looking for my first Cart project to customize

cfunni

I am starting my search for a Gas cart to be used in parades. I love building things, and know how to turn a wrench, so I am looking for a golf cart to customize. The main use will be Mardi Gras parades, and some are long so I am looking for Gas. I want to get something I can add a new body and custom paint.
With that being said I am not sure the best place to start looking. I do not have a brand preference, only Gas, and something I can modify. My imagination is to build a buggy gone wild, so here I am. Is there any suggestion or input from someone who has done this.? i am in Houston Texas. Just not sure where I need to start looking. I am sure I can go buy a new one and go from there, but looking for some input on new vs used. best style for modification?

BGW

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smokindawg

Need to start with "What do you have/plan to spend? Would you rather do something easy as in just bolt a part or would you prefer too get your hands really dirty and do some fab work?

You can go in many ways and that direction says a lot as too where to look and what too look for!

Are you going to use it only for parades, mostly for parades or for parades and some light to heavy playing between parades.

Do you plan on all road use, or a mixture of roads and trails.

There are a lot of questions you could answer before you can zero in on the help/info you really need.

Otherwise, you may get lost in the confusion of all the suggestions.

cfunni

Thank you for the reply,,,here we go...

"What do you have/plan to spend? I hope to stay below $10K but I want to do it right.

bolt a part or and do some fab work? Bolt a part to minimum of Fabrication.
I am not a welder, but i can do anything electrical.


Use for parades and some light playing between parades.

All use on paved roads

I knew I was tossing out a wild card question. I am looking to acquire a gas cart that is mechanicaly good, and something I can really dress up. I am thinking a new body, lights, music. my goal is something unique, and something I can modify over time.
My setback is that I have no prior knowledge of best brand, models, and body style to do what I am wanting to do. I think once I get a cart to zero in on, then I can start planning, purchasing, and building.

kgsc

How about people ? How many will it normally carry ?

cfunni

4 Max

dannyre

Why gas? Is the terrain hilly where you live in Houston? I am in Galveston, flat streets, and I do 15 to 20 parades a year and never have a problem with electric. All of the rented gas carts in the same parades seem to brake down a lot from driving too slow for too long plus you have to deal with the noise and smell. Just an observation.

Jeffreynmandy

If your going to be near salt water I would think about a club car. If your not worried about rust. Club car, ezgo, and Yamaha are all pretty good.


Club cars have aluminum frames. And if your pushing up to $10k you can have almost any kind of cart you want. I'd do a fully custom body if your going to spend that kind of money.


Here's a club car I'm working on that has a jeep body.

cfunni

I am looking for gas due to the fact that some parades we run are long, and my thinking is I can always carry a spare can of gas, but not spare batteries. Also the usage will be seasonal, and I am not sure how the batteries will hold up with long periods of non use. I am open to all comments and experiences. Its all new to me.

CrazyDad

You should also consider electric as one of your choices especially Lithium upgrade. There is a company that says a cart will go 25 miles on a full charge with their battery pack. They need no water/maintenance and can be left alone for long periods. There is a member on here that wheelies his lithium cart.

As a former high school band booster/parent that had teachers riding in school district gas carts in a parade every year. Many times the cart broke down in the middle of the parade or acted up just before and had be left behind.

I've moved away from gas on all my yard tools including chain saws because of the bad gas problems, except one Stihl chain saw that runs only canned premixed ethanol free gas.

As for gas carts they are running bigger faster motors with crazy power.

One more thing to consider is do you want the rear passengers facing forward or rear. Waving in a hour long parade won't be as much fun for older folks from the back. Maybe a 6 passenger that gives you room for more if needed.

cfunni

Good points, and thats exactly why I started asking questions here. Ok so now I have a target type of cart to stop shopping for. I am rethinking my gas vs battery purchase, and will go Lithium Battery powered. Next question is customizing. Is there a specific brand or model that has more to offer as far as add-ons, body changes, lift kits, wheels, ??