Kawasaki Mule 610 as Golf Cart

[Kingsport]

Hi. I’m moving to The Villages next month. I have a Kawasaki Mule, which is the smallest UTV you can get and is the width of a golf card and length of a four seat golf cart. I’d love to bring it. Do folks use such things to get around? I’m assuming it cannot be used on a golf course even with approved tires. But, I usually walk anyway. Thanks!

[mulligan]

If it is capable of over 20mph, no.

[SIRE1]

You say it is the width of a golf cart. I would verify that since from what I've seen, they are a little wider than the golf carts here in The Villages. And since the golf cart paths, tunnels, and bridges were built for golf carts, the extra width would be a real problem if you drove it anywhere other than up and down the street in front of your house. You probably couldn't take it to the town squares, shopping, or much where else. So in addition to the speed restriction, I would really discourage you from trying to use this as your mode of transportation here in The Villages. The only time you see these types of vehicles are by the maintenance crews working on the landscape projects.

[tophcfa]

You say it is the width of a golf cart. I would verify that since from what I've seen, they are a little wider than the golf carts here in The Villages. And since the golf cart paths, tunnels, and bridges were built for golf carts, the extra width would be a real problem if you drove it anywhere other than up and down the street in front of your house. You probably couldn't take it to the town squares, shopping, or much where else. So in addition to the speed restriction, I would really discourage you from trying to use this as your mode of transportation here in The Villages. The only time you see these types of vehicles are by the maintenance crews working on the landscape projects.

Agree, as much as I like UTV’s, they are not appropriate for the Villages as a form of transportation. Is it just me, or does a first time poster start a thread about this every couple of months?

[Kingsport]

It is not just you. I have seen such posts before. However, they were for larger, faster UTVs than the Mule. So, I thought I’d ask. Thanks.

[drcar]

If it is capable of over 20mph, no.

Speed of cart does not limit the ability to go on a course. Tire size and overall size of cart does. Street legal carts are allowed on the courses and they go over 20.

[SIRE1]

I decided to check the web for the dimensions of the Kawasaki Mule vs a Yamaha golf cart. And like I suspected, the Mule is wider than a golf cart. The width of the Kawasaki Mule is listed as 52.6 inches. The width of the Yamaha Drive 2 golf cart is 47.3 inches. Can you imagine driving over the Lake Sumter bridge in your Yamaha golf cart and seeing a cart that is 5+ inches wider coming at you. That bridge is so narrow that it is precarious when 2 carts meet, let alone something that was 5+ inches wider. And on that bridge with the high crubs neither vehicles can pull off to the side to let the other pass. So I don't think you should think of this as your Villages mode of transportation. Bring it and store it in your garage and take it out to wherever off roading is allowed, but PLEASE do not use it within The Villages.

[tophcfa]

I decided to check the web for the dimensions of the Kawasaki Mule vs a Yamaha golf cart. And like I suspected, the Mule is wider than a golf cart. The width of the Kawasaki Mule is listed as 52.6 inches. The width of the Yamaha Drive 2 golf cart is 47.3 inches. Can you imagine driving over the Lake Sumter bridge in your Yamaha golf cart and seeing a cart that is 5+ inches wider coming at you. That bridge is so narrow that it is precarious when 2 carts meet, let alone something that was 5+ inches wider. And on that bridge with the high crubs neither vehicles can pull off to the side to let the other pass. So I don't think you should think of this as your Villages mode of transportation. Bring it and store it in your garage and take it out to wherever off roading is allowed, but PLEASE do not use it within The Villages.

Actually, I can imagine going over the Sumter bridge and experiencing something much wider coming at me. It has happened a couple of times with a Polaris Gem. On another note, I wonder how high the UTV is and if that might be an issue in the tunnels.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, you will have other problems since this is a UTV and not a GOLF CART, there are Florida laws you will probably run afoul of, insurance will probably be a problem, tires will absolutely be a problem. Golf carts are legally limited to 20 mph (yes I know lots of people have them set much higher), FL law states anything capable of greater than 20 MPH is a LOW SPEED VEHICLE, now can you imagine getting a UTV classified as a low speed vehicle.
IMHO, not a good fit for TV.

[ohiosbestus]

Before I moved down here I had a Kaw Mule 600 utility vehicle but it is definitely wider than a golf cart. Because of the tires I dont believe it will be approved for golf course use. Also wanted to warn you about its width going through bridges and tunnels...I sold my golf cart and kawasaki 610 before I left Ohio to move down here. I will say the price of golf carts down here are way over priced compared to buying them out of state. My friend who moved from Ohio got the same golf cart up there for 3000 less in Ohio than they were priced here.

[Tmarkwald]

If it is capable of over 20mph, no.

Where did you get that info? Mine do 30+, speed limit is 22... ?? And you can get street legal at 35...

The mule is too wide, that's all. The bridge by Sumter would be very tough.

[banjobob]

You might seem a little out of place with it, although those silly little cars some people are driving are just as weird.

[jack.hunter00@yahoo.com]

Nope

[thevillages2013]

Hi. I’m moving to The Villages next month. I have a Kawasaki Mule, which is the smallest UTV you can get and is the width of a golf card and length of a four seat golf cart. I’d love to bring it. Do folks use such things to get around? I’m assuming it cannot be used on a golf course even with approved tires. But, I usually walk anyway. Thanks!

Get a tape measure out and provide the exact dimensions of the UTV . If you have a speedometer you can drive 20 mph. Speedometers are easy to install. I had a Yamaha cart that the governor was broken on. That thing would go 36mph but I kept it under 25. Also you will need turn signals front and rear (I am sure it has headlights and taillights). Don’t listen to the automatic “no “answers you get on this site

[JoelJohnson]

Speed of cart does not limit the ability to go on a course. Tire size and overall size of cart does. Street legal carts are allowed on the courses and they go over 20.

Yes they can - 24 1/2 mph

[Andyb]

I have a UTV, not in the villages, but noise could be an issue with some. Personally, no issue for me. I’ve seen atomic cars on golf cart paths, they seem to be wider than a Yamaha golf cart?

[Billy1]

If you can't let go of back home, it's risky to move to TV. Some people sell within two years and move back home. Accepting the lifestyle makes TV very pleasant. Golf carts help make TV what it is.

[jimkerr]

No, they are for golf carts not UTV’s or ATV’s.

[COLTempleton]

You say it is the width of a golf cart. I would verify that since from what I've seen, they are a little wider than the golf carts here in The Villages. And since the golf cart paths, tunnels, and bridges were built for golf carts, the extra width would be a real problem if you drove it anywhere other than up and down the street in front of your house. You probably couldn't take it to the town squares, shopping, or much where else. So in addition to the speed restriction, I would really discourage you from trying to use this as your mode of transportation here in The Villages. The only time you see these types of vehicles are by the maintenance crews working on the landscape projects.

You need lights, blinkers brake lights, etc. to be on the cart paths, assuming you meet size requirements. Better ask The Villages to be sure.

[hal195z]

Look at FL law or ask the sheriff. A golf cart may go only up to 20MPH. If it can go faster than that it is a LSV and must have license plates and insurance like a car. If caught with a golf cart that can travel faster than 20 MPH you will get multiple tickets. Gem cars should not be allowed on golf courses and multi-modal paths, but sadly they are.

[DAVES]

Hi. I’m moving to The Villages next month. I have a Kawasaki Mule, which is the smallest UTV you can get and is the width of a golf card and length of a four seat golf cart. I’d love to bring it. Do folks use such things to get around? I’m assuming it cannot be used on a golf course even with approved tires. But, I usually walk anyway. Thanks!

You are asking in the wrong place. If, I recall my logo is dave. Even if you were to print it, Dave of the villages told me ............ It means nothing.

I would call the police, they are actually helpful here. I'm sure they can direct you.
As stated, my opinion holds no water. I doubt it. Golf cart speed is limited to 20 mph.
You need to have turn signals etc. More than that if it is faster than 20 mph you need plates and insurance. I don't know what an UTV is. I assume it is an ATV (all terrain vehicle). I do not see anyone running them on golf cart paths or on the street so I doubt it is legal

[DAVES]

Look at FL law or ask the sheriff. A golf cart may go only up to 20MPH. If it can go faster than that it is a LSV and must have license plates and insurance like a car. If caught with a golf cart that can travel faster than 20 MPH you will get multiple tickets. Gem cars should not be allowed on golf courses and multi-modal paths, but sadly they are.

As I regularly say I do not claim to be an expert. If, I recall, I think I know, the gem was originally designed as transport on large private property. They can be easily adjusted so that they can only go 20 mph.

As far as law, besides mine, few of the golf carts are properly set to only do 20mph.
Villagers, though they are mostly retired are clearly in a rush to the next stop sign.

[mulligan]

Speed of cart does not limit the ability to go on a course. Tire size and overall size of cart does. Street legal carts are allowed on the courses and they go over 20.

I stand corrected sir.

[Pachine58]

Not allowed..

[OhioBuckeye]

If it is capable of over 20mph, no.

If it’s capable of going over 20mph, you’ll have to get a license plate! Personally I think I would get rid of it & invest in a golf cart.

[Catalina36]

Yes, your right. Driving my golf cart to the Sunset Overlook at Lake Sumter is pretty scary when another cart is coming your way.
Each cart must hug the cart roadway to their right and it still looks way too close like the mirrors are going to hit.

[Gil Chapin]

As I regularly say I do not claim to be an expert. If, I recall, I think I know, the gem was originally designed as transport on large private property. They can be easily adjusted so that they can only go 20 mph.

As far as law, besides mine, few of the golf carts are properly set to only do 20mph.
Villagers, though they are mostly retired are clearly in a rush to the next stop sign.
I know this subject gets beaten to death frequently, but I feel the need to respond about GEM cars. Just like "real" cars, GEM cars have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). As such, they can never be legally operated on public roads without a registration ("Tag") or insurance. Limiting them to 20 MPH will not avoid that. You can't downgrade a GEM car to be a golf cart (unless it's used only on private property) but you can "upgrade" a golf cart to be a ("Street Legal") low speed vehicle by giving it the necessary physical properties and registering and insuring it for use on public roads. The only advantage to doing that is you get to travel 5 MPH faster and go on (and cross) some roads where you couldn't go with a golf cart. Most people don't pay attention to the speed limits anyway and even using an actual GEM car as a "regular" vehicle on public roads is risky at best, so I don't see much value in doing that. I have a GEM car because I do have to travel on some public roads (as do most golf cart owners - but I use the golf cart lanes on the roadways and the multimodal paths where possible) and the GEM cars are designed and constructed for that purpose. Golf carts are designed and constructed for use on a golf course. I consider their use on public roads as a misuse of the product. To make my perspective even less valuable to anyone else, I don't golf, so I don't care about its use on a golf course. (I know, what am I doing living in The Villages anyway?) But that's just my opinion...

And on the very rare occasions that I have to cross the Lake Sumter bridge with my GEM car, I do it on the "vehicle" roadway (at 25 MPH with cars anxious to do 45 MPH - in a 35 MPH zone - breathing down my neck) because as noted elsewhere in this thread, the cart path is too narrow for a GEM car to successfully pass an oncoming golf cart there. I avoid crossing that bridge whenever possible.

I'll shut up now... and await the deluge.

[RayAmb]

I also owned one which I used in the mountains of NC. It is not adaptable to the golf course environment. I loved the mule , it was great and reliable for our NC property. Hard to let it go.

[DAVES]

I know this subject gets beaten to death frequently, but I feel the need to respond about GEM cars. Just like "real" cars, GEM cars have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). As such, they can never be legally operated on public roads without a registration ("Tag") or insurance. Limiting them to 20 MPH will not avoid that. You can't downgrade a GEM car to be a golf cart (unless it's used only on private property) but you can "upgrade" a golf cart to be a ("Street Legal") low speed vehicle by giving it the necessary physical properties and registering and insuring it for use on public roads. The only advantage to doing that is you get to travel 5 MPH faster and go on (and cross) some roads where you couldn't go with a golf cart. Most people don't pay attention to the speed limits anyway and even using an actual GEM car as a "regular" vehicle on public roads is risky at best, so I don't see much value in doing that. I have a GEM car because I do have to travel on some public roads (as do most golf cart owners - but I use the golf cart lanes on the roadways and the multimodal paths where possible) and the GEM cars are designed and constructed for that purpose. Golf carts are designed and constructed for use on a golf course. I consider their use on public roads as a misuse of the product. To make my perspective even less valuable to anyone else, I don't golf, so I don't care about its use on a golf course. (I know, what am I doing living in The Villages anyway?) But that's just my opinion...

And on the very rare occasions that I have to cross the Lake Sumter bridge with my GEM car, I do it on the "vehicle" roadway (at 25 MPH with cars anxious to do 45 MPH - in a 35 MPH zone - breathing down my neck) because as noted elsewhere in this thread, the cart path is too narrow for a GEM car to successfully pass an oncoming golf cart there. I avoid crossing that bridge whenever possible.

I'll shut up now... and await the deluge.

As I regularly state a post where someone says hey I am wrong is rare indeed.
Typical post-I am right because.
There is no shortage of people who are sure the other person is wrong and they are right.

[Topspinmo]

You need lights, blinkers brake lights, etc. to be on the cart paths, assuming you meet size requirements. Better ask The Villages to be sure.

I think you need those to drive on streets or in diamond lanes. I don’t think you need them for cart path? but, how would you get to cart path without them?

[NancyLee]

Speed of cart does not limit the ability to go on a course. Tire size and overall size of cart does. Street legal carts are allowed on the courses and they go over 20.

Can street legal carts be used on the golf cart trails throughout The Villages? That is if the max speed is kept at 20mph or under?

[Gil Chapin]

As I regularly state a post where someone says hey I am wrong is rare indeed.
Typical post-I am right because.
There is no shortage of people who are sure the other person is wrong and they are right.
Well, that didn't take long... I knew I should have prefaced my remarks with "It's my understanding that..." or "Here's what I believe to be the case...". I did try to separate what was my opinion from what I truly believe to be some facts as expressed to me by law enforcement personnel. At least I am a GEM car owner and I do have some understanding of what's involved. I do note that others who expressed "facts" were not lucky enough to get a similar response.

I do understand the respondent's perspective and I agree with it. I should have known better and kept my opinions to myself... sometimes it's just too tempting.

No hard feelings. We all have opinions.

[giorgio1948]

Why take the chance? Sell it and buy a normal cart ~

[Arctic Fox]

"...the Mule is wider than a golf cart. The width of the Kawasaki Mule is listed as 52.6 inches. The width of the Yamaha Drive 2 golf cart is 47.3 inches."

The Atomic Ion XL is 54" wide

There really should be a maximum width allowed on the multi-modals

[Gil Chapin]

Can street legal carts be used on the golf cart trails throughout The Villages? That is if the max speed is kept at 20mph or under?
I'm going to go out on a limb here (I've already been spanked once here...) and say that it is my understanding that Low Speed Vehicles are allowed on the multimodal paths (opinion). I have one and I do use the multimodal paths and I've never been challenged (facts). I believe the paths are private property and, it is my understanding that, whereas law enforcement has jurisdiction on the public roads, they have none there (opinion but as related by law enforcement). Have you ever seen a speed limit sign on the paths? I haven't except for the Lake Sumter bridge crossing (fact) (10 MPH - have you ever seen anyone traveling at 10 MPH on that bridge in the cart lanes?) Who would enforce operation (and speeds) on the multimodal paths - The Villages Community Watch people (or whatever they're called)? I've never seen such an event (fact). But I might be wrong (fact)...