What is a Lifted Golf Cart?
You may have heard the term “Lifted Golf Cart” in the club house, hunting group or even in your neighbourhood and it does conjure up images of a golf cart with an actual lift (this is not the case to be absolutely clear!) We take a look at what a lifted golf cart is, why they are used, and some advantages and disadvantages of them below.
A lifted golf cart is a standard golf cart that has been modified with a lift kit, which raises the height of the cart and provides increased ground clearance. Lifted golf carts are commonly used for off-road and leisure activities such as hunting, camping, exploring rough terrain, and playing golf on hilly courses.
We have to admit the first time we heard the term ‘lifted Golf Cart’ we did picture a small lift on the back to put golf clubs on to the cart and thought it an cool but unneeded feature. We were corrected pretty quick! A lifted golf cart is not needed by most golfers, although it can have other use cases which we take a look at in the following article, along with the cost and some of the details on what a lifted golf cart actually is.
What is a Lifted Golf Cart
A Golf Cart with a lift kit fitted, or a lifted golf cart is a cart that has had the both the overall height of the cart increased and more importantly the ground clearance increased as well. it is a modified cart that aims to provide better rough terrain handling and off road handling where needed. The lift also provides a more aggressive appearance like a souped up, roofed Quad Bike if you go higher with larger tires, which can be popular.
As a rule most golf courses, being smoother than most outside areas do not require golf carts with lift kit modifications, although there are some that may have steep inclines that consider them. However golf carts are not just the domain of golf clubs anymore and there are more use cases like camping, hunting and even street use where lift kits are becoming, and have become more popular.
they are not particularly cheap modifications, and although they can be made from fairly cheap materials like, steel, aluminum, and plastic, they can still range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
There are some drawbacks to modifying your golf cart with a lift kit and we take a look at those in the following sections.
Reasons Why People Lift Golf Carts
To expand of the reasons above, there are many purposes a lifted golf cart can fulfil included those in the list we have put together below.
- Hunting: Lifted golf carts can be used by hunters for much rouger ground than most golf carts will ever though often these carts are fitted with larger tires, extra batteries, gun racks and lighting in addition to having a lift kit modification..
- Camping: Golf carts with lift kits are also popular among campers, for similar reasons to hunter as they allow the cart to go through and over much rougher ground than an unlifted golf cart.
- Off-Road Exploration: While there are plenty of ATV experiences around, most of them are perhaps not as comfortable as a Golf cart fitted out would be. Quad bikes are open and although fine in the wet weather, not so enjoyable if you are sitting in them. Golf Carts provide a roof, and some have pull down rain shields, add a lift kit and some wheels to that and you have a comfortable ATV ( or almost) vehicle.
- Golf Courses: Although rarer due to a golf courses well manicured setting, golf carts with lift kits can be found on golf courses, especially those with hilly or rough terrain.
- Work Purposes: In some cases, lifted golf carts are used for work purposes, such as transporting materials and equipment around large properties or industrial sites and of course for maintenance on golf courses themselves. (if you were wondering why the grounds peoples carts were higher than yours)
Overall, lifted golf carts are a versatile and convenient option for a variety of work, off-road and leisure activities, providing increased stability, off-road capability, and a fun and unique way to enjoy the great outdoors. They do though have disadvantages as well as advantages and we look at these in the following section.
Below is an example of a Lifted Golf Cart, with many other modifications, for hunting.
How Much Does a Lifted Golf Cart Kit Cost?
The cost of a lifted golf cart can vary greatly, depending on the type of lift kit used, the quality of the materials, and the level of customization.
Basic lift kits can start at around $500, with fitting, though you can buy kits from amazon if you know what you are doing for around $100=150 but if you don’t then you will certainly need to seek help. Not all Lift kits are equal however, and particular brands and even models will need specific kits, for example E-Z-GO so if you are looking make sure you pick one up that will actually fit your cart.
While more advanced kits can cost several thousand dollars. The cost of larger tires and wheels, which are often required for lifted golf carts, can also add to the overall cost of ownership.
Advantages of Lifted Golf Carts
Lifted golf carts provide several advantages over standard golf carts, including increased stability and off-road capability, improved appearance, and greater visibility.
They also allow for the use of larger tires and wheels, which can improve the ride quality and provide greater traction on rough terrain.
They increase clearance, which is vital if you are driving on and over rough ground. Even 2-4 inches of lift can help stop grounding out when you drive over hills or rocks.
Higher carts mean bigger tires and this increases speed, though be aware of local legal limits and if you need to register the cart as a road vehicle.
As, if used off a golf course, they often need further modifications, you can have better lighting, power and storage options included as well. However these are separate to the actual lift kit modification itself.
Disadvantages of Lifted Golf Carts
There are also some disadvantages to owning a lifted golf cart,
these include the potential of reduced maneuverability and increased maintenance costs. Lifted golf carts also typically require more fuel, as the larger tires and increased weight can reduce fuel efficiency.
Even with larger tires fitted, lifted golf carts are higher and therefore potentially susceptible to tipping, especially while on rough terrain, so although the tires will mitigate this somewhat it is something to be aware of.
How High Should You Lift A Golf Cart – Does It Make A Difference?
The height to which you lift your golf cart is largely a matter of personal preference, but there are some guidelines to consider.
The general rule of thumb is to lift the cart no more than 6 inches, as this provides a good balance between increased ground clearance and stability.
Lifting the cart higher than 6 inches, though some kits can offer up to 8 inches, can negatively impact the handling and stability of the cart especially if you are moving fast, making it more difficult to drive and potentially cause a tipping hazard.
Lifting the golf cart higher or lower will also affect the performance of the cart in different ways.
- A higher lift can provide better off-road capabilities, but may negatively impact the overall handling and stability of the cart.
- On the other hand, a lower lift will provide improved stability and handling, but may limit the cart’s off-road capabilities.
It is important to consider all of these factors when deciding how high to lift your golf cart, and unless you really do know what yuo are doing, to work with a knowledgeable and experienced installer to ensure that the lift is installed properly and safely.
We are aiming to be an authority on All things Golf Cart and have compiled the list of related content on the site for you if you need to more! You can check out the links below.
- How fast Does a Golf Cart Go?
- What is a Lifted Golf Cart?
- How much does a golf cart cost?
- How far do you walk on a golf course ( if not using a cart)
Conclusion
A lifted Golf Cart is a golf cart that has had its ground clearance increased, and therefore its overall height, but installing a modification know as a lift kit. these kits can increase the ground clearance by between 3-8 inches though 6 is considered the maximum for all but the most extreme cases.
By doing this, and fitting larger tires, it offers better off road performance for the golf cart to handle rougher terrain and larger slopes, it also increases speed and with the other modifications that are often added if used off road more use options including hunting and camping trips.
Less often seen on actual golf courses due to the nature of the ground on a golf course, they can still be used on a course with more extreme slopes or areas of round ground.
Whether you need to fit a Lift kit only you really know, but it is recommended to seek out professional help before you attempt it if you are new to modifying golf carts.
