what year?, is it a good deal? and best upgrade options?

[schkattack1]

Everyone,
This is quite the site and you guys are very impressive with your knowledge, experience and willingness to help. I am glad I found this site and you guys are out there. Here is my dilemma- we have a real remote hunting lease in Texas and we believe that when we drive our trucks/4 wheelers the noise etc. drives the bigger bucks out of the area so we are looking to get an electric cart to drive the area. I have been looking at electric golf carts and those that need to be upgraded. I have a co-worker who has one for about $400. I attached the pictures and here are my questions.

1. can you tell what year it is based on the nameplate?
2. is this a good deal?
3. it needs batteries but it was a 36volt unit- I have read to go to 48 volts?
4. would the 48volt batteries fit in the existing area?
5. best tires to handle rough terrain like thorns, mesquite tree thorns etc?
6. would you raise it up and the recommendations?

Any other information or suggestions are more than welcome.

sorry this is so long. Thanks for your help and time.

[Clemsoncartguy]

I can't really help on year or upgrades.

But for tires get something like you run on a 4 wheeler. You might want to lift it a small amount to broaden your choices of tires and give more ground cleared ce for ruts, rocks or small obstructions and uneven ground....but depending on the roads you will use it on (you know these better than we will) you could just put some knobby tires on it stock height with some slime in them. Seems like the smaller options that are acailible are only 2 ply

[scottyb]

This is an early Ezgo Marathon. There are not many motor upgrade options for this cart. I would look for something newer. This cart is somewhere between 1975 and 1986. 1987 saw the motor move to a position above and parallel to the rear axle. Modern motors fit the later model Marathon.

[Volt_Ampere]

That cart looks pretty beat to me. I would spend more to get something newer and less beat. You will want to lift and upgrade for your usage. Be prepared to spend some $$.

[Clemsoncartguy]

Originally Posted by Volt_Ampere

That cart looks pretty beat to me. I would spend more to get something newer and less beat. You will want to lift and upgrade for your usage. Be prepared to spend some $$.

I was thinking the same thing. I just recently looked at te pics. 500 seems like a lot for just a roller.

i agree on the up grade thing but i did one that came out cool

[schkattack1]

Thanks everyone for your welcomed feedback and input.
Based on what I need for a golf cart the options look bleak.
I will look for something newer. Now that I am registered I will
keep asking you experts about golf carts as I am on a mission to get one
and get it upgraded. Thanks again for taking time to respond.

[Tbirddipp]

like everyone else was saying I would pass. without batteries you have no clue if it even works. then the price of new batteries isn't cheap. Does it have a charger? if so, it probably won't charge a 48 volt system if you wanted to go that way so there is that expense also. then like volt_ampere said, upgrades are not cheap. You may find it cheaper to find a 48 volt cart that is already done up.

[cgtech]

The newer marathons with the transverse motor & steel pan on bottom of axle are much easier to upgrade motors. Also look for a cart that has a motor controller instead of the "resistor speed control" that would need to be removed & upgraded anyway. Resistor speed control has a box of heater coils to reduce motor speed at lower speeds, is not suitable for HD use only golf, and is known to set tall grass on fire. Ezgo's suspension design is simple & rugged (plus cheap to upgrade). Just dont smash the front wheel into a big object that cannot be moved (huge rock, tree stump).

[schkattack1]

Thanks everyone - so now I have a couple more basic questions and I know these are opinions but again opinions from experts versus a newbie like me::

1. if you had a choice would you prefer a Club Car to modify or an EZGO?

2. which has more options to upgrade?

3. Best year range you think provides some good upgrades with fair prices you have seen?

I see a lot of golf carts on Craigslist and several look like good deals and personally I have that old addage of the double edged sword- I would like to get one that is 36volts and needs batteries so I can make a lower offer and upgrade to 48volts but without the batteries to check it out that may not be good because there could be other problems.
Your thoughts??