looking for something that will go into a dove field. What brands should I stay away from from? Gas or electric?
OT: Golfcart suitable for hunting
- Thread starter DirtyLopez
- Start date
Get a 48 volt Club Car, 2001 or newer. Preferably with 6-8 volt batteries. Once you have that, you can build it (and spend) as you wish. Club Cars aluminum frames, so no rust issues. They are also lighter than EZ Go's. I have built many, everything from show carts to hunting carts. Even converted a couple to DC driven. Just remember, IT IS AN ELECTRIC cart, not a 4 wheeler! It has it's limits. It is not a swamp running machine. People who try to use a cart (ie: Bad Boy Buggy) as they do a 700cc atv, are the ones who have the most issues.
I have had a couple of electric carts made for hunting (honestly can't remember the brands right now, thinking one was a Bad Boy Buggy). One thing that quickly became clear is these things are not made to replace ATVs. One would probably do fine for things like dove hunts but mine did not get along well with mud. It's not that they get stuck (they actually perform quite well) it's that mud will begin to seep into all sorts of bad places, breaks, bearings, etc. I now have a Polaris Ranger that is electric and it is far superior to the golf cart conversions. No issues in two years.
Looking at Yamaha cart.New EFI, air-cooled engine.Yamaha still makes their carts with good old carbeurated too though. Glad not liquid cooled.They are much quieter than previous gas models, better gas mileage with EFI, and starts and runs cleaner than old gas ones. This also does away with changing oil filters as it has no oil pump,instead usessplash style lubrication. Like all things new though, jury still out if they will be success.Won't buy new. Leisure and sport toys like golf carts often get abused and dumped on to new owners.
If you go by Gulf States in Ridgeland, they specialize in converting 5 yr old carts cycled in from previously used golf courses and fixing them up. They put new batteries, paint trouble spots, fix wiring,can addrear bench seats, and sometimes will put new body to match current models. The issue I have there is the price they want. For all this they want $4,000. Well hell, for $1,500 more, I can get a brand new one.
My reasoning for not looking atelectric golf carts is not because of lack of power (the new batteries have more torque than comparably priced gas models) but the maintenance, always topping off/checking battery fluid levels, and every 3 years buying new batteries. And with most new carts now coming 36 or 48 volts, that is 6-8 batteriesthat now cost $800 to replace.That replacement is only getting higher sincethe heavy metal pricehas steadily risen over theyrs. However,ethanol in gasolinenow has meswayed me a little with going with gas. If you let gas sit now for longer than a weekwith no stabilizeradded you are 17ed in this MSsummer.With all that said, to own, maintain, and operate a gas cart now is less than electric beleive it or not.
The thing with the Rangers are yes, they are nice and big, but their drawbacks are HUGE price, over $12,000 for a new full-size one! For what you want, dove fields, light duty, etc. golf cart would be much more sensible choice. And will expand on previous poster about get what fits you. For me, if I am gonna drop the $, I want something that I can run all day and not be tied to a socket. I feel like new Yamaha cart does this.</p>
If you go by Gulf States in Ridgeland, they specialize in converting 5 yr old carts cycled in from previously used golf courses and fixing them up. They put new batteries, paint trouble spots, fix wiring,can addrear bench seats, and sometimes will put new body to match current models. The issue I have there is the price they want. For all this they want $4,000. Well hell, for $1,500 more, I can get a brand new one.
My reasoning for not looking atelectric golf carts is not because of lack of power (the new batteries have more torque than comparably priced gas models) but the maintenance, always topping off/checking battery fluid levels, and every 3 years buying new batteries. And with most new carts now coming 36 or 48 volts, that is 6-8 batteriesthat now cost $800 to replace.That replacement is only getting higher sincethe heavy metal pricehas steadily risen over theyrs. However,ethanol in gasolinenow has meswayed me a little with going with gas. If you let gas sit now for longer than a weekwith no stabilizeradded you are 17ed in this MSsummer.With all that said, to own, maintain, and operate a gas cart now is less than electric beleive it or not.
The thing with the Rangers are yes, they are nice and big, but their drawbacks are HUGE price, over $12,000 for a new full-size one! For what you want, dove fields, light duty, etc. golf cart would be much more sensible choice. And will expand on previous poster about get what fits you. For me, if I am gonna drop the $, I want something that I can run all day and not be tied to a socket. I feel like new Yamaha cart does this.</p>