Gene363
  • Gene363
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 10:44:07 PM
I'm looking for advice on choosing a used golf cart. I want to get a gold cart or something similar to drive up my driveway to get the mail and tow the garbage bin to the street. My driveway is really steep so I figured I need a 48 volts, a high torque motor and an electronic controller.

I don't want to drop a ton of cash. I looked into side by sides and quads, but they are way too expensive and battery operation is easier for daily use and simpler to maintain. I also figure electric has a lot more torque to get up the hill. I'm leaning towards an older model I can upgrade the controller, batteries, rebuilding the motor and adding disk brakes.

jjanecka
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 12:48:44 AM
Sounds like a nice project. Batteries are expensive though so take that into consideration.
tamapatom
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 2:30:38 AM
Also if you are going for too old of a cart it will be harder to find what you want in power and torque. My experience is to buy a refurbished one recycled off a golf course - i.e. used but relatively new and we'll cared for. Also depending on climate and wear, you might want an all aluminum frame. Even so they get harder to work on as the brakes, springs and axles rust up. Unless you have time and all the right equipment - its like owning a car - and some point you want to trade up to a newer model unless you are restoring a classic.
danmdevries
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 3:42:02 AM
Really get what you pay for in the used market. I've been window shopping for 2-3 years now for a gas golf cart. Considered electric, but my use is 4-5x/yr to get around at racetracks and would need to run a generator to charge the thing. I'm holding out to find that elusive sub 1k cart with no major mechanical issues.

Parts go out of production. If you're handy, you can always convert things and sub out stuff for an equivalent part. But if you're gonna want to find a catalog part for your model, should stick to newer. Sounds like you're not afraid of a project, so I assume you're handy enough to do it.

Batteries are expensive. And any bargain cart you find will need a set.

Ewok126
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 4:41:00 AM
Golf Cart Questions???

No, they do not float in the water hazards!

[sarcasm]

Burner02
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 7:35:31 AM
Only rec I have is that you get a 36v system vs the 48v system. Batteries are still going to be expensive but they are lighter weight and easier to handle. The 12v models are heavy mo fo's.

I made the mistake and swapped the batteries in my cart the first time, second time the local cart shop picked it up and did the swap. More better!

DrafterX
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 8:07:38 AM
You can pick up Duracell 6 volts for about 70 bucks each at Sam's.. I put some in da RV but not a golf car yet.. I've paid almost twice that for Trojan's but I don't know if they are really worth it..

I'm about to sell a 98' EzGo but I'll prolly have to buy batteries first.. replace the 4year old Trojans..

I've got a 48 volt Club Car that is much faster and has about a 30 mile or so range.. it also has a Tow mode switch.. I pulled my old F-150 with my 36 volt once tho with no trouble at all...

😟

Burner02
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 8:28:11 AM

I've paid almost twice that for Trojan's but I don't know if they are really worth it..

DrafterX wrote:

Have not heard anyone say the Trojan batteries are worth the money other than the people that are selling them.

Current Sam's pricing on Duracell

6v: $85 - $117ea

12v: $180ea

tamapatom
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 9:33:01 AM

You can pick up Duracell 6 volts for about 70 bucks each at Sam's.. I put some in da RV but not a golf car yet.. I've paid almost twice that for Trojan's but I don't know if they are really worth it..

I'm about to sell a 98' EzGo but I'll prolly have to buy batteries first.. replace the 4year old Trojans..

I've got a 48 volt Club Car that is much faster and has about a 30 mile or so range.. it also has a Tow mode switch.. I pulled my old F-150 with my 36 volt once tho with no trouble at all...

😟

DrafterX wrote:

Definitely 48 is way to go. Club car tow mode is for towing the cart not for towing a trailer......basically a neutral gear. Can tow quite a bit regardless.

Burner02
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 9:52:53 AM
Several of our golf group have their own carts including myself. Most are Club Cars but there seems to be an even split on the 36v vs the 48v system. Maybe it was what was available at the time.

No real complaints from the owners other than the 12v batteries being so damn heavy.

My Club Car (48v) was not overly fast. Had the magnet swapped for better getup and go.

Gene363
  • Gene363
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 11:11:50 AM
Great advice, thanks to all of you.
Thunder.Gerbil
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 11:50:07 AM
Depending on how extreme the angle of the "really steep" driveway is and how much property you have and it's terrain, it might be worthwhile to look at something like the John Deere Gator XUV or the Can-Am carts. A 2WD golf cart might not make it back up a steep incline if there is any loss of traction due to to leaves, increment weather, moss etc..
DrafterX
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 12:22:36 PM
Something else to consider is leg room.. I'm seriously considering trading off my Club Car for an EZ GO.. my puppy-dog is much happier on the EZ GO.. 😟
Gene363
  • Gene363
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 2:11:38 PM

Depending on how extreme the angle of the "really steep" driveway is and how much property you have and it's terrain, it might be worthwhile to look at something like the John Deere Gator XUV or the Can-Am carts. A 2WD golf cart might not make it back up a steep incline if there is any loss of traction due to to leaves, increment weather, moss etc..

Thunder.Gerbil wrote:

Good point, some days I do run my truck in 4WD to get up to the road. Those vehicles are a lot more speedy than a golf cart so I may just rely on my truck as backup.

The driveway is steep, it drops about 100 feet from the top to the lower garage and it's bugger to walkup or down, the latter is hard on the knees.

Gene363
  • Gene363
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 2:12:35 PM

Something else to consider is leg room.. I'm seriously considering trading off my Club Car for an EZ GO.. my puppy-dog is much happier on the EZ GO.. 😟

DrafterX wrote:

I like leg room too, thanks.

DrafterX
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 5:08:44 PM
Friend of mine just bought one of these..

http://www.bennche.com/UTV/Cowboy_700.htm 

Pretty nice.. 😟

Gene363
  • Gene363
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 6:39:43 PM

Friend of mine just bought one of these..

http://www.bennche.com/UTV/Cowboy_700.htm 

Pretty nice.. 😟

DrafterX wrote:

Looks great, but... MSRP: $9,799 🤦 I can buy a used truck or jeep for that much money.

frankj1
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 7:48:14 PM

Something else to consider is leg room.. I'm seriously considering trading off my Club Car for an EZ GO.. my puppy-dog is much happier on the EZ GO.. 😟

DrafterX wrote:

puppy dog must have really long legs, huh?

DrafterX
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 8:12:27 PM
Average for a puppy-dog of her persuasion... But she likes to be able to turn around and stuff.. 😟
Thunder.Gerbil
Thursday, May 17, 2018 1:27:18 AM

puppy dog must have really long legs, huh?

frankj1 wrote:

It's nickname is "Puppy Pentapod"

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