when does a golf cart become an ATV?

bighanded

I did a search but didn't see related posts...and at the risk of committing sacrilege...the question is...I see guys continuing to build up monster golf carts..and amazed at how capable some of them are....but as an owner of both a lifted/big tire trail cart and a typical honda 4 wheeler.. I don't think I'm biased towards one or the other...good example..this past weekend, after flooding rains, my back property, which has nice trails cut for walking, riding the golf cart along the trails etc...normally , we'd take the cart out there...and even in a bit of mud, it chugs right through it.. But this past Sunday I didn't even consider the cart an option..as I knew a trip out back would find myself axle deep in mud and water and I even questioned for a moment whether my ATV was ready to slogg through some of that..it did...but it's not why I consider golf carting conditions. Don't get me wrong.. I'm very happy with how well my cart handles turf and it does everything I expect of it and want it to, but I'm curious about the choices of some of our more serious offroad cart guys.

BGW

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badandyturbo

Cart is cheaper, quiet, can sit side by side, can take passengers, and the "law" doesn't mind them. The reasons I choose a cart over a atv.

Rooster59

When it is as nasty as you described I don't take anything out. Having ridden two wheeled dirt bikes since the early 70's, and spent countless hours cleaning them afterward, I leave most of the mud where it is now. Ditto for 4wd pickups.

If there is something I want or need on the other side of any obstacle I can't take the cart through or over I use the winch to bring it to me.

Seriously, I don't challenge myself or vehicles now like I used to for the reasons above. A gc is a little narrower, lighter, quieter, and less expensive than a SxS. It is less capable and slower than a SxS but that is why it is less offensive to neighbors, strangers, and the law. A mature grey bearded guy on a nice golf cart motoring along poses no threat to anyone. That is called staying under the radar.

Someone wearing a full face helmet, driving a SxS with cool graphics down the road at 40mph could spell mischief.

In a golf cart I can be up to some mischief, and usually am, but no one suspects it.

bighanded

both points well made and agree guys...

about 80% of my GC's use is on our own property..the wife has a trail cam hobby and about a dozen cameras out ...she enjoys regular trips out to our woods to retrieve the SD cards, refresh batteries etc, we haul the grandkids on the trails to some nice sandy beach type areas in the creek for play...the GC is perfect, quiet, multiple riders etc...all the things we love about em..my back seat has the flip-down and I have a small lawn trailer..so some utility duty as well.
I can hear the 2 stroker bikes and usually the quads when tresspasser are out back on our land...would never know a GC was tooling around.

when it's dry out there, I enjoy my 2wheeler the most...nice easy trail riding, and can get into the tree line if I want to and between tight wooded spots that a quad might can't navigate

so I'm with you on all this.

right now, this year...we've just had dump loads of rain and there are ATVrs that would love to have my mudd problem as those boys just want to see how dirty they can get their lovely new machines...

my quad is a 25 yr old honda 300...the fact that it's still running as original tells you that it really has just been a trail bike for it's life...the only "muddin" it sees is if I just need it to get across bad spots...not cause I'm looking for trouble.
I have been impressed with just what my GC has been able to handle..and it's not some super duty offroad machine..just decent turf tires, a standard lift, and a bit more torque from some basic upgrades...but it covers soggy runs out on the rough mowed open field and through some muddy spots...totally impressed.
but this past weekend..yeah...the right answer could have been to just stay home , sit back in the recliner and watch a movie....and if I didn't own my honda...that woulda been my only option.
anyway. guess my point of the post is wondering how much upgrade and what to expect out of our old faithful and beloved 36v PDS carts... I believe I have mine where I want it..wouldn't put much more $ into it...would simply upgrade to newer platform...but I'm happy as can be for the money I've got in one.

Rooster59

Sounds familiar. We've had ours since 2001, 1996 TXT gasser. Swapped out the old mill and installed the VC625 winter of 2017-18. That cost almost as much as the cart did in 2001. We installed a lift, larger tires, windshield, and other small creature comforts or improvements. Recently added a front winch because I have wanted one for years. Used it a couple weeks after it was installed. Not for pulling myself out. Just to make a job easier and safer.

jclark138

Well put Rooster59

DFW Rusty

IMO, a "golf cart" can never become an ATV. ATV by definition rules out a golf cart due to it's limited capabilities off road. I have a Honda Rancher 350 that I bought new in 2005 that pretty much collects dust now, but if I had to get somewhere that is tough to get to then I would choose the atv over the golf cart.

Depending on the machine a golf cart could almost fall under the UTV category and in some ways some of them do. The junky machines sold at Tractor Supply are technically a UTV and I would take my golf cart over one of those over priced turds.


Lastly, when I think of a SXS, I think of sitting 2 wide (or more), roll cage, 4x4, and seat belts. If a golf cart doesn't have those 4 items then IMO it is not a SXS.


In conclusion, my answer is no a golf cart is not an ATV, but could possibly be in the UTV category and with heavy modifications could possibly be considered a SXS. They all have their uses, and limits.

Unforgiven

Dust off that 350 and slap it under any cart and get back with me,....

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bighanded

yep...that'd do it....

was thinking about this thread yesterday....we've had so much rain that the property is just squishy..and that's on the high ground...lower areas are a foot deep in water...thewife and I were out on the property trails, changing out trail cam batteries and cards..couple trails I had to stop and turn around cause there was deep water or serious mud pits...but I gotta say, some places that used to be a challenge for the stock PDS curtis 300 controller, or that I'd have to get a running start and stay on the pedal hoping we could plow across the field...now with the alltrax upgrade, we just take it slow and easy...and if I need a bit of umph to plow over a rough field or climb a bit of a hill..the cart has it...no..it's not an ATV..but honestly it did pretty much everything we needed to do yesterday...and what we bailed on, I was able to work around and get to trails from other ends.
that said, when I'm on my quad...I just.. I don't hesitate...not that it's unstoppable either...I've watched many a young lad looking for mud get stuck...not my idea of a relaxing day...but within reason.. I'm good with either platform for what they are built for.

Unforgiven

I'm admit I'm not a electric guy. Ive seen some purpose built electric hunting carts, and some converted carts, do very well in mud, crud and water. My cart I built for fun. But I use it for work, hunting or joy rides. It's only a 2 wheel drive, but it goes anywhere I want to go. I have a winch on front that gets me out of places that I don't want to go. My dad's G14 Yamaha, I put a small lift and oversize tires. He said it really surprised him of how well it goes in the mud. ground clearance is the only problem with his cart. My son has a Honda 420 ATV snorkeled I've seen him in 4 foot deep water.

So I guess ATV UTV Side x Side, I guess where there is a will and a want there is a way. And once you put mud tires and lifts,...they really frown on you teeing off on a par 4.