charges etc. In my experience they don't do hills well if you try carrying much of a load. If it happens to run out of charge while away from a building, you can't carry a gas can to it. Using one as a personal taxi between buildings seems a bit expensive. If it's only for that purpose, maybe a bicycle or tricycle if you're physically able?

Off road vehicles are not permitted on roads for general or recreational use, even back country roads. There are some exceptions in some places about farmers using them to get between their own fields on the same road, but generally only for short distances.

Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed today. Sheesh.

John,

I used an electric golf cart for years. (36V w/ 1HP motor) Used to take the thing out on the trails and everything. Could run for hours on a full charge. (Six 6V batteries). The thing about electric is, the slower it goes, the more torque it has. So while sometimes slow, it can almost always pull the load if you're using it for that. Electric is also quiet, which is nice.

I also have used gas golf carts. They are nice because you don't have to worry about running out of juice, but they are louder, and have less torque. They do (usually) go faster though.

I wouldn't rule out either type. It comes down to personal preference for your needs. If going electric though, I'd get a new (or at least good) set of batteries up front. It will hurt to buy them, but even with constant use, you should get ten years out of a good set of batteries.

/pine · Aug 29, 2019

Have used an electric golf cart for the last 18 years or so (it's like the energizer bunny)...it is perfect for our needs and we would not be without one these days...

Electric is far superior over gas for instant torque and jumping up hills...take care of the batteries and they will take care of you...I have left ours stock for practical purposes...a little more ground clearance would be nice but the low CoG is very stable and the cart takes our mountain lanes and trails just fine at stock height with standard size wheels and tires...

TnAndy · Aug 29, 2019

We bought a used 2011 48v Club Car some years ago and got rid of the Yamaha 4wheeler, which seemed was always needing maintenance. Cart was 4 years old when we got it (off lease golf course cart...$2500). Original batteries lasted 2 more years, I replaced in 2017. As someone else said, take care of the batteries and they will take care of you. We plug it in every night, and I check the water monthly, put in distilled as needed. Maintenance on the cart is nothing compared to that fool 4 wheeler.

Did put a lift kit on it....just so I could put some more aggressive tires (wet grass or least bit of snow, originals are useless)....huge improvement. Also put some really bright LED driving lights on the roof, front and back....great for night use....original lights aren't much.

Back seat on ours folds down to make a flat deck, position it stays in all the time...we carry garden produce, eggs, etc. Wife uses it daily to go to the chicken house (1/3mile), go down to the gate for mail, etc....we probably put 3-4 miles/day on it. HIGHLY recommend them for around the farm use. Great thing is we can both get in the seat, step on the peddle and go. We'll never be without one again.

kcflhrc · Aug 29, 2019

We moved to our 10 acre place about 6 years ago. Bought the tractor first and then started looking at UTV's. Those things are crazy expensive and didn't really think we needed to spend $10k on one since we just spent $20k on the tractor. We have an awesome Cart dealer within about 10 miles of our place. We ended up buying a used 48v Yamaha from him. It's been great and does everything we need. I added the rear seat set up so 5 people can ride. The seat also flips out to make a flat bed on the back. It's perfect for what we needed. Absolutely hated the gas one's and you can sneak up on the wildlife with an electric.

Industrial Toys · Aug 29, 2019

My friend had a Gas Cub Cadet UTV that he get's to use in the summer as they use it for snow at his work in the winter. Close your eyes and you'd think you were in one of those tin garbage cans with a lawnmower! Here you can here those things coming 1/2 a mile away along the road!

dannoGT · Aug 29, 2019

Dad had one of those old 3 wheel golf carts from AMF Harley Davidson it was left outside all winter it always sat outside in the rain, it never got any maintenance and yet that thing would always start and run. It was always overloaded.
It went places no golf cart should ever have gone. The last time I saw it was on the scrap pile and I asked Dad what was wrong with it and he said nothing mechanical just the tires rotted off of it and he wasn't going to fix them.
I wish I had it now just for coolness factor of having a Harley golf cart!

Dan

jwstewar · Aug 29, 2019

We had a 36volt E-Z Go. It was a good cart, but about 3 years is all we could get out of batteries. Really liked the instant torque it had, but top speed was a limit when we took it to our county fair. It also had trouble if you put 4 people on it. It pulled OK, but the charge sure didn't last long. It started rusting pretty badly. Then a few years ago right before the fair it started acting up. Needing a golf cart for the fair we went and bought a used Club Car gas. Night and day difference. Gas is much faster, but doesn't have the off the line torque. Might have to get a little bit of a run at something. It has no problem hauling 4 people including some visitors we had to the farm that were LARGE, LARGE folks. I felt sorry for it that day. Also, the other thing I like about the Club Car, the frame is all aluminum. A little bit lighter and no rust. Since we have had it. I've change the oil a couple times, changed the plug once, drive belt, and air cleaner just so I knew when they were all done. Goes forever on a full tank of gas. We've only had one issue and it quit running. Had to take the carb apart and clean it. Other than that no issues.

Oh, the old electric one we had, turned out it was just a bad battery. Didn't look bad from the outside and actually read voltage when tested with a multimeter but wouldn't carry a load. All batteries were very weak, but we replaced just the one so that we could sell a "running" cart. I think we got $800 for it. Maybe with new batteries we could have gotten 12 or 13 hundred but we would have had $500 worth of batteries in it so it worked out the same.

We use the cart at our county fair. We also use it for going back and forth to the barn carrying tools and also carrying milk to and from the barn. That can be anywhere from 1 gallon of milk each way to almost 20 gallons of milk each way.

Industrial Toys · Aug 29, 2019

AND, for what it's worth. I can plug my 48 volt Gator into my 3000 watt 220 Volt, Telecom Inverter for emergency power. Beat having a rack of lead acid batteries in my garage that never got used and only got old. Connects with heavy cables and an extra Anderson connector wired to the cart batteries (including a fuse).

Of course, the sucess of this scheme relies on how charged your batteries are. But then, the Gator, doesn't get used in winter.

check 6 · Aug 29, 2019

Had a golf cart for years and finally bought a Kubota RTV 500 and wish I had done it sooner. It rides better as it has four wheel independent suspension, It hauls more and is just a better utility vehicle for around the property as I can easily take the utility trailer to Home depot for stuff for the yard and unhook it and then up the th RTV and pull it around the yard. Golf carts are nice ... for golf courses and retirement villages but not for doing work

Industrial Toys · Aug 29, 2019

Hence the electric Gator. Best of both worlds. No, but not a rough terrain, all season work vehicle. Agree colf carts belong in a retirement community, but can't dispute their value, quality and remarkable durability and resistance to abuse.