How to care for a golf cart when back up north

[Bob04090]

I've received different answers on how to maintain the battery in my golf cart when I'm away for 5 -6 months up north. Here are the three options:

1. Trickle charge it but I've heard that's bad because there are power surges.

2. Install a battery disconnect switch on the negative cable.

3. Have someone drive the cart every month around the block.

[villagetinker]

I would go with driving the cart occasionally check with your home watch people to see if they will do this, otherwise maybe you can work something out with a neighbor.

[SullyP]

I've received different answers on how to maintain the battery in my golf cart when I'm away for 5 -6 months up north. Here are the three options:

1. Trickle charge it but I've heard that's bad because there are power surges.

2. Install a battery disconnect switch on the negative cable.

3. Have someone drive the cart every month around the block.

I use a battery tender ($74) Amazon. Only sends charge to battery if amps drop on battery. I also add Sta Bil Storage fuel stabilizer to the gas tank.

[UpNorth]

Lithium battery electric cart - bring down to no more than 50% charge, then leave. Won't lose any significant charge while you are gone. Lead acid flooded batteries would require trickle charge and/or monthly driving to maintain charge. And possible adding of water to cells.

[tophcfa]

Ethanol free gas and trickle charger works good for us.

[MrChip72]

We use this. Works perfectly. Battery Tender(R) Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger (https://www.batterytender.com/junior)

[Bill14564]

I simply disconnect one of the battery cables, nothing else. (essentially your #2 but much cheaper)

With no load connected a decent battery should hold enough charge to get the engine started. After that, a few miles on the cart will get the battery back to a good state if it wasn't already.

[UpNorth]

I simply disconnect one of the battery cables, nothing else. (essentially your #2 but much cheaper)

With no load (disconnected) a decent battery should hold enough charge to get the engine started. After that, a few mikes on the cart will get the battery back to a food state if it wasn't already.

Where do you get the mikes? And which state is a food state?:loco:

[MorTech]

From TVGC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADKdU-YUfI0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DMaD_H4MyA

The battery tender they use can be purchased at Amazon for 40 bucks.

[Laker14]

For my gas cart:
1. make sure tires are up to pressure. 22psi for my Yamaha.
2. I jack the cart up and get tires off the ground so they don't have flat spots when I return. This isn't absolutely necessary, but I've done it this way, and I've NOT done it, and when I don't do it, I can feel the flat spots for about a month or so.

3. I use ethanol free gas anyway, so I make sure it's full or near full, and put some Sea-Bil in there.
4. Connect to a battery tender.
5. I unroll the curtains and let them hang. Might be better to snap them. Probably not good for the plastic to be rolled up for the months I am away.

What type of cart do you have?

[Papa_lecki]

I fill up with gas and add a fuel stabilize. That is all. I used to disconnect the battery, but found it is not necessary.

It’s stay unused for 5 or 6 months.

[Bob04090]

Thank you to everyone who responded.

I've received different answers on how to maintain the battery in my golf cart when I'm away for 5 -6 months up north. Here are the three options:

1. Trickle charge it but I've heard that's bad because there are power surges.

2. Install a battery disconnect switch on the negative cable.

3. Have someone drive the cart every month around the block.

[MX rider]

We use this. Works perfectly. Battery Tender(R) Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger (https://www.batterytender.com/junior)

100%. This is all we do. A battery tender is all you need.
I do the same thing with my Polaris SxS in Indiana. We're here for 6 months and all I do is keep it on the battery tender.

I've used them for years on all my motorcycles as well. They will extend your battery life.

Todays gas doesn't go bad, and non ethanol gas is a gimmick. It says E10 on top of the gas tank on my Yamaha
Btw, we do roll our curtains down.

[MX rider]

We use this. Works perfectly. Battery Tender(R) Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger (https://www.batterytender.com/junior)

Also you can buy a battery disconnect with a remote fob to keep it from getting stolen when you're out. They're pretty cheap at Amazon.

[kkingston57]

I've received different answers on how to maintain the battery in my golf cart when I'm away for 5 -6 months up north. Here are the three options:

1. Trickle charge it but I've heard that's bad because there are power surges.

2. Install a battery disconnect switch on the negative cable.

3. Have someone drive the cart every month around the block.

We were gone 2 months last year and have a 2020 cart and the original battery. Did nothing to the cart and it started instantaneously. Personally, I would do #2.

[RI401]

I add a little Marvel Mystery oil to my RV fuel before I leave. Its a top engine lube that coats the upper head and cylinder. I have been using this for 40 years on all my gas engines back home. I rebuild those engines as well and know the difference.

I found a little simple trickle charger at harbor freight for 5.99 on sale.
I run several up north all winter on boats and heavy equipment, never an issue.

Bud

[ElDiabloJoe]

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[ElDiabloJoe]

For my gas cart:
1. make sure tires are up to pressure. 22psi for my Yamaha.
2. I jack the cart up and get tires off the ground so they don't have flat spots when I return. This isn't absolutely necessary, but I've done it this way, and I've NOT done it, and when I don't do it, I can feel the flat spots for about a month or so.

3. I use ethanol free gas anyway, so I make sure it's full or near full, and put some Sea-Bil in there.
4. Connect to a battery tender.
5. I unroll the curtains and let them hang. Might be better to snap them. Probably not good for the plastic to be rolled up for the months I am away.

What type of cart do you have?

I do exactly this, and I use the exact trickle charger MrChip72 recommended.

Additionally, I have a pair of 4-foot long boards that are 1X12's. I slide them under the cart side-to-side, one behind the front wheels, the other in front of the rear wheels. I put the jack stands on the boards to more evenly spread the 1,000 pound weight of the golf cart across the garage's surface. A cheap 1-ton floor jack from Harbor Freight (get the one with the highest reach you can if your cart is lifted - best to get this around Black Friday sales if you can) will make this job very quick and easy.

This one does the job for my lifted cart. If you aren't getting the height you need, just put a wood block on the jack's cup to get those extra few inches.
Click on the link below for jack:
Access to this page has been denied (https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/floor-jacks/15-ton-professional-racing-series-aluminum-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-58206.html)

[Topspinmo]

Where do you get the mikes? And which state is a food state?:loco:

O, please. Hit wrong key the f is right beside the g, spell check don’t recognize words that aren’t misspelled. I sure figured that. :icon_wink: I do it all the time with small key board and my shaky fingers. :shocked:.

[Lyarham]

I've received different answers on how to maintain the battery in my golf cart when I'm away for 5 -6 months up north. Here are the three options:

1. Trickle charge it but I've heard that's bad because there are power surges.

2. Install a battery disconnect switch on the negative cable.

3. Have someone drive the cart every month around the block.

I have put a trickle charger on my electric golf cart with a timer set for 8 hours a day now for 9 years with no problem

[Altawood]

Modern trickle chargers do not overcharge. They maintain and will preserve the battery’s life.
Alternatively, just disconnect the negative cable from the battery.

I would go with driving the cart occasionally check with your home watch people to see if they will do this, otherwise maybe you can work something out with a neighbor.

[LonnyP]

Battery maintenance charger that only charges as needed, and have it plugged into surge protection.

SeaFoam in the gas with a full tank. If you have someone that will drive it once a month that is great but not needed.

[Vermilion Villager]

I've received different answers on how to maintain the battery in my golf cart when I'm away for 5 -6 months up north. Here are the three options:

1. Trickle charge it but I've heard that's bad because there are power surges.

2. Install a battery disconnect switch on the negative cable.

3. Have someone drive the cart every month around the block.

When you say "battery" are you referring to the battery on a gas powered card, 12 volt batteries wired in series in an electric cart, or a Lithium-Ion battery powered cart?

[lynnbarnes]

I use a battery maintainer. It does trickle charging but stops when the battery is full, then monitors the battery's charge and maintains it. This is the one I use; it's less then $30 on Amazon and easy to use:
NOCO GENIUS1, 1A Smart Car Battery Charger, 6V and 12V Automotive Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger, Float Charger and Desulfator for Motorcycle, ATV, Lithium and Deep Cycle Batteries https://a.co/d/5elPgKq

[villagetinker]

I add a little Marvel Mystery oil to my RV fuel before I leave. Its a top engine lube that coats the upper head and cylinder. I have been using this for 40 years on all my gas engines back home. I rebuild those engines as well and know the difference.

I found a little simple trickle charger at harbor freight for 5.99 on sale.
I run several up north all winter on boats and heavy equipment, never an issue.

Bud
Beware of the Harbor freight trickle charger, it fried my car battery. I found out when I replaced the battery and connected the trickle charge with my voltmeter on the battery, and hour later the battery voltage was over 15 volts. I threw this device away.

[Professor]

We use this. Works perfectly. Battery Tender(R) Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger (https://www.batterytender.com/junior)

I do as well and it works great.

[MX rider]

I do as well and it works great.

Agree 100%. Battery Tender has been around for years and I've never had one fail.
You get what you pay for. I wouldn't trust the cheap ones.

[aimao]

I would go with driving the cart occasionally check with your home watch people to see if they will do this, otherwise maybe you can work something out with a neighbor.

I have 2 carts one electric and one gas. I don't use the gas cart much. To take care battery of gas cart, how often and how many miles I should drive it?

[MrFlorida]

Battery tender and fuel stabilizer .

[Bill14564]

I have 2 carts one electric and one gas. I don't use the gas cart much. To take care battery of gas cart, how often and how many miles I should drive it?

Mine has sat for six to eight weeks without a problem but I try to run it once a month.

When it was new and I was only here occasionally, it would sit at least three months. All I did then was disconnect from one of the battery terminals though I don't know if even that was necessary.

[tophcfa]

I find the best way to care for the cart is to get my sorry a$$ back down to the Villages ASAP.

[44Apple]

I used a 1 amp trickle charger. Battery was dead when I got here. AAA guy said I needed a bigger trickle charger. ??

[MX rider]

I used a 1 amp trickle charger. Battery was dead when I got here. AAA guy said I needed a bigger trickle charger. ??

Battery Tender is all you need. Never had a dead battery using one. It will also extend battery life