Should You Lift Your Street Legal Golf Cart?
“You likely remember when golf carts were actually for golfers,” says Brett Jackrel, Sales Manager of Moto Electric Vehicles. “Thankfully, I got started in the business when the conventional electric cart began to evolve into today’s more versatile low-speed vehicles for street and fun. Now, lifted golf carts are providing people with the unique advantage of having more ground clearance as well as bigger wheels and tires.”
Getting passed on the path?
If other golf carts are passing you up on the path or the road, it might be a good time to consider a lift kit or maybe a brand new lifted street-legal electric golf cart. When the chassis is raised, it lifts the bodywork to increase your overall ground clearance. Moreover, lifting the weight boosts the center of gravity, which means your driving style and habits must change slightly to safely maneuver a lifted vehicle. Conversely, a lifted street legal golf cart has a more stable stance with larger wheels and wider tires. Most drivers prefer the feel on street and lifting makes it much easier to traverse natural terrain without worry of bottoming out. Since there are positives and negatives to purchasing a lifted street-legal golf cart for off-road adventures, owning a raised golf cart just doesn’t work for every application. Contact MotoEV to learn more about what you should consider before making a major purchase decision.
It's not just a golf cart with bigger tires…
If you have always thought that the new carts you’ve been seeing are merely golf carts with bigger tires, you would be wrong. Most lifted electric vehicles do have larger wheels and bigger tires, but it doesn’t stop there. So, before you make a leap of faith and buy a cart because it catches your eye, take the time to weigh the benefits and sacrifices against what you plan to do with your modified vehicle (lift kit or new). For those who plan to take their golf cart off the beaten path, a lifted electric golf cart will provide more clearance over hazards that could damage the bottom of a traditional cart. Although the larger wheels help add clearance and stability, there are some upsides and downsides. You may pick up speed on the street but sacrifice a little torque on a climb, so where you plan to operate your vehicle and the lay-of-the-land can impact your decisions.
Safety is a big area of consideration for lifted carts…
If you plan to lift an existing vehicle, it is important to do your due diligence, read reviews, and have a full understanding of the safety ratings for the equipment you are installing. Lift kits can provide you with an additional three to six inches of height by allowing for offset rims that fit larger tires. So, start by answering this question, “are you choosing to lift your golf cart for aesthetic reasons only, or do you really need an electric vehicle to traverse a more rugged terrain. Where a heavy-duty lift kit will work best for off-road use, a lighter-weight kit may work better for moving around a golf course community in style. Most importantly, make sure the installer and equipment are equal to the task at hand.
Safe operations requires adapting how you drive…
As already mentioned, a lifted street legal golf cart will raise your vehicles center of gravity. Since you also may gain a bit of top end speed with larger wheels, this can increase the risk of a driver flipping the cart unless they adjust their driving habits appropriately to the terrain. Although passengers, especially the elderly and kids, usually love getting in and riding in a lifted golf cart, the driver will need to slow down in turns and take added precautions on hilly slopes. It is also important to understand that the larger components that you installed is placing a heavier load on your cart’s electric motor and other rotational vehicle-parts. If you have the time and money to do it right, modifying your existing cart is doable. But, for most drivers, relying on the pros to help them decide on the aesthetic and heavy-duty features they will actually need as well as using a professional installer is the better option to ensure a safe ride.
Popular Reasons for Lifting a Street Legal Golf Cart
You might have heard the rantings of lifted street legal golf cart owners who did not devote enough time to their due diligence. If you bought that hot looking lifted golf cart because of its flexibility only to find out that your golf course doesn’t allow turf damaging tires, you might find yourself working in the garage changing tires when driving off-road - on the street - and at the club. However, if you identify ahead of time the features you need for a multi-purpose lifted electric cart, you may choose to use your off-road golf cart for:
- Camping, Hunting and Fishing
- Street Driving and Teeing Up for a Round
- Farming, Ranching and Hauling
- Moving People and Delivering Goods
Electric golf carts were originally developed to be the ideal vehicle for moving around a flat grassy landscape. It is the recent advances in the physical components that can allow for increased workability in addition to looking totally awesome everywhere you go. If you drive in fear of bottoming out while carrying back seat passengers, it is time to consider a custom-fitted ride. At Moto Electric Vehicles, our staff is always ready to assist you in determining the best lifted golf cart or raised utility vehicle from our incredible selection of personal and commercial electric carts. Our rugged raised golf carts are built from the ground up to withstand the wear-and-tear of any terrain. Raised golf carts can be a convenient and economical means of transportation for construction workers, project managers, and resort staff as well as visitors to historic neighborhoods, beach communities, mountain resorts, and town centers across the United States.
Our goal is to be your dealership of choice for street legal electric vehicles and lifted golf carts for all applications while providing you with a professional level of service each and every time. Our staff will be happy to help you retrofit your golf cart or custom build a lifted street legal golf cart just for you. To learn more about any vehicle, call Brett Jackrel Toll Free at 855-339-8333.
Editorial photo courtesy Shutterstock.com
