Question on Golf Carts
 

I have the opportunity to buy a used Golf Cart. It is a 2015 Yamaha and has a 3 inch lift kit on it. I have seen posts about trouble in the tunnels with a lift kit but I assume that is higher lifts as I would think 3 inches would not be a problem. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks in advance.

Would not buy a cart with a lift kit. It could be top heavy and unstable.

If the price is right due to shortage and availability. Take it for a test drive going thru tunnels. The previous poster did make a good suggestion about the possible instability due to lifting kit buyer beware. Only a suggestion. Also, ask about service records.

Is it a "quiet-tech" Yamaha. 2015 may be just before Yamaha came out with the "quiet-tech" models which are significantly quieter than the previous models.
I apologize for changing the subject away from your original question, but I have several friends who bought Yamahas just before they introduced the quieter version, and they like their carts, but wish they had known and would have waited, had they known.
As far as your original question, from what I can tell, not all of the tunnels have the same clearance. It seems to me I see more scrapes on the ceilings of the tunnels as I go north.
If you like the cart and the price, you might look into the cost of removing the lifters, and get it back to its original specs.
Good used carts at a good price are hard to come by.

Lift kits aren't safe around here with our cart speeds. Just look around , there are very few of them.

You asked if the lift kit would be a problem in tunnels. My answer is "it depends". From what I've seen, many of the newer tunnels probably could accommodate that height. But others, especially north of 466 will not. And even if you live in the southern sections, you may occasionally want to go to one of the northern destinations one of these days and find you have damaged the cart roof by going through one of those tunnels. So be a little cautious if everyone's says that you will be ok. They probably don't have a lifted cart and haven't had a problem. Just a thought.

From a prior post.

Head South and you will see a lot of them. Must be the "in" thing.

Nope

I assume you know this because of the model year. If so, I'd recommend the OP drive a Quiet-tech as well as the used one being considered and see if the noise difference is bothersome.

:gc:

July 2016: Yamaha Golf-Car Company has unveiled the Drive2, its next generation of gas

The only problem with tunnels I see is make sure you stop at the end of the tunnel. A quick turn and the curb is the only problem I see.

As far as quietech, you can find kits where you add sound deadening material to the engine compartment.

As far as good used golf carts. I've, come to wonder. With all the NEW golf carts being sold, where do old golf carts go? The bodies are fiberglass. It never rots away.
I also wonder who has the oldest still being used golf cart? Mine is ten years old and surely not even a contender

As far as the lifter kit. Perhaps time to think out of the box. Perhaps there is a villager who would want a lifter kit and would trade the original parts. I assume the springs are different to get the lift.

QTech is engine technology, not an insulation kit.......the old engines are still (and would be) louder out the bottom and out the exhaust pipe. Plus great suspension improvements.

I would also remove the lift kit, there are website that sell the lift kits, which will give you an idea what has to be removed and whether it is a DIY project, probably will not be cheap, I will guess ~$500.

OP says It's only 3" when jacked up ! Can't see how that will matter. ;) :D

As apparently the only responder in this thread who actually drives a lifted cart, 3 inches is nothing. Mine is more than that and I have no problems. I am actually answering your question directly and not giving an uneducated reply. I've never come close to hitting a tunnel roof (north of 466) and have managed not to tip over in 7 years.

Drive to Lopez and look at the scratches on the tunnel roofs

Agree, best to remove it. Be aware, lift kits stiffen the ride so your back will feel the bumps more and they also tend to screw with the wheel alignment, causing premature tire wear.

Depends on tire size also. I see lifted par carts with 12” low profile tires go through tunnels in north. Close but they go through with no scrapes as long as they hung the center line.
I have 5” flag on back roof centered sticking up with regular 10” tired Yamaha. It will scrape if I get too close to outside wall going through saddlebrook tunnel. The only tunnel it will scrape that I’ve been through.

Also see damage on side of walls entering tunnels, some people can’t drive:duck:

It’s more stable than a non lifted cart
Wider wheel base fully independent front suspension and 100% smoother ride

I have an EZGO with a 3” lift, live in Spanish Springs and have no problem with any tunnels - North or South. Nor any issue with being top heavy. You’ll be fine. A 3” lift is really nothing. It just allows bigger tires for better ride and stability, and less wear and tear.

Not an answer to your question however, we just bought a 2015 Yamaha with a hard cab top with sliding doors, with lots of new stuff, seats, tires ect. (no lift kit), have no idea if we got a good deal. While we're happy either way, I am wondering if you could share the price, they're selling it for? We paid $8k

We bought ours used 17 years ago and even then it was old. Replace batteries three or four times and it works fine for our occasionally use as we're not golfers. That's one of the reasons electric motor cars are going to really hurt the automotive dealer industry as nowadays they get a lot of their money from the repairs and used car sales and they won't be that many anymore in a few more years

My original cart had a lift kit and wouldn't fit tunnels above 466

Tunnels north of 466 will be a problem. Especially under Buena Vista at Saddlebrook.

We have a cart with a 3” lift kit and reside in Mulberry Grove area. No problem with any tunnels anywhere.

I have an electric cart with a 3" lift kit and 12" tires. I have had it for 2 years. I have been as far south as Brownwood and north to the Polo Grounds. The only problem I have had is driving too far right when the roof will sometimes rub on the roof of the tunnel. If I stay closer to the center (not over the center line) no issues. The rub acts as a warning; again, no real issues. I enjoy the view from above

I have been that far north with my lifted cart with no issues.

Neighbors had one and removed it. Too unstable especially around corners. Don’t buy it.

High center of gravity, I would pass.....

I wish they made lift kits for humans….

The price is quite a bit less than that.. but it is from a friends son and it is located in Alabama but I have a friend that can trailer it down to me. This is a sellers market for sure and prices are high. I have found in my looking that outside of the Villages they are cheaper and outside of Florida even cheaper.

Thanks for the advice everyone

unstable lifted yamaha
 

i lift carts and sell them and i shy away from lifting yamahas because they are light in the front end and have independent suspension so when you put someone on the rear seat it takes the weight off of the steering, if you don't have a rear seat it would be ok but at high speed the yamahas can be unstable with a lift

Ok, but what is the purpose, or benefit of the lift kit? Just asking.

Total babe magnet.

Some Northern tunnels have lower clearances compared to the newer ones being constructed in the southern area.

Buy a helmet, and duck when going through tunnels.