Golf cart questions

Im looking at used 48v EZ GO golf cart and was curious what things I should keep an eye out for. It's gonna need some batteries and some minor cosmetics. Was curious if you guys recommend checking for any thing in particular that may mean trouble? Never owned one this will be the first. Thanks for any input.

Heavier gauge battery cables 4 gauge as a minimum. If you lift it your speed will increase but your torque will suffer.

Nothing on them is terribly expensive to replace, besides the motor controller and charger. Sitting still, turn the wheels all the way one direction and then the other, make sure the steering gear box is good. Brakes can be adjusted out quite a ways before you actually have to replace them. Plan on 600 at the minimum for good batteries, but if it rides and drives fine, and it's a good price, I'd roll with it.

Then get ready to spend waaaaay too much money on things you just have to have.

keep it on charge all the time and top off batteries w/distilled water every month.

X2. but make sure not to overfill the batteries.

is there a reason to go with the electric over the gas? How long do the batteries last? I mean those gas engines last forever...

If you maintain your batteries properly, you should get 4 to 5 years out of batteries. Then expect to pay around $750 for a new set.

I have a yamaha gas cart for my hunting cart.

Club Car electric for my golf cart.

i have never ridden a lifted cart, does the ride get much better with a lift? i am considering a cart build but i wouldnt be able to put up with it if it rides like a typical golf cart over rough terrain...thanks

Mine is a Yamaha G16 Gas with 6 inch Jakes long-travel lift. It rides different than a non-lifted cart, but it is a good ride in rougher terrain or plowed fields. Due to the off-road type tires, it's a little different on pavement.

Thanks for the input guys. It's already lifted comes with a charger and oversized tires. Apparently it's been sitting awhile and needs batteries. I plan on bringing batteries when I go look at it. I'm considering getting wires as well. Never owned one, so connecting batteries will be fun I'm sure. Hoping it runs if so as she steers then I'm snagging her. Already have plans for lights, rear flip seat, gun rack, and baskets.

Another question any leads great battery prices in San Antonio? I was thinking Sam's, Walmart or Costco. Any other places that might better prices? I believe the old batteries are in the cart, so I should be able to return them for core refund.

I believe Sams sells the Energizer Golf Cart batteries. That's what was put in my Club Car just prior to me buying it.

I'll find out soon enough if they are quality.

If it has oversized tires, make sure you have the heavy cables as it will suck more juice and will eventually kill the directional switch and controller.
I stayed with standard OD tires but switched to a turf tread as the standard golf course tires will get stuck in wet grass!
Make sure to get 4 ply tires as the 2 plys will fall apart in the sidewall area - even when empty it has 600 pounds of batteries in it.
Even with the standard OD tires, I bought a piece of #2 cable and a bunch of solder lugs and made my own cables.
I still replace the forward/reverse plates and contacts every 3 or so years.

I also didn't lift mine but did install heavier rear springs which killed the smooth "golf course" ride but I needed them as I put a combination rear seat/folddown flat bed to haul hay to my cattle and corn to the feeders.

I drive mine in places you normally would not take a golf cart but it just goes - do make sure to secure the cables and wires that run underneath the cart with strong tiewraps - running over brush could pull out your wires and leave you scratching your head.

On batteries:
The Sams batteries run about 90.00 per whereas the Trojans run about twice that.
I'm on my 5th or 6th set of Sams batteries (spread over two golf carts and a TaylorDunn carryall).
They don't seem to last as long as Trojans but when you do the math, they come out cheaper overall.

Do keep them topped off with distilled water and charge them often and they will last a good while.
Most of the newer carts made since 1995 have smart chargers that are better for the batteries than the old style.

Most 48 volt cart will require more expensive 8V batteries but will run a little longer between charges.

On a lease where you don't have electricity handy, a gas is the only way to go unless you like hauling your cart home to charge it - NOTHING sucks more than to have dead batteries a mile from the cabin with a deer or pig on the flatbed.

One nice thing is the relative silence of an electric which allows you to sneak up on stuff. A lot of times, I can drive right to the edge of a field full of ferals, step out and blast away before they even know we are there.

Thanks I'll look into upgrading wires and will probably go with Sams to purchase batteries. Also will look underneath and make sure wires are secure. Good stuff.

Anyone have any experience with one in a higher elevation? Where can you find used ones? What is a decent price?

No experience with them at all. I have found them for sale online Craigslist, here in the classifieds, and any other online selling website. Just picked one up, not the original one I was looking at for $500. Depends on what they have and what work you're willing to do.

Yamaha now has a gas cart with EFI. should work real well at altitude.

Haven't seen any used ones for sale. New is around $5500 to $6000.

good luck

Fun

Rust & batteries

PM Bowslayer. He re-builds these carts and does a great job. He can answet just about any question.

Thanks EastTex

I run Trojans T1275. last purchase price was $150.00 each with core exchange at Ennis Golf Carts in Liberty Hill, TX. Trojans are about the best cart battery available. I'm on my second set. I would pay the extra money and get the Trojans. Changing batteries out is no simple task. Batteries weigh 85 lbs a piece. As mentioned before, maintain water level with distilled water on a regular basis.

Update on golf cart. First deal fell through, but ended up getting a 36v EZ Go TXT. Got some new batteries today and waiting on a pile of upgrades from Carts Unlimited, will post some pics hopefully this weekend. Just need tires and lift kit to order. Maybe in a couple months.

Got some pics of the cart last night. Still waiting for the controller, battery cables, HD switch, and battery gauge. Got the batteries in this evening (old ones in the pic) and took the girls for a spin. Tried loading the video but it wouldn't load on photo bucket. I'll try again later. Enjoyed the evening with the girls shooting at cows and rabbits on the ranch with BB guns. They got a kick outta seeing the cows and rabbits jump after getting shot. [/URL[URL=http://s1051.photobucket.com/user/J0hn10761/media/IMG_2002_zps85b4c36a.jpg.html]

Check the battery rack closely. With that much corrosion on the batteries I'm sure the rack will be fairly corroded too. You can order a new rack from EZ-GO. They just bolt in. The difficulty is removing the old rack. The bolts freeze up and you have to use a chisel to remove them.

I'll have to see what it costs, was gonna see if the neighbor would weld me a new frame. It is in need of repair/replacement. The previous owners put plywood in the frame to set the batteries on. The wood is rotting and water logged.

Got pic of new batteries, controller, and F/R switch installed. Having some issues with extra wires with no home. That's the update for now. Hoping to have it running again by the end of the weekend.

Good news cart upgrades are in, completed tonite. Now to order the lift kit and install the offload tires

get a hovercraft instead

I don't think a hovercraft will navigate through my lease very well.