Oddball off-brand golf carts/trucks, etc

[Tmarkwald]

I made the mistake of doing a bit of marketplace searching on golf carts.

I'm now getting a bit inundated with offers from all these off-brand, usually electric, golf carts and golf trucks, etc

Does anyone have any experience with these as I have not seen any around TV (not that I've looked, but some are pretty unique) ...?

[villagetinker]

IMHO I would stick with a gas cart, the villages is so large you [I]may[I] be approaching the limit of the typical battery pack. We just went from a little north of Brownwood to Fenny grill around 20 miles round trip.

[Mortal1]

Have you checked the web for those brands(since you don't mention them that's suspicious)and see how reliable they are...who will service them? who backs the warranty?

Personally I don't buy into your questions as you don't give us enough info about those brands...like their names. Don't trolls do this?

[tophcfa]

Make your life simple and easier, get yourself a gas Yamaha quiet-tech and don't look back.

[Topspinmo]

I keep my stuff for quite awhile. I consider the brand for any parts I may need way down the road. Which IMO hard to bet Yamaha cart.

[JoMar]

IMHO I would stick with a gas cart, the villages is so large you [I]may[I] be approaching the limit of the typical battery pack. We just went from a little north of Brownwood to Fenny grill around 20 miles round trip.

FYI....50 miles on a charge is no issue on either of our two electrics. Fenny to Orange Blossom and back is about 40 miles. I think eventually we will become too large to ride in gas or electric.

[Tmarkwald]

Have you checked the web for those brands(since you don't mention them that's suspicious)and see how reliable they are...who will service them? who backs the warranty?

Personally I don't buy into your questions as you don't give us enough info about those brands...like their names. Don't trolls do this?

Here's a couple -and I don't know their names or brands...

Golf Carts For Sale, Gas Electric Golf Cart, Club Car Sale, Ez Go, Golf Carts, Utility Cart, Club Car, Ez-Go, Ez Go, Club Car Golf Carts For Sale, Ez Go Golf Carts For Sale, Custom Golf Carts, Fully Customized Golf UTV, Club Cart, Golf Kart (https://www.saferwholesale.com/Golf-Carts-For-Sale-Gas-Electric-Golf-Cart-Club-Car-Sale-s/40.htm)

and this one that keeps showing up from Lady Lake...

[tsmall22204]

Newer electric carts easily go 40 miles on a full charge. Please if you don't know what you are talking about, don't make Statements.

[mepoole]

I had a Star electric golf cart. Easily 60 miles on a charge. Newer ones now get 80 miles. Never had a problem with service, always picked up and returned.

[Zenmama18]

For us travel time and seat comfort are limiting factors more than range.

[jimkerr]

Stay away from electric. Just stick with a Yamaha gas. An electric cart in The Villages makes no sense.

[J1ceasar]

You are so right, who wants to drive in a golf cart when it's 100° outside

[Travelhunter123]

You are so right, who wants to drive in a golf cart when it's 100° outside

The new atomic gas carts can go 90 miles without a charge and 60 miles with the air conditioning on.

[DavidStockhausen]

Safer Wholesale is a scam! No local dealer to support. Want something reliable and local. Try Crown Carts, Star Dealer and Air Conditioned Carts. Family owned and operated.

[Toymeister]

The Chinese gas carts are using Chonda engines, honda clones. Extremely reliable. All the other parts reliability is the issue.

[NoMo50]

I think eventually we will become too large to ride in gas or electric.

Maybe need to go on a diet? 🤣

[Tmarkwald]

Maybe need to go on a diet? 🤣

Wall-e

Wall-E ... Social Media funny fat people - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy0DDuf8fYw&t=3s)

[Bay Kid]

It's amazing how they are watching us. Everything we look at on the computer or phone they know about. Type in anything and you will get their results that day. Modern times.

[mrf6969]

FYI....50 miles on a charge is no issue on either of our two electrics. Fenny to Orange Blossom and back is about 40 miles. I think eventually we will become too large to ride in gas or electric.
This range you speak of is misleading. True you should be able to get that range with new batteries but you will never get close to that range, as I am sure you know as the batteries age.

[rwfisher1969]

Here is a thought. Why don't we all agree that electric cart people think they have the best mode of cart and gas cart people feel they have the best mode of propulsion. Stop debating who has the better cart. You will never convince the other that you are right!

[Rick777]

Stay away from electric. Just stick with a Yamaha gas. An electric cart in The Villages makes no sense.

True Jim, but what about those of us who just arrived in villages and last year bought a brand new decked out Club Car Envoy. I've been told if I go lithium batteries no problem. 60 to 80 plus miles. Anybody have experiences with lithium batteries ?

[DAVES]

I made the mistake of doing a bit of marketplace searching on golf carts.

I'm now getting a bit inundated with offers from all these off-brand, usually electric, golf carts and golf trucks, etc

Does anyone have any experience with these as I have not seen any around TV (not that I've looked, but some are pretty unique) ...?

My opinion. You will need service AND PARTS. Off brand means no or very limited parts available and few or no people familiar with proper repair.

[DAVES]

It's amazing how they are watching us. Everything we look at on the computer or phone they know about. Type in anything and you will get their results that day. Modern times.

I would be lost without my computer. Nothing is free. The price of your computer is the fact that privacy is gone.

[DaleDivine]

I would be lost without my computer. Nothing is free. The price of your computer is the fact that privacy is gone.

Yep, cookies will spy on you all the time.
:bigbow:

[bobnyce]

It's amazing how they are watching us. Everything we look at on the computer or phone they know about. Type in anything and you will get their results that day. Modern times.

If you do not want to be "watched" switch your search engine to DuckDuckGo. I have used it for about 4 years and no more watching!!!

[Villages Kahuna]

In my opinion stick with EZ-GO. Club Car, Yamaha and EZ-GO dominate the market with similar market shares. All golf cart companies are subsidiaries of much larger companies. There are some differences, but not major. If you choose a quiet and odor-free electric cart, be sure to get the more expensive Lithium Ion batteries. Much, much longer life, no water required, and the kind of extended range you’ll need here in the expanding Villages. One other suggestion—specify radial tires. They provide a dramatically smoother ride than the cheaper standard tires.

I’ve had four EZ-GO carts, the latest with Li-Ion batteries and radial tires. No reason to change to another brand that I’ve been able to see.

[Bilyclub]

You are so right, who wants to drive in a golf cart when it's 100° outside

Do you even have a golf cart? You live in Leesburg, right?

[Joe C.]

The range capabilities of electric golf carts are improving, however, the batteries have a limited life, and each year, their range decreases. Gasoline golf carts get great mileage, and their mileage gets better when they "break in".
Yamaha, is Japanese, EZGO and Club Car are American companies, and I think that the engines are Japanese (Subaru or Robyn).
All the other brands, Atomic, Crown etc. are Chinese manufactured. If you don't mind supporting the Chinese communist government, then you can get a good deal on one.

Oh yeah, it's the cookies in your computer that track everything you look at and send you those ads.

[Mulliganguy]

Period!!

[stebooo]

Stick with the tried and good yamaha gas, club car gas. There is a reason there the most popular cart. This is not a corner you want to cut. Imo

[HORNET]

Stick with Yamaha or Club Car or E-Z-Go gas cart

[kathyspear]

It's amazing how they are watching us. Everything we look at on the computer or phone they know about.

I have researched a couple different items online lately (for potential purchase). Suddenly the hubby and my brother (who lives with us) are both seeing ads in their browsers for those items -- probably because we are on the same IP address? Luckily, I wasn't hiding anything from hubs ha!

Be forewarned: If you are shopping for a gift for someone who lives with you maybe consider using a VPN to hide your activities!

kathy

[kathyspear]

Stay away from electric. Just stick with a Yamaha gas. An electric cart in The Villages makes no sense.

I don't understand why people make blanket statements like this.

We have an electric cart with six month old batteries. I have no idea how far we can go because if it takes more than 30 minutes to get someplace by cart we use one of our cars. We bought electric because it is quiet and doesn't stink. And yes, we tried out a new Yamaha QuietTech which may be quieter than a similar non-QuietTech cart but is not my idea of "quiet". And when you drive through one of the tunnels behind a gas cart there is no question about whether it is gas or electric unless you had covid recently and lost your sense of smell.

I totally get why some people who drive their cart everywhere (and maybe don't even own a car) would buy a gas cart. One of these days we plan to rent one for a day to go exploring "down south" (we live near Spanish Springs). But we are happy to travel around in our thirty-minutes-from-our-house circle in our clean, quiet electric Yamaha.

If you see a redhead in a red cart who waves at every cart that goes by, that'll be me!

kathy

[Flflyer]

Stay away from electric. Just stick with a Yamaha gas. An electric cart in The Villages makes no sense.
So you say. Smelly, high maintenance, noisy and dangerous when hopped up to do illegal, nongolf cart speeds. Good lithium powered electrics are the best.

[Flflyer]

I don't understand why people make blanket statements like this.

We have an electric cart with six month old batteries. I have no idea how far we can go because if it takes more than 30 minutes to get someplace by cart we use one of our cars. We bought electric because it is quiet and doesn't stink. And yes, we tried out a new Yamaha QuietTech which may be quieter than a similar non-QuietTech cart but is not my idea of "quiet". And when you drive through one of the tunnels behind a gas cart there is no question about whether it is gas or electric unless you had covid recently and lost your sense of smell.

I totally get why some people who drive their cart everywhere (and maybe don't even own a car) would buy a gas cart. One of these days we plan to rent one for a day to go exploring "down south" (we live near Spanish Springs). But we are happy to travel around in our thirty-minutes-from-our-house circle in our clean, quiet electric Yamaha.

If you see a redhead in a red cart who waves at every cart that goes by, that'll be me!

kathy
You got it right. Frankly, I use my "street legal" electric cart for any trip that it is legal to use it. This is not because I do not have another, regular, car but because I like it and it is much cheaper. Street legal cars are great, not because you can "legally" drive a little faster but you do not have to go in and out of every circle to get where you are going. With lithium batteries, you can get 80 plus miles per charge in quiet comfort.

[Adagio43]

The new atomic gas carts can go 90 miles without a charge and 60 miles with the air conditioning on.
Discharging any battery bank by 50% or more significantly reduces the overall service life of the batteries.

[jebartle]

FYI....50 miles on a charge is no issue on either of our two electrics. Fenny to Orange Blossom and back is about 40 miles. I think eventually we will become too large to ride in gas or electric.

Really would not want a 50 mile bumpy ride in a cart, electric or gas, yipsters, good for short local rides, but get in a car and rent a cart when you get there.

[jarodrig]

The first “accessory” any new electric cart owner should buy is a TOW STRAP !!!! :popcorn:

[tophcfa]

The first “accessory” any new electric cart owner should buy is a TOW STRAP !!!! :popcorn:

And keep a small bottle of Grand Marnier with your tow strap to give to the person with the gas cart that tows you home : )

[kathyspear]

With lithium batteries, you can get 80 plus miles per charge in quiet comfort.

Next cart ... :)

k.

[boxcarwilly]

Discharging any battery bank by 50% or more significantly reduces the overall service life of the batteries.

Above does not apply to Li ion...low voltage cutoff is determining factor.

[EdFNJ]

This range you speak of is misleading. True you should be able to get that range with new batteries but you will never get close to that range, as I am sure you know as the batteries age. That's why lithiums are so great. I have over 12,000 miles and 2 1/2 years on mine (Atomic) and they haven't degraded 1 mile. I get virtually the same 65 miles on the real odometer on every charge and I record every charge so it's not a guesstimate. I do notice a slight loss of torgue going up LONG steep hill (like O'Dell) at about 50% down but still easily maintain 20+ but it has always been that way.

[J1ceasar]

Actually there's two things in this reply, first Google if you use it as a search engine is going to stop using cookies very soon believe it or not I don't know how they will track you or decide which heads to serve but that's the news scoop. Secondly if you're getting too many ads you can turn off cookies, thirdly for the best privacy and a VPN software to your computer so nobody knows where you're emails are coming from or what you're searching for and lastly if you haven't heard of it there's another search engine called duck duck go go which promises not to collect cookies or at least delete them after each session of going on the internet in other words once you close your browser the cookies are automatically deleted and serve no useful purpose. However that said Google Can and does save your passwords and usernames for you which is useful but you can also turn this feature off

[Flflyer]

True Jim, but what about those of us who just arrived in villages and last year bought a brand new decked out Club Car Envoy. I've been told if I go lithium batteries no problem. 60 to 80 plus miles. Anybody have experiences with lithium batteries ?

I have been running lithium batteries for at least 9 years, which is way longer than anyone has even been talking about them. Nothing beats a properly setup electric cart, either street legal or not, then with lithium batteries.

[banjobob]

Sore butt limits my travel time ,carts do not ride smoothly.I can do 20 miles max

[Flflyer]

I have been running lithium batteries for at least 9 years, which is way longer than anyone has even been talking about them. Nothing beats a properly setup electric cart, either street legal or not, then with lithium batteries.
The lithium type is LifePO4 cells. Can make any voltage battery to replace your lead acid or gel batteries. Mine is 72 volts.

[Travelhunter123]

And keep a small bottle of Grand Marnier with your tow strap to give to the person with the gas cart that tows you home : )
The days of the dominance of the gas automobiles and gas golf carts are numbered

[Tmarkwald]

The days of the dominance of the gas automobiles and gas golf carts are numbered

They could quicken the end if they brought back the electric vehicle tax credit that included electric golf carts... But, we'll see.

[fgsJr]

Stay away from electric. Just stick with a Yamaha gas. An electric cart in The Villages makes no sense.
I totally disagree. I bought a used EZGO electric cart seven years ago and love it. It is quiet, no exhaust smell, and has about 30+ mile range: plenty to get me thru 18 holes with charge to spare. I just bought the EZGO Elite with a lithium battery which is rated at 60+ mile range. The battery is warranted for eight years and requires no maintenance, including no problems leaving the cart for six months as a Snowbird…
I live in Amelia, played 18 holes at Palmer, forgot to plug in the cart, and played 18 holes the next day at Glenview and still had a quarter of the meters charge in the battery when I got home.
I love that I don’t have to go to the gas station and have virtually no maintenance that is needed w/gas carts. I bought the Elite w/the lithium battery so I can get to the new Southern Oaks courses when they are finished. The convenience, comfort and pleasure of driving an electric cart makes it far better than a gas cart. I wish the villages would go all electric!!!
The new battery technology also gets rid of the fear of fires that old lithium batteries were known for.

Please consider all the advantages of this new EZGO cart before buying a gas cart. You will be very happy and The Villages will be a quieter place as well without the exhaust & noise pollution!!!

[frank1975]

Two words......YAMAHA.....GAS!!!

[mrf6969]

My opinion. You will need service AND PARTS. Off brand means no or very limited parts available and few or no people familiar with proper repair.
Excellent advise. In my opinion you should buy local. Why buy a cart that you can't get good reliable quick service on? I have 3 Yamaha gas carts. Always in and out quickly for service at all The Villages Golf Cart stores. They have the trained techs, parts and convenience. It is really a no brainer.

[dadspet]

The first “accessory” any new electric cart owner should buy is a TOW STRAP !!!! :popcorn:

I agree for $5 you can tow the gas carts that run out of gas on their 50 + mile adventure. And the best part is you'll be in front of them so you won't have to suck in any of their fumes or listen to any backfire.

[dadspet]

I totally disagree. I bought a used EZGO electric cart seven years ago and love it. It is quiet, no exhaust smell, and has about 30+ mile range: plenty to get me thru 18 holes with charge to spare. I just bought the EZGO Elite with a lithium battery which is rated at 60+ mile range. The battery is warranted for eight years and requires no maintenance, including no problems leaving the cart for six months as a Snowbird…
I live in Amelia, played 18 holes at Palmer, forgot to plug in the cart, and played 18 holes the next day at Glenview and still had a quarter of the meters charge in the battery when I got home.
I love that I don’t have to go to the gas station and have virtually no maintenance that is needed w/gas carts. I bought the Elite w/the lithium battery so I can get to the new Southern Oaks courses when they are finished. The convenience, comfort and pleasure of driving an electric cart makes it far better than a gas cart. I wish the villages would go all electric!!!
The new battery technology also gets rid of the fear of fires that old lithium batteries were known for.

Please consider all the advantages of this new EZGO cart before buying a gas cart. You will be very happy and The Villages will be a quieter place as well without the exhaust & noise pollution!!!

I think this is a great idea we should all join together for a march on The Villages to Protest Gas Carts and the Pollution, fumes and noise they add to our community. But please this will be a peaceful protest we don't want to disturb the dancers in the Squares and we should wait until its too dark for golf or Pickle Ball and especially happy hour is over. :icon_wink:

[nn0wheremann]

My opinion. You will need service AND PARTS. Off brand means no or very limited parts available and few or no people familiar with proper repair.
This is right on the mark. I bought a Chinese made motor scooter in 2008. It was a clone of a Yamaha YP-250 from 1995. Parts compatible. Nice workmanship. Problem is the Chinese go cheap on things like fasteners. Every screw and bolt was brass. Tighten them when they loosen, and they break. Vacuum hoses and fuel lines were substandard, deteriorating and leaking prematurely. Starter/generator were not strong enough, and wore out prematurely. Battery was too small. It was a Japanese design, an obsolete one, so I could find parts, but because of Chinese manufacture I needed to buy too many. Also no one would service it. Competent mechanics would not touch it with a ten foot pole.

[boxcarwilly]

Two words......YAMAHA.....GAS!!!
Borrowed time my friend.

[UpNorth]

I would guess that all the gas cart folks that are obsessed with range have never driven over 10 miles in a typical day. So, what's the point?

[Bilyclub]

There's a lot of people doing a lot of guessing. The fact is the majority of the carts in TV are gas. No doubting that.