1 more sleep til our 1st stay at The Fort! ? about unloading our golfcart off truck

[wildernesslodgelover]

I can't believe I will be leaving for FW tomorrow morning! We are staying in a cabin...our first stay there! We have been to the Fort for various reasons over the years, but can't wait to stay there for 4 days and really soak it all in.

We are thinking of bringing our own golf cart with us, to save the $60 a day rental fee. Anyone bring a cart in their truck bed? My husband said he is going to make a ramp from 2 boards...but then he asked me to come here to find out if there is a good place to unload, like a hill he can back up to, at FW? Just wanted to hear from those that have done this before (bringing cart in truck bed.) Any tips or tricks would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[2goofycampers]

Well, yes there is a hill. Bad thing it's in an awkward spot. As you first enter the CG on the right is a road where the buses come and go. If you turn in there is a hill immediately on the left. Be sure to get completely off the road. Does anyone else knows of a hill?

 

[29bhs]

IMO and humbling experiences, boards will not be a good idea at fw. I have seen them slide out as the cart touches them, and well needless to say the damage. I have loaded/unloaded our cart from the 8 ft bed of our truck numerous times. ,and we tow a 34ft tt. My best offering would be ,a reese aluminum folding ramp bought ,mine at lowes , the longest ones [about 90 inches] [ 100$ ] , and strap it to your truck tightly.....then find a small hill if possible....of course my opinion and a quarter wont buy much.....but definitely bring your own cart. have fun

 

[bama_ed]

What 29bhs said is true. I hope DH isn't going to try to use plain wooden boards. Dude needs some stiff metal ramps that can be fastened to the truck end. Just sayin'. He's been warned.

I think the drop-off Denise is referring to is the old Fort Wilderness Railroad bed.

After you enter the Fort check-in gate past the security guard, drive past the bus stop and the golf cart parking right behind it. The horse ride stables are on your right.

About 50 yards down on the right a road pulls off to the right with a service/garage area with some metal garages off in the distance. There are small hills/banks to either side of this service road which used to carry the old FWRR until it quit operating about 1979. (the road was cut in later).

People use either side to quickly back up to, lay down their METAL ramps, and back the cart out of the pickup bed. Pull the truck away, roll the cart to level ground, and off you go.

If you pass the service road and encounter a road on the left that goes down past the cabins you've gone too far.

Let us know how it goes and enjoy your time at the Fort.

Bama ED

 

[retired and happy]

You can buy "ramp ends" at the big box home improvement stores. They fasten to 2x lumber and can then be laid on the tailgate, or pinned to the tailgate. We have had a set for years for our wheelchairs, although we haven't used them much since we got a power lift.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ok, I think we are good. I wish I would have posted this in advance, I would have gotten a metal ramp...still may eventually for future uses. My DH used 2 pressure treated 2 x 10s as a ramp, but he fashioned some PVC dowels to go under them at the point they reach the tailgate. The wood did not even creak when he drove the cart up. Thank you for all the well wishes, we are leaving in about an hour, i cannot wait!

 

[DisCamper]

This may help what Bama ED was saying

 

[Specularius]

I use this truck to go to the Fort.

I load this golf cart

on the back using two sets of ATV ramps, one tied to the truck and the other set placed about two-thirds up the first set and tied to the truck. This creates a longer and less steep ramp to load/unload. The deck on the back of this truck is about 11 inches higher than the bed of a standard pick-up truck. I unload and load the golf cart at one of the unhitching pull-outs on the entrance road.

Here is a picture of everything loaded and on our way to the Fort

 

[bama_ed]

That's the spot DisCamper.

And is Specularius showing off his he-man tow vehicle AGAIN?

Bama ED

PS - just kidding, Spec!