Utility ATV or golf cart?

[FrogLick]

My wife said she thought we needed a utility vehicle of some sort to carry buckets of deer corn around to the other side of our lake; this is a chore mostly done by her and the bucket is getting heavy. I'll almost certainly buy something used if I can get good condition and price. Before I got a tractor (w/loader) I had considered an ATV utility vehicle with a dump bed thinking it would be very useful for hauling things around but I'm glad I got the tractor instead and realize it's much more versatile. So now I'm thinking maybe an electric golf cart would just fit the bill for a few light chores and running around the property and over to the neighbors. It would be quiet and always ready to go if kept plugged in in the barn, probably less maintenance than an ATV (?), and about 1/3 the cost whether used or even new. I do have some hills but those I've driven on golf courses seem to handle them adequately. Anybody got any thought on this?

 

[schmism]

used gas one.

put a small lift on it, and some ATV tires and for everything but the most demanding tasks, it will perform just like one.

shoulc be all you need for hauling supplies around. build a little flat bed out back and they will haul a few hundred pounds of whatever just fine.

 

[Richard]

You've already got a tractor with a loader? Why not just use that and save the expense?

I suppose you have your reasons, therefore, I'd personally go with the ATV instead of golf cart. That's primarily because I'd think the ATV could simply do more and I know very little about golf carts. (actually, nothing )

 

[MossRoad]

If you already have a tractor for the heavy stuff, a cheap used golf cart for running around the property may be fun. Probably easier to get two buckets of corn on the back of a golf cart (just like clubs) than lifting them up into the back of a bed on a utility vehicle. Lots less expensive than a utility vehicle, too.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I've got an E-Z-GO electric that has a lift kit, oversized ATV style tires, and a non-dumping utility box on the back. To my mind, it is the perfect "run around the property" rig. As you pointed out in your original post, it is silent, low maintenance and cheap both to buy and to run. Mine was a lease return from a course. The company that had the lease then converts them with the lift kits and beds and sells them on eBay. I paid around $2,500 in 2004. If I had it to do over, I would by an unconverted lease return and do the conversion myself. They did a half-hearted job installing the lift kit and overlooked the fact that one of the springs was busted. I had to reinstall the lift kit and replace the spring, so I might as well have jumped in with both feet from the start. Check out a website called "buggies unlimited". They have all the stuff you need, from very basic to "I can't believe it" custom. There's a good forum there, too. You'll find just about an equal number of "Sparkies" and "Smokers" there. Both have their advantages. Personally, I'm a diehard Sparky. A little distilled water 3 or 4 times a year, change the batteries every 6 or 7 years -- that's my kind of maintenance schedule. I also like sneaking through my woods silently in the Spring and Fall. Though it is not 4WD, I have yet to get the thing stuck, and yes, I've tried (albeit not intently).

 

[firefighter9208]

I have a Yamaha G19 48Volt electric golf cart. I have built a small bed on the back. I use it daily to run around and feed the goats, mend fences, ride the kids around, etc.... I have even ridden it to my Grandfathers house (3/4 mile away) and a neighbors house that is about the same distance.

When it's running good it's cheap. When you have problems it's expensive. 6 new 8 volt batteries cost $600.00. A "new" used charger $350.00. Rear Brakes $250.00. Of course I've had it about 5 years and it's not really expensive to charge. If you spread out the cost of buying it ($1800.00 5 years ago) and the cost of maintenance it has cost me about $3000.00 total or $600.00 a year to own it. It probably cost about $15.00 or $20.00 a month to keep it charged. A lot cheaper than payments on an UTV. Even though I would love a transmule 2 seater.

The main thing with an electric cart it not overly discharge it. When your not riding it you should plug it in. You also have to keep the batteries watered. I have to add water about once a month. Distilled water is $1.00 a gallon at Wally World.

Also, make sure you plug the charger into a surge suppressor. I had mine plugged into the same outlet as the fence charger. When lightening ran in on the fence charge it fried my golf cart charger. That was an expensive ($350.00) lesson. They are now on seperate circuits with each plugged into a surge suppressor.

An advantage is they are very quiet. I can't tell you how many times I have ridden up on deer in the woods behind the house because they didn't hear me coming. They are great around the goats, because they don't spook them when riding through the pasture.

I had a lift kit installed with 4-wheeler tires when I bought it.

Make sure you check underneath for ground clearance before buying. Some have way more than others. My Yamaha G19 actually only has about 4" of clearance (even with larger tires) in one spot due to a suspension brace. I have to watch and not hang that on stumps.

Chris

 

[RobJ]

I'd go with an ATV or a REAL 4 wheel cart (Kubota, Polaris, etc) especially if you have some decent hills on the place. Or I'd get a gas cart and leave the wheel size stock. Problem is when you put the bigger tires on there you change the gear ratio, thus no power on a good hill. A friend had that problem. On flat ground it was fine. But I had to pull him up a hill twice. Also if you really get in some rough areas, the 2wd won't get you very far.

JMHO...

Rob

 

[coveredbridge]

I bought a used Club Car gas cart off ebay a couple years ago. It's perfect for what you are describing. Plus, it has a hitch on the rear bumper which I use to attach a garden cart to haul trash cans, firewood, etc. You might be surprised at how quiet the gas carts are. The Club Car also has an aluminum frame (no rust), it's economical and easy to maintain. The kids like to drive it around too.

 

[FrogLick]

Thanks to all of you for the input. I assume that the "lift kit" a number of you referred to is something to increase ground clearance? And the ATV tires to increase traction? Haven't looked at any golf carts just yet (looked at the Kubota UTV at my ag dealer when there yesterday) but they probably have 4-5" clearance standard? I'm going to check with a couple of golf cart dealers around here next week if I get a chance to see what's available.

 

[Jimbrown]

Golf cats ae really nice. They are easy to drive and have very sort turning radious. Mine is a gas EZ Go. I put gas in it about twice a year and the wife drives it back and forth to the horse barn at least once a day. And it gets used for opening gates ect and rides around the neighbor hood. This one has a 4 inch lift and 26 in tires. The local Montana delaear sells made in china ones brand new for $1700.

 

[ultrarunner]

I was thinking along the same lines a couple of years ago and then came across a good running Suzuki Samurai for $1000 and never looked back. It's small, rugged and economical.

I

 

[mjarrels]

gas golf cart... big 36 hole golf course next door with lots of golf carts and big steep hills... gas cart handle them all without any problems.

mark

 

[FrogLick]

Jimbrown that's some rig you got there! Four inch lift + 26" tires must get you over some serious tarantula swarms! BTW, I got to spend a little time working for my uncle over at Ft. Huachuca back in the late '60s. Nice area right after the rains but not quite green enough most of the time for my taste.

 

[DJFaninTN]

we just purchased an EZ GO electric from TSC with the heavy plastic dump bed and we love it. the electric is really quiet and it can run for ever on a single charge.

 

[deereguy]

We have both a golf cart (Yamaha, gas, stock, turf tires) and a Kubota RTV 900 and the comparison is apples and oranges. The golf cart is easy to get in out of, has a bed on the back, great for tools and a few hundred pounds, wouldn't pull a trailer with the bumper and gets stuck fairly easy. The RTV is bulky, sits higher (4WD), can put 1000 lbs in the dump bed AND pull a trailer/wagon. We put a cab on the RTV, great in the winter with the heat and can lift off the doors for the summer. The cost of the golf cart is more economical in the long run. The RTV gets around 3.5 hours of run time/ gallon of diesel fuel and we run it like a golf cart.

 

[FrogLick]

we just purchased an EZ GO electric from TSC with the heavy plastic dump bed and we love it. the electric is really quiet and it can run for ever on a single charge.

Do you use it on any hills or is it flat where you live? For my purposes and where I'd use it I don't think it would be any worse than a lot of golf courses around here. That little dump bed might be nice but for any serious work or wagon hauling I'd use the tractor. We have a couple of dealers around here who handle Club Car. I knew EZ Go was a competing brand and hadn't thought of looking at TSC. I'm going there this week and will check.

 

[DJFaninTN]

Do you use it on any hills or is it flat where you live? For my purposes and where I'd use it I don't think it would be any worse than a lot of golf courses around here. That little dump bed might be nice but for any serious work or wagon hauling I'd use the tractor. We have a couple of dealers around here who handle Club Car. I knew EZ Go was a competing brand and hadn't thought of looking at TSC. I'm going there this week and will check.

It's mainly flat around here but there are a few hills that it pulls nicely on. The dump bed is mainly for the wife doing yard work. For the serious stuff we use the FEL on the 2320.

If you go to TSC I will bet they have the gaser version of the EZ GO but they can order the electric. If they say they can't, they just aren't trying. They have them in the distribution centers but they many not be able to get an answer on the weekends there. If you really want they can order different colors for you directly from EZ Go but you end up paying shipping (about $350 more). We just went with the black and tan and it works for us. If you really play your cards right you can get TSC no payment/no interest for 12 months and just pay it off early.