hunting cart gas or electric?

Maverick18

Ok guys I need your advice. I don't own a cart or never have. What my 10 year old son and I want to do is build a hunting cart. I look forward to building some lasting memories during the build process more so than the actual cart. We are starting from scratch so what I need to know is should I be looking for a gas or electric cart? Is there a manufacture better than another? Is there any questions I need to ask myself? I'm currentlly looking on craigslist for a cart.

Thanks for the help

BGW

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Streetbu

Doing the same thing with my son. For what I'll use it for, hauling deer, projects around the house, gas was my choice. I know it will sit for periods of time and not be used, which can kill batteries. I would hate to have to buy $400 or more worth of batteries every 2 years. If I was using it more, i might go the battery route. Guess it really depends on how often you use it and what is available in your area. Check Craigslist, usually you'll find a dealer selling used carts fairly close to you. Also stop by your local golf course and ask the maintenance guys, they might have some used ones for sale.

sho305

Elec- don't have to do a thing to it but plug it in. Limited range if you trail ride. Upgrades in power/speed can be expensive. Very quiet, no exhaust.

Gas- Lift and no governor gets you some speed. Pretty good on gas but do have to maintain them. Make some noise. Unlimited range more or less.

Yamaha, ezgo, CC is the order I would look for but many people pick up what they find. Those three are good carts and not a lot different. Some are better at particular things, any of them can be lifted and run offroad ok. If you get into some other name cart who knows, most you can't buy a ready made lift for them, parts may not be as easy to find. If you want to mod the cart a lot ezgo has the most parts available, for lifts any of those three will work. If you are going to use it a lot I'd look for a workhorse/carryall/yamahauler, the ones that come with a box on the back. They are little more HD and longer wheelbase. Most lifts will work on them with small or no changes. I'd say try to find a newer cart if your budget allows, everything will be in better shape.

Springlake

Your desired use will steer you in the electric or gas route, like sho said, I needed electric for silence while hunting

I had not even seen a cart for sale till I started looking and then they were everywhere!! If you take your time you will find the one right for you and your project. What I am saying, from experience, is do not rush in. Make it part of yall's rebuild, the HUNT if you will..

I found a project cart at a local shop. One advantage to this was they were avaliable with help anytime I needed and parts that the sponsors here could not fill, they did, and also helped with some labor issues i ran into along the way. (But the guys here on BGW will be a big help,too)

After spending March April and May building my 95 from the frame up. I can tell you the project would be an awesome adventure for you and your son. For me, never havng seen the underside of a cart, to stripping and rebuilding, there is no doubt it will make you two proud.

I will have just shy of 3K in mine finished. I do not know how much a gas would be.

How ever you proceed, Be prepared to take pictures LOL...

Maverick18

thanks for the replies so far.

I've been leaning towards gas because of the thought of running all day and adding stuff like a winch, lights, etc.. how does the electric carts handle the accessories like lights and winch? I would assume that they really work the batteries. We will mostly use this at the hunting lease and we don't have electricity there. Manly hauling corn to the feeders, moving stands, working the property, hauling out deer and hogs.

dbmachine

where we hunt the deer are used to atvs and the smell of exhaust so having a gas cart isnt a problem..hate to be 10 miles from camp with dead batteries on a 25 degree morning..also if the camp doesnt have electricity then youd be spending gas in the generator to charge the cart batteries.. each has is pros and cons but i prefer gas

slonomo

I went with gas for the following reasons:

1. Familiar with gas engines, equipment, cars, trucks and enjoy working on them
2. Easy to modify, especially since I'm familiar with them
3. Much longer range, most golf carts can run for days without refueling
4. Deer and other animals hear the crackling of sticks as much as the engine
5. Electric has a pretty good learning curve if you have never owned one
6. Cost of speed/power mods on electric will cost more than on a gas cart
7. Will make a good "bug out" or "apocalypse" machine
8. 2 stroke will help fog the mosquitoes in my yard

shoelessjoe

I think you just answered your own question...........

sho305

Most 4 stroke stock carts are very quiet, the old 2 strokes not as much. You can put a clone in a gas cart and near double the power for $300 engine and some details (exhaust/airbox/etc). Harder to make them quiet though. If you haul stuff gas would be better, no electric then you will not use an electric cart that much or it will run out. I trail rode like 6 hours and still was way less than half a tank of gas, and that is 6 gal a tank iirc. Elec carts often just run 12v stuff off one of the batteries.

COURTESYCART

ALSO remember.

THE GAS carts have an exposed drive belt. IF IT GETS WET, it will slip and will let you get stuck. GAS cart will let the belt get wet about 2" below the center of the wheel.

THE electric carts can go pretty deep in water without an issue. Gonna say atleast 2" above the center of the wheel.

BUT if you dont have power at the camp, than GAS is for you if you are looking to stay there awhile.