The weight of a golf cart seems like it would not matter. The truth is you have to put a golf cart on a trailer and tow it to the country club or golf course you are playing at. You need to know how much your buggy weighs so you can know if your vehicle can handle the weight of the tow.
Lighter golf carts cannot climb hills and go over rough terrains as easily as the heavier machines can. If you know the weight of the buggy you can ascertain whether the area you are about to travel over will be acceptable for your cart.
How Much Does A Golf Cart Weigh?
The average golf cart weighs between 500 and 1,100 pounds. There are a lot of varieties and sizes of these small vehicles and that is why there is such a great difference in their weights.
Gas-powered golfing buggies are lighter than battery-powered ones. The battery packs weigh a great deal and can add hundreds of pounds to the overall weight of the machine.
A gas-powered 2-passenger machine will weigh about 675 lbs. An electric 2-passenger machine that has a 48-volt battery pack weighs closer to 975 pounds.
Weight Breakdowns According To Capacity
These machines can carry a different number of people. The most frequently seen carts can carry two people who weigh about 200 pounds each. Along with the passengers the vehicle can carry along 1,000 pounds of clubs and accessories.
Typically, carts made for two people weigh 550 pounds or less if they are gas-powered.
The ones made to transport 4 people weigh closer to 800 pounds.
The buggies that can carry 6 people weigh closer to 1500 pounds.
Weight Specifications
When you are talking about golf buggy weights you will hear terms like dry weight and curb weight.
Dry weight refers to the weight of the machine before the accessories or batteries are installed on it. Curb weight is the weight of the device after all accessories and batteries are installed.
Choosing the Right Electric Cart
There are actually four machine types that fall under the heading of golfing buggies.
They are the carts, the cars, the LSVs, or NEVs.
Knowing what each of these machine types is capable of will help you to choose the best one for your lifestyle.
Carts
- These machines have four-stroke engines.
- They do not exceed speeds of fifteen mph.
- They are specifically designed to be used on golf courses.
- A lot of states will allow children who are 13 and up to operate these units.
- They can be gas or electric-powered
- They are not fully enclosed
- They can have windshields or be without windshields
Cars
- They can be gas or electric-powered
- They are completely enclosed
- They have brake lights
- They have turn signals
- They have windshield wipers
- These are the ones most frequently seen being driven on city streets
LSVs and NEVs
These machines are small enough to be in classification with golf carts, but they are also larger than most carts.
- They can reach speeds of 25 mph or more.
- They usually weigh closer to 3,000 pounds.
- These vehicles look a lot more like traditional cars.
What To Look For When Shopping For A Used Golf Buggy
There are a lot of used cars for sale. The little vehicles last for a long time, and they are generally kept in garages or under covers so the weather does not affect them greatly.
When you look at a previously owned cart look for the following things:
- Rust
- Scratches
- Dents
- Corrosion on the battery leads
- Do the batteries work? The batteries for these devices are very expensive.
Always test drive the machine for a few minutes and check the tires to make sure they are not dry-rotted.
Did You Know?
- One of these vehicles with a dump bed on the back will weigh close to 820 pounds.
- Batteries for these carts can weigh as much as 520 pounds
- In many places, you can drive these vehicles on streets between daylight and dark. So, you can hop into your cart and run a few errands.
- To get your cart out on the roadways you need to have mirrors on them so you can see behind you. You will also need brakes, reflective warning tape a windshield, and wipers for the windshield.
- These vehicles are used in America more than anywhere else in the world.
- The carts were originally designed to aid golfers with handicaps getting from one hole to the next on a course.
- If you are driving one of these machines while you are under the influence of alcohol an officer can issue you a DUI citation.
- These vehicles have very high resale values.
FAQs
When Was The First Motorized Golf Cart Made?
It was invented in 1935 but was not publicly sold until 1950.
Who Invented The Golf Cart?
Lyman Beecher is accredited with the invention of the golf cart.
Are Golf Carts Fast?
They can typically reach speeds of 12 to 14 mph.