A custom cart fitted with a golf cart lift kit
Golf cart lift kits are fitted to many custom golf carts for sale that you will find advertized on the internet. But what does a lift kit do?
A golf cart lift kit raises the cart’s ride height allowing more ground clearance below the cart’s floor. This makes it easier to drive over rough terrain or obstacles such as rocks. A lift kit also allows larger golf cart wheels and tires to be fitted to a cart, which is a very popular upgrade for many owners who want their cart to sport a custom look. Larger wheels and tires may also be necessary for driving a cart off-road as all-terrain golf cart tires tend to be a larger fitment size than stock tires.
Why do I need a golf cart lift kit?
There are many different situations as to why you would need to install a golf cart lift kit depending on how you intend use your cart. The amount of additional suspension lift, and therefore ride height, provided by the lift kit you fit will depend on how you intend to use your cart.
A golf cart lift kit is recommended for multi-passenger carts
- Fitting larger wheels & tires – This is one of the most popular reasons to fit a lift kit. Many owners like the look of larger alloy wheels fitted to a cart, especially if it’s a street legal golf cart. If a lift kit is not fitted the larger wheels would allow the tires to rub and catch on the golf cart fenders or body work when encountering a bump. Over time this would damage the tires and eventually result in a puncture. A lift kit would “lift” the cart chassis further above the axle line allowing the larger wheels and tires to clear the bodywork. The amount of lift required would depend on the size of wheels installed and the expected suspension travel that is likely to be encountered when the cart is driven.
- Using the cart off-road – Many owners use their cart for recreational purposes, such as hunting or fishing, and as such are likely to be driving out in the wilderness on dirt tracks. To better cope with dirt tracks fitment of a lift kit is advisable so that any ruts, undulations, rocks or other obstacles can be driven over without damaging the underside of the cart. It is always advisable to fit all-terrain golf cart tires for off-road driving as they have chunky treads which provide improved traction in slippery or muddy conditions.
- Carrying heavy loads – If you have fitted a golf cart cargo bed for carrying equipment or supplies then the additional weight will drop the rear drive height, possibly causing the rear of the cart to ground-out when driving. To negate the drop in ride height when heavily loaded a lift kit will raise the suspension height allowing heavy loads to be carried without any issues. If your cart is used as a utility vehicle on a golf course, on a farm or ranch, or in an industrial plant then it is likely that the cart will carry heavy loads and require a lift kit.
- Carrying passengers and luggage – Many golf carts are used in a commercial setting to transport several passengers around airports, hotel complexes and golf resorts. Four, six or more passengers along with their luggage is a huge amount of additional weight that has to be handled by the stock golf cart suspension. All this additional weight is likely to dramatically lower the cart’s ride height and with little suspension movement available a poor ride will be encountered by the passengers. A correctly specified golf cart lift kit will provide enough ride height to avoid any grounding issues and give the cart a smooth ride when fully loaded.
A golf cart lift kit is an extremely popular custom cart modification that is optional for many owners to give a more aggressive look, but is necessary for other carts that are used to transport equipment or people. Lift kits are available for all makes and models of golf cart from EZ-Go, Club Car and Yamaha. Fitment of a lift kit can be done by any home mechanic or if you are not confident with a wrench any golf cart or auto mechanic will find the installation straightforward. The following video shows basic information about lift kits and what you should consider when choosing a golf cart lift kit.
