UTV instead of a Golf Cart
 

Hi All,

I own a UTV and have no need for a golf cart. Here are a few questions if I might ask.

1. It can be governed for 15mph at the flip of a switch.
2. It does not have turf tires. The tires are similar to tires you find on many pick ups. Mine are not aggressive treads and they are not noisy.
3. It like myself, will never be on a golf course. Just not my cup of tea.
4. The UTV itself isn't much louder than many carts and from what I heard this past weekend. Quieter than many I had heard go by.
5. It's 4 inches wider (2 on each side) than a Yamaha cart. It's longer than most but still shorter than many I saw this past weekend.
6. It'll easily park leaving a half car space for the other carts.
7. It has brake lights, head and tail lights. A horn and turn signals could be installed with out an issue.

So am I allowed? Please, no flaming, just the facts on the subject. Here's a picture of the UTV in question.

http://ftdcabs.com/wp-content/upload.../900-crf-2.jpg

I would think so, although it looks too long to be parked perpendicular on the streets near the squares.

Might be too wide for the LSL Morse Bridge and/or the bridge to the historic section.

Another concern would be tunnel height.

So far that would be the only thing that concerns me. I hadn't thought of the tunnel. You don't by chance know what the height is would you?

On this forum you will get good questions, but no definitive answers. We're not in charge of anything. You'll need to ask "the powers that be" to get this answered. You might want to start with your District representative to find out who would have your answers.

I think I'll just try to get as informed as I can and if I feel comfortable with the idea I'll just do it. Worst case is a ticket and a "don't do that again".
I try not to rely on anything a politician says. So far, the best I can tell it meets all the requirements though.

I agree.

PLEASE be careful going over the bridge. I had a previous post about a gentleman that almost lost a knee/leg. If your cart is 4 inches wider it may actually put you on the centerline crossing the bridge.

I don't ride or allow anyone to have body parts outside the UTV. If I catch them, they'll walk. I'll measure the bridge to centerline later. I can't imagine they made it so a cart only had an inch or two clearance. Between the poor drivers and the drunk ones that bridge would have killed dozens by now. =/

Thank you for the input so far everyone.

1. I understand about "the flip of a switch," but you didn't say the higher speed it is capable of traveling. If it's between 20 & 25, I believe it will be classified as a Low Speed Vehicle - certainly usable in TV, but it must be licensed and insured as is a vehicle, and have specific safety equipment. If it's capable of going greater than 25, leave it up north.

2. I'm assuming the tires in the picture are NOT the tires you plan to use in TV. Correct?

I just don't see these used in TV. There are probably laws preventing their use in TV because the golf cart diamond lanes are on public streets.

1. If the limiter is set. 15 is all it's capable of. The switch isn't exactly on the dash. It takes a little time.
2. Do carts require being licensed and insured as is a vehicle?

Not trying to be, or sound snarky but there isn't a cart in TV that can't be set for much higher speeds. They are all capable of much more. And it requires very little. Sometimes no parts are required.

When my limiter is set, it's only good for 15mph. As that is what it was designed to do by the manufacturer.

And I've never lived up North. I'm here in TV.

No they aren't but those are fairly quiet. At 15 they make no noise at all. These are my trail/road tires.https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/bdb...0&odnBg=FFFFFF

Contact the Florida DMV they will be the ones to make a official determination.

I like where you're going with this, It would open up a lot of possibilities but I don't have a lot of faith in it.

Best of luck to you

That should be posted at each end of the bridge.

This statement concerns me much more than the vehicle.

I do not know about this particular vehicle but we once met a similar one on the bridge and it was way to tight of a fit

There is no way you will be able to make a 90 degree turn into a tunnel with a vehicle that long, much less fit in the tunnel.
If it is wider than 48", you will not fit in the lane on either bridge.

Call the Community Development District before you bring it on the MMP's. At 15mph you will be passed by everyone as carts are regulated to 20mph. As for those that do more...it's not your concern and common sense dictates you base it on your own vehicle and the rules/laws.

If you drive 15mph, people will honk at you and flip you off. LOL

I'll salute back. haha Nah, that's not me.

That is a Polaris Ranger Crew correct? Not sure what year or model number it is, but the Polaris website lists that vehicle as 60 inches wide, 2017 Yamaha is 47 inches wide. If it is 60 inches you will have a problem on the bridges. You may have a problem with some of the tunnels too at 73 inches high

Specs: 2017 RANGER Crew 570-4 - Sage Green

The getting informed part or the not believing the politicians part? I can guarantee my driving at it's worst is still far superior to the above average Prius pilot.
I consider myself to be a well above average driver and motorcycle rider. I take things very seriously when I'm driving/riding. =)

Just because you don't play golf doesn't mean you can't own and operate a golf cart for pleasure. My five closest neighbors have golf carts and don't play golf. I would leave the ATV or sell it if you're moving here permanently and get a golf cart. Then you'll have no doubt about where you can go and you can get there at 20mph, going 15mph would get old fast.

All the Yamaha gas carts can be adjusted to 25mph in about 2 minutes time with no parts needed, but you would be risking a ticket. Those tickets are not for speeding, but driving an unregistered vehicle, because Florida doesn't recognize a golf cart that can exceed 20mph. Pick up a one or two year old Yamaha gas cart like this one for about $6,500 - $7500 and forget your ATV idea.

http://www.villagediscountgolfcar.co...009070_450.jpg

We already have the UTV and it's far more comfy and versatile than a cart. Not knocking carts but they just aren't for me. And I can't throw one on a trailer and go camping in the woods on it.
If this is doable then it's one less vehicle, saves me a bunch of money on something I'd rarely use and It'd just be a lot more fun and functional for me.
At this point it's becoming a challenge though and I'm going to enjoy seeing if I can make it happen.

I believe the landscapers use similar vehicles on the MMP. However, they don't have the roof, so I don't know about the tunnels and I've only seen them on the MMPs wide enough to require landscaping so I'm not sure about the bridges or golf cart trails near Spanish Springs.

I'm not even sure that some of the older tunnels are as tall as those south of 466. And obviously any of the boardwalk trails would be kind of weak for something this heavy.

Did you check your width again? If link I posted above is correct your vehicle is 13 inches wider. Don't know if you have driven the bridge over 441 or on Morse but they don't have a lot of width to spare. It's pretty tight even with normal golf carts.

Avoiding the bridges and tunnels still give me a lot of places just to tool around on. I'll post up official answers from powers that be as they come along. Thanks everyone.

Maybe better to make it a street legal if you can, you won't need the bridges and tunnels and can go 25 mph. It will cost more but why limit where you can go.

Checkout the website Buggies Unlimited. You can customize a golf cart just about anyway you would like. I agree if this vehicle is to tall for the tunnels, you are limiting yourself on where you can travel. Also, to echo other comments, going 15 mph on the MMPs will get you lots oh honking horns and not so friendly comments. There are crazy old people out there and sometimes not Florida's Most Friendly Hometown".

I agree. BUT..............

I always wonder about folks who want to nudge the perimeters. Why not sell it and get a golf cart like all the other 50,000 of us?

Because that is what creates change. I prefer to do and be a little different from the other 50k members of the herd. :thumbup:
And as said earlier, I prefer not to buy another vehicle as a golf cart would make it about 20 minutes in the woods.

In addition to be too wide for the 2 bridges, I think you may also have some problems on some of the cart paths that run along the road side. There are quite a few, especially north of 466 that are quite narrow even for a golf cart. Yours would stick out into the car lane. If you stick to the wider paths you might be OK, but I can see a lot of problems with on coming carts not having enough clearance because yours is too wide. So bottom line, you probably could use it a lot of places, but I can't see it being used through out The Villages like the rest of us use our golf carts.

Sorry, but I think your UTV would be a hazard. It's too wide for anything but the MMP paths, too high and wide for many tunnels,so slow that people would be risking life and limb to pass you, cars would have to cross over double yellow lines to pass you on many of the street paths. It really is too dangerous -- not necessarily for you but definitely for anyone sharing the road with you. Please reconsider regardless of its legality.

Tunnel heights vary. They are lower north of 466.

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Maybe WE who now live here like things the way they ARE?

Welcome to the Forum. We have a lot of strong women and men here in these Villages. AND a lot of traditional folks too, who are relaxing after having changed the world.

Is it just me or does anyone else think that this thread might just be a hoax? Someone pulling our collective leg? I find it hard to believe that anyone would seriously think of trying to drive what resembles a small car on the MMP, the LSL Morse Bridge not to mention the bridge into the Historical Section. Maybe it's just me.....

“The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change”
Heraclitus

Remember when 99% of Floridians didn't have a/c and the water always smelled like rotten egg? I do.

Remember when cars didn't have a/c and power windows? The Interstate didn't exist either? I do.

Remember when this was state of the art for golf carts?
http://www.thegolfballfactory.com/th...-beginning.jpg

Remember when all of the villages was either pasture, swamp or deep Southern forests? I do.

I do. And I liked all the changes. =) Except maybe that last one. Sunrise over a foggy pasture is a beautiful thing to see.

No I'm very much real and this isn't a hoax. Now I'm not trying to stir the pot anymore than I'm trying to stuff a 6 foot tall UTV in a 5 foot tunnel or get something similar accomplished horizontally. If it can't work, it simply cant work. I'm satisfied with the answer if that's what it boils down to but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop pursuing some of the possibilities.
I've already found I can get a steady 20mph in slow mode by re-flashing the ECU. It's pretty simple. I don't intend on going places the would endanger the safety of anyone. Bridges, tunnels, a few narrow paths etc. But that still leaves the possibility of a slew of other places.
Good heavens people. =/

I think 15 is awfully slow. Everyone will pass you. Of course if you are not in a hurry and don't mine traveling over an hour from LSL to BW, then have fun!

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There are joggers, walkers, bicycles, etc. on our strees and paths. Please do not take this oversized vehicle on any path or lane designed for a golf cart size vehicle, especially those that are shared with other modes of travel. Wanting to be different, striving for change, give it a try and see what happens - these are not the thoughts of someone who has a true concern for the safety of others.