A Custom Lifted Golf Cart
Lifted golf carts are becoming more and more popular as many owners are using their golf carts off road for hunting and fishing trips, outdoor recreational activities and even for farm work on large ranches. Stock golf carts are not suited to drive over rough and slippery terrain as they have low ground clearance and tires that are suited to paved paths on the golf course.
Golf Cart ‘Lift’ for Off-Road Driving
To allow for greater ground clearance lifted golf carts are modified with raised suspension which aids travel over dirt tracks and rough back roads. Lifted golf carts have greater clearance to help them conquer rough rocky surfaces and water that will be encountered on off-road trails.
Custom golf cart tires are usually fitted to lifted golf carts to further enhance their off-road capabilities. Custom golf cart tires are slightly larger than stock and feature deeper treads which will cut through muddy surfaces and provide more grip. This is advantageous when driving uphill or downhill on an off-road track that is slippery due to rain or snow. The deep treads on custom off-road golf cart tires will also help traction on sandy or loose dirt surfaces.
A popular upgrade to a lifted golf cart is the fitment of larger wheels which can also increase the ground clearance. Many owners of custom golf carts will fit alloy or chrome wheels which enhance the look of the cart. However, these larger wheels may not be suited to off-road applications as the tires fitted are usually of a low profile and without the chunkier treads.
A stock golf cart can be made into a lifted golf cart through the fitment of a ‘lift kit’ which consists of replacement suspension parts. Aftermarket golf cart lift kits are available for all the major golf cart manufacturers, including Club Car, EZ-Go and Yamaha. The main consideration when upgrading to a lifted golf cart is the ‘lift’ height that you wish to achieve. This will depend on the intended use for the golf cart, as the rougher and rockier the terrain the higher the ‘lift’ that will be required. The height of lifted golf carts may also depend on the final ‘look’ that the owner wishes to have, or if a heavy-duty cargo bed is fitted.
Buying Lifted Golf Carts
You can buy lifted golf carts from many cart dealers or online through a site such as eBay. When buying any golf carts for sale you should always check it over thoroughly for any mechanical or electrical problems. Take the lifted golf cart for a test drive and make sure it accelerates, brakes and turns correctly. Drive over some rough terrain and listen for any unusual noises from the suspension. As lifted golf carts have been modified after leaving the factory pay particular attention to the lift kit that has been fitted. Any worn, loose or wrongly fitted parts will cause the ride to feel vague, noisy or unsteady.
Lifted golf carts are usually more expensive than stock carts, but buying used golf carts with a lift kit already fitted by the previous owner will always work out cheaper that fitting a lift kit to a new golf cart.
