Didn't mean to single you out sorry it came off that way.

But these were the top shelf batteries also... it seemed like once they got ran down to nothing once it was hard to keep um holding after that. If they stayed around the lodge and what not it wasn't much of a hassle they served their purpose but sure enough someone would eventually try and make a run to the gut pile with it and never returned... well an hour later on foot

I have a 48 V buggy with 5 yr old Trojan batteries that are finally dying this year, and it gets used all the time. From the time they were new up until this year, I would get 18-20 miles out of a charge. Mostly pretty flat country that I'm running in, only a few hills. I love my buggy, I especially love it being quiet when I'm out stalking pigs with night vision (main reason I bought it). It does good in the mud but it doesn't like deep water I've learned so I go around. If I need something with more juevos I'll grab one of the 4 wheelers.

No worries at all. My point, which wasn't really directed at you, is that there is so much more to maintaining anything you need to rely on than plugging in the cord for electric or filling the tank for a gas ute. It's not uncommon at all, especially with non-deep cycle batteries, for them to crap out once they've been fully discharged. Many times, there's no bringing them back. Were the lodge's carts using the correct batteries? How were they cared for before you were working with them? Even the best batteries not used as intended will be short lived.

They wernt treated the best from what I could tell... I had to clean the plugs to one and all the connectors since they were corroded... few new batteries and what not.. after that they were fine for what they were suppose to be used for but still needed all new batteries since the longest I seen one go on a charge was 5 miles

Figured. One of the problems is mixing new with old batteries as well. Always replace as a set. Shouldn't have to baby anything, just do some smart things to prevent a lot of issues that crop up. You may never change your view of the electric side of the house, but I think it's always wise to look at things in the proper perspective and from the correct context.

That said, I'm still probably going the old Tacoma route.

Yup an estimate of $300 looked better than $1300 when I told them what was needed ha

I have a bad boy buggie and love it. I see tons more game since I took the gas powered UTV off the ranch. It has tons more power than a lifted 48 volt golf cart and the suspension is 4 times stronger. I was pulling a trailer with 330 gallon water tote full of water up nice hills without a problem. Mine gets about 10 to 12 miles per charge, which is plenty for me every day. I usually just plug it in before I leave the ranch and it is ready to go when I come back. That tuff suspension does come with a slightly harder ride than my other toys.

I used a golf cart I picked up off Craigslist for $1500 and it works great on out 1000 acres. Quit a bit of up and down but not too rocky. The speed is what I wish I had more of but I see a ton more deer and hogs now. Next step for me would just be an old single cab ford ranger and chop the top if I want or just remove the doors. Heck of a lot cheaper than these UTVs these days.