Bringing our new golf cart-- have a question

[loveDmouse]

This is a question for those of you who drive motorhomes. How do you get your golf cart to the Fort (or any other camping)? We are looking to buy an enclosed trailer. Do you just leave the trailer out in the parking lot and drive your golf cart back? Obviously I know you there is no room for a trailer at the site. I am just trying to get an idea of the process. If that makes any sense. Thanks.

 

[LarryJ]

This is a question for those of you who drive motorhomes. How do you get your golf cart to the Fort (or any other camping)? We are looking to buy an enclosed trailer. Do you just leave the trailer out in the parking lot and drive your golf cart back? Obviously I know you there is no room for a trailer at the site. I am just trying to get an idea of the process. If that makes any sense. Thanks.

First let me say I don't own a MH or tow a GC on a trailer, but there are pull outs where you can hook up and disconnect Toads and I have seen folks hooking and unhooking Toads and I think even unloading GCs there. If it were me I would unload the GC there and then have someone follow you to your loop and then disconnect the trailer and stow it behind your MH on the sandy area before you actually back in which is what I assume you're going to do. Hopefully the trailer is not too big or heavy. Then since you'll probably back in you could hook the trailer up even there before you leave and reverse the process.

But, as I said others that have actually done this with a MH can give you better info than me, but this should get you started at least thinking.

Larry

 

[daddyscooltv]

This is what we do and it works well for us. We have a class A motorhome and we tow our golfcart on a trailer behind the motorhome. When we arrive to the Fort first we pull to the overflow parking and unload the golfcart and DW drives the golfcart over to the outpost golfcart parking lot, while she is doing that I unhook the trailer from the motorhome and put it in a parking spot. After DW parks the golfcart she walks over to the checkin line and I pick her up there while I'm waiting in line to check in. After checkin DW rides in the motorhome with me to the campsite and helps he get backed into the campsite and as soon as I am backed in the site she gets on a bus to the outpost and drives the golfcart back to the campsite while she is off to retreive the golfcart that gives me time to setup the campsite and usually she gets back about the same time I'm done. It works very well for us hope this helps!!

 

[loveDmouse]

LarryJ- I have seen the area where people unhook/hook their toads. I didn't even know there was an option to take the trailer to the site. I figured you had to put them in the parking lot.

daddyschooltv- Thanks for your help. I was figuring on putting the trailer in the parking lot. Sounds like you have a good routine.

I am not sure about putting it at the site. I don't remember our site having enough room but I wasn't really thinking about putting anything there either.

We have a 31' Class C.

Thanks guys.

 

[LarryJ]

LarryJ- I have seen the area where people unhook/hook their toads. I didn't even know there was an option to take the trailer to the site. I figured you had to put them in the parking lot.

daddyschooltv- Thanks for your help. I was figuring on putting the trailer in the parking lot. Sounds like you have a good routine.

I am not sure about putting it at the site. I don't remember our site having enough room but I wasn't really thinking about putting anything there either.

We have a 31' Class C.

Thanks guys.

Maybe you can't and that's why I put all the disclaimer's, etc. in my post. In fact there might even being some thing in the FW rules/policies that would stop you from putting the trailer on your site, but a call to FW should answer that.

Larry

 

[des1954]

We've towed our GC on a small trailer behind our motor home for years! We wait til we get to our site, back the GC off the trailier, unhook the trailer from the MH & push the trailer to the back of the site. Then we back the MH into the site. All in all it takes us about 3-4 minutes. We currently have a 30ft diesel, but did the same thing with a 45ft bus. No problem!!!

As far as parking the trailer in the lot... make sure you have a GOOD LOCK! We have neighbors that had their GC trailer stolen from the un-gated parking lot. Thankfully, they had other means of getting the GC back home.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

This is what we do and it works well for us. We have a class A motorhome and we tow our golfcart on a trailer behind the motorhome. When we arrive to the Fort first we pull to the overflow parking and unload the golfcart and DW drives the golfcart over to the outpost golfcart parking lot, while she is doing that I unhook the trailer from the motorhome and put it in a parking spot. After DW parks the golfcart she walks over to the checkin line and I pick her up there while I'm waiting in line to check in. After checkin DW rides in the motorhome with me to the campsite and helps he get backed into the campsite and as soon as I am backed in the site she gets on a bus to the outpost and drives the golfcart back to the campsite while she is off to retreive the golfcart that gives me time to setup the campsite and usually she gets back about the same time I'm done. It works very well for us hope this helps!!

How do you lock up your trailer? This is what my DH plans on doing but I'm afraid of the trailer being stolen. Thoughts?

 

[CCIntrigue]

We keep our trailer on the sandy area of the site behind the motorhome. No problem.

 

[des1954]

Any shop that sells trailers and/or trailer hitches has a lock that goes on the part of the hitch that goes on the ball. The only way to get it off (illegally) is to cut the tongue of the trailer off --- but then you couldn't tow the trailer anymore, could you!!!

 

[des1954]

Of course.... If you can't find a lock for your trailer, this'll work just fine!!

 

[daddyscooltv]

I use a keyed lock that goes through the catch on the trailer. I have seen several trailers chained to the trees and lightpoles in the overflow parking area.

Chris

 

[LarryJ]

How do you lock up your trailer? This is what my DH plans on doing but I'm afraid of the trailer being stolen. Thoughts?

That's what I would be afraid of and you can see already someone reporting a trailer stolen. Even a lock IMHO won't stop someone. You could probably get that ultra light trailer out by wrapping and securing a set of safety chains around the tongue and then fastening the ends to the safety chain brackets on a class IV/V regular hitch and simple letting the trailer tongue ride just below the tow vehicle receiver opening. Also, a set of "LARGE MASTERLOCKS" i.e. bolt cutters will defeat any system relying on the trailers safety chains or 95% of the standard locks out there. Man it would kill me to leave the trailer in the lot and then the day before I was to leave find out I had no way to get the $$$$$ golf cart back home without it being a PITA (rent U-haul or buy a replacement trailer and get it set up to use) and was on a tight schedule.

Larry

 

[kimluvswdw]

We tow our golf cart behind our motorhome on a regular trailer. I didn't want to go to the LARGE expense of an enclosed trailer. After we take the golf cart off the trailer we put the trailer in the back of our site. We still have plenty of room.

 

[LarryJ]

As far as parking the trailer in the lot... make sure you have a GOOD LOCK! We have neighbors that had their GC trailer stolen from the un-gated parking lot. Thankfully, they had other means of getting the GC back home.

You also have to remember that that parking lot can be gotten to w/o going to any WDW security type gates when they removed the gate just outside of FW parking on Vista Drive between FW and the golf courses. Don't ask me how cause I ain't telling but it can be done. You might have to pass thru a CM manned booth, but a zerox will solve that in a heartbeat and I'm not sure if that is even there since I can't remember now.

Remember, if they're going that far to get a $400 or so trailer they know how to get to at least the trailer.

Larry

 

[Shorty82]

What's a toad? I've never heard that word used in that context before.

How do you lock up your trailer? This is what my DH plans on doing but I'm afraid of the trailer being stolen. Thoughts?

Auto part stores sell all kinds of trailer locks. Everything from simple padlocks to locks that look similar to a trailer ball that go into the hitch and have a shackle that goes over the top of the hitch. Chaining the trailer to a post of tree sounds like a good idea too.

 

[loveDmouse]

I am not 100% sure yet about the enclosed but we don't want something huge so it sounds like we shouldn't have any trouble putting it right behind the motorhome. Cool.


kimlvswdw- what size is your trailer? Is it light enough you can move it by hand or did you put a hitch on your golf cart? I have heard of several people who have put a hitch on. We might do that.

LarryJ- Thanks for your help. I got all the disclaimers.

I didn't even think about someone stealing the trailer there. That is another thing to think about. However we would put a lock on it for sure. Although like stated if someone really wants something they will get it. I would have thought the Fort would have security for all the parking areas.

Thanks everyone!

 

[LarryJ]

What's a toad? I've never heard that word used in that context before.

A toad is a vehicle towed behind a MH for use when the MH is parked at a site.

Larry

 

[bradisgoofy]

I'm not sure you are allowed to put your trailer on your site but I will admit I've seen it done. Besides, why take up the space.

I have a 7x10 Pace enclosed trailer for our golf cart ( actually it is for our Harleys ). When we get to FW we go directly to the overflow lot and unload the cart and then drop the trailer. I have a lock for the ball latch plus a lock the goes inside the the ball area, and last, I have a tire lock. This is similar to the boot locks that the NYPD use on cars with too many parking tickets. Also, you need a parking permit, from the Outpost, to leave a trailer in the lot.

We like to use the cart to check our site before I drive all the way there. After we get our site number and while I finish registration, DW will drive to our site in the cart and make sure the Coach will fit. Then she'll call me on the cell phone one way or the other.

There are some very expensive trailers, and boats, left in the overflow lot. I would think if there was an on going problem with theft, Disney would hear about it.

 

[des1954]

I'm not sure you are allowed to put your trailer on your site but I will admit I've seen it done.

There are some very expensive trailers, and boats, left in the overflow lot. I would think if there was an on going problem with theft, Disney would hear about it.

Yes, you are allowed to keep your tow trailer on your site provided it's on the concrete pad or the coquina.

Disney Security has heard about theft,,, but they are neither responsible nor liable for anything stolen from you, either at your site, in the secured lot, or in the day visitor/overflow lot.

 

[loveDmouse]

Thanks guys. I guess once we get a trailer for it then I will call the Fort and see what the deal is.