Golf cart suggestions

[Maggie at the Fort]

We are booked and coming back in November after 5 and half years! I am so excited. When I suggested renting a golf cart months ago, my dH wasn't that excited about the idea. Fast forward to this week and he just upgraded our tow vehicle from a 1500 with a 6 ft bed to a 3500 diesel with an 8 ft bed and he is strongly encouraging me to find a used golf cart we could purchase and bring down. We pull a hybrid trailer so the golf cart would be riding the bed of the pick up. So folks who own a cart for campground use (we also have acreage with trails so it will probably get ridden at home too) what do I look for in a golf cart? We know we want a 4 seater. Beyond that there are so many options my head is spinning! Please share all your recommendations! Thanks!

 

[team bradfield]

Beer cooler

 

[Stratman50th]

New or used?
I have a Club Car. It was used and refurbished and we probably saved around $3k. Mine is electric. Plug in, charge and go. I don't need to carry around gas cans. Some people like gas better. Just preference. Best bet is to actually go to a shop that sells carts new and used and check them out.

 

[morrik5]

On a side note, remember to add the required insurance on the one you purchase so you can take it into Fort Wilderness.

 

[Duane]

We also have a Club Car 4 seat electric cart. Like you mentioned, there are so many options available out there.

One thing you should keep in mind, especially if you are going to haul it in the bed of your truck, is how you are planning to load and unload once you get to a campground. You have to take into account what type of ramps you will use, their capacity, and how you will haul them during travel. Also, you need to account for how high your truck is from the ground to the top of the tailgate of the truck. You don't want to find yourself "high centered" once you crest the top of the tailgate if the angle from the ground to the truck bed is too steep. I know many folks who have carts, back their trucks up to berms, back their trucks into ditches, or carry long foldable ramps to be able to load/unload. I didn't want to be worried with either of those scenarios once I arrived at a campsite, so I purposely bought a lifted cart.

As for ramps, the hinged ones, decreased the load capacity, so I purchased the nonhinged version from Reese. I can load/unload sitting in the driver seat of the cart to/from the truck sitting as usual. When we are at the Fort, I unload it at our campsite.

When traveling, I slide both ramps underneath the cart, and strap them down for the trip.