Golf cart batteries...please, please I need help

[My Daily Run]

I am looking for new golf cart batteries...I am so confused with different kinds and prices and also distance. I called 4 companies and I got 4 different answers. Everyone recommends Battery Boys which is fine but they said if I got the Trojan 105 I couldn't go from Brownwood to Spanish Springs and back. I would need the Trojan 125 or better...what do you have and what is your distance and what should I get besides a gas golf cart.

[Chatbrat]

That is one long slow trip in a golf cart--anyway is your cat a 48v or a 36v model--take a car for that long of a trip

[graciegirl]

That is one long slow trip in a golf cart--anyway is your cat a 48v or a 36v model--take a car for that long of a trip

Chat. Have you made that trip in a golf cart? I keep waiting to hear that you buy one. Last I remember you didn't own a golf cart.

[dewilson58]

I am looking for new golf cart batteries...I am so confused with different kinds and prices and also distance. I called 4 companies and I got 4 different answers. Everyone recommends Battery Boys which is fine but they said if I got the Trojan 105 I couldn't go from Brownwood to Spanish Springs and back. I would need the Trojan 125 or better...what do you have and what is your distance and what should I get besides a gas golf cart.

I'm a gas guy, so I can't help with the specific techy question...........but, all batteries get tired and lose their range.

Related, but not related................we love taking a golf cart ride from the South to the North. Enjoying the journey.

Good Luck.

[new peeps]

I have a gas and electric cart. With my electric it is a 48volt EZGO RXV. It came with 4 12 volt batteries that I have replaced the batteries once before. The last time I put in 6 8 volt Trojan Rangers and I feel it was the best upgrade I made. It will go from Brownwood to Spanish Springs. But if you put 4people in the cart and drove it with the headlights on both ways I would be watching the gauge carefully on the way back. In my opinion I would buy the best battery you can afford. Keep in mind on the third year of what ever you put in I would be cautious on a journey from Brownwood to Spanish Springs. It is not that the cart wouldn’t go 35 miles continuously. It is all the stop and go and climbs out of the tunnels while making the trip from Brownwood to Spanish Springs that puts a load on the batteries. This is just my opinion.

[My Daily Run]

I bought this electric in 2010 when The Villages was much smaller...lol

[My Daily Run]

That is wonderful advice although the Battery Boys offered me Trojan 105 and 125...they said the 105 would get me 105 minutes and the 125 would get me 125 minutes...so confused

[ajbrown]

I am surprised BB would suggest this actually. It is 11 miles each way from Brownwood to SS, 22 miles round trip.

A pack of 8x6v batteries will do that round trip close to 3 times. That would not be good for the pack IMO.

A pack of 6x6v batteries will do that round trip close to 2 times. That would not be good for the pack IMO.

I did a ride as a test some time ago with my 2 year old 8x6v t105 pack. I drove 50 miles and the pack was at 48.4 volts, 50% discharged. That is the most I like discharge to my packs.

That one time I continued the ride to 63 miles. At the end I had 47.6 volts.,

[My Daily Run]

Thank you so much...I might have misunderstood BB. The Trojan 105 are 984.00 and the Trojan 125 are 1228.36...do you think it is worth the upgrade...no longer life just longer range

[ajbrown]

Thank you so much...I might have misunderstood BB. The Trojan 105 are 984.00 and the Trojan 125 are 1228.36...do you think it is worth the upgrade...no longer life just longer range

Looking at some percentages:

Cost: T105s cost about 20% less
kWh: T105s (1.5 kWh) have about 6% less energy than T125 (1.6kWh). In a 48 volt cart it is 12 versus 12.8, if you believe estimates that I have read about kWh versus miles, that will be a whopping 4 - 5 miles.

IMO, the answer is NO.

[My Daily Run]

You are awesome...thank you so much...looks like you are going to save me a few bucks...thanks again

[Steve9930]

I am looking for new golf cart batteries...I am so confused with different kinds and prices and also distance. I called 4 companies and I got 4 different answers. Everyone recommends Battery Boys which is fine but they said if I got the Trojan 105 I couldn't go from Brownwood to Spanish Springs and back. I would need the Trojan 125 or better...what do you have and what is your distance and what should I get besides a gas golf cart.

Look a it this way. The higher the Amp Hour Rating the more power you have. The farther you can go. The faster you drive or the more people in the cart the more power you use and the less efficient the power usage. The Villages has become so large I would probably stick with a Gas Cart. I do not travel that far in my cart so never worry about the batteries. If I'm going a long ways I drive. Some how a 45 minute drive in a golf cart one way does not float my boat. Also remember you are only going to get about a total of 5 years out of a set of batteries.

[autumnspring]

I am looking for new golf cart batteries...I am so confused with different kinds and prices and also distance. I called 4 companies and I got 4 different answers. Everyone recommends Battery Boys which is fine but they said if I got the Trojan 105 I couldn't go from Brownwood to Spanish Springs and back. I would need the Trojan 125 or better...what do you have and what is your distance and what should I get besides a gas golf cart.

re: new
Or an older golf cart that is just new to you. The reason it matters is that the newer golf carts use a brush-less motor. If you do not understand what I just said-look it up it will be far clearer than I can explain it. Thje reason it is important is that an electric golf cart of the old brush type will go about 10% less on the same set of batteries.

You will see all kinds of debates on this issue. REALIZE-people will usually say what they think is right and no consider alternatives.

WE HAVE GAS-you will see claims that an electric golf cart will go 50 miles and even more. It might even be true-SOMETIMES. Now, perhaps, you have two people and they weigh 200 lbs each-that is 400 lbs. Hey, some of your friends might weigh more than 200 lbs. Then, on the way back you decide it is gray weather and you KNOW you should turn on your head lights-that power comes off your maximum range.

My point, my opinion, if you plan on driving from Brownwood to Spanish Springs, GAS IS THE WAY TO GO.

There will be yet another debate but our 2014 Yamaha fuel injected gets about 30-40mpg. The full tank is 6 gallons so on a full tank you can go 35x6=210 miles. I don't know but far as I know running the headlights does not cost you any gas mileage

[Uberschaf]

Battery Boys did mine and I went with T105'S. No prob's.

[My Daily Run]

What is your range...how many miles/minutes/or what is the furthest that you've driven with the T105 batteries...although I've been here 7 years I'm on my second house now living in Hillsboro and I like to go to Spanish Springs.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Did you ask The Battery Boys about their new cart with lithium ion batteries?

That is the future of golf carts. They require no maintenance, last for 15 years and can go over 100 miles on a charge.

You can have your cart converted or they sell a new Smart Cart with a Toyota motor and a lot of accessories for about $10,000.

[TechGC]

Batteries lose range over time. Just because you could go 40 miles the first year of your new batteries, does not mean it will do 40 miles the 3rd year of life. You do a whole bunch of 22 mile drives on a set of batteries, plan on them being short lived. There are many things to consider when buying an electric cart. How you are truly going to use the cart is the biggest thing. The Villages has gotten too big for long treks in an electric golf cart.

[Steve9930]

If you did not have a cart already then the best approach would be to buy a gas cart. No Electric cart will ever match the range of a Gas Cart. But since you already have a cart I would buy the batteries with the highest capacity. I also would consider getting away from the Villages and looking for the batteries say down toward Orlando. You can remove those batteries yourself and exchange them for new ones and replace them yourself. There is nothing magical going on here. I prefer Trojan but that's just my preference. They seem to hold up well. Interstate is another good name. Just like your car proper maintenance and properly inflated tires can make a difference. Make sure the batteries are properly hydrated and make sure you have a good charger which will properly maintain the charge level. Don't over think this. I'm sure you have a $$ figure in mind. Also keep all the connections tight and clean. A bad connection will waste power and do nothing more then provide heat. I saw a post for a more modern electric motor. Yes, it is more efficient but if your going to replace a motor then when do you get to the point where its time to replace the cart? Bottom line is with an electric cart you have limited travel. One trick I saw was a small Honda Generator mounted on the back of the cart. His way the person had a way to charge the cart if needed.

[Fredman]

Did you ask The Battery Boys about their new cart with lithium ion batteries?

That is the future of golf carts. They require no maintenance, last for 15 years and can go over 100 miles on a charge.

You can have your cart converted or they sell a new Smart Cart with a Toyota motor and a lot of accessories for about $10,000.

According to Battery Boys web site lithium batteries last 10 years and other web sites confirm this. Four 12 volt batteries cost upward to $5,000 which amounts to $500 per year. So, in two years that is $1,000. For that amount you can buy Trojan batteries that will last 3 to 5 years. Also lithium batteries go dead without a warning.
So, what makes lithium batteries such a great deal?