How To Properly Transport Your Golf Cart
A golf cart is a great way to get around the neighborhood or on the golf course, but that doesn’t mean you can take it everywhere. There are many roads where you can’t drive a golf cart, especially places like the highway or on slopes that it may not be able to handle. Fortunately, knowing how to properly transport your golf cart can remove many of these issues.
Best Transport Options
There are several potential options when deciding how to transport your golf cart. Here are a few of the most common choices and why they may or may not be best for you.
Flatbed Trailer
One of the best options for transporting a golf cart is to use a flatbed trailer. Most flatbeds are relatively light and easy to attach to trucks, SUVs, or even other, more powerful utility vehicles. In addition, flatbeds are low to the ground and generally include ramps that make it easy to slide the golf cart on. These trailers are among the best options, and we recommend using this method when you can. You can generally purchase a flatbed trailer for less than $1,000 or rent one for a few hundred dollars.
Truck Bed
If you have a large enough truck, you may be able to transport your golf cart in the truck bed. However, since pick-up trucks are typically higher off the ground, we don't recommend this method without following proper safety protocols. You should have ramps to guide the golf cart to the truck bed, and those ramps should be at a steady 30 degrees. You may not have ramps sturdy enough to support a golf cart or at a proper angle to move it without posing a risk to the cart or those loading it. We don’t recommend this option if you lack the right supplies for it.
Enclosed Hauler
Enclosed trailers, also known as toy haulers, are another excellent option if you have one. Most haulers have back doors that open at an angle and act as the ramp, which makes it easy to load up your golf cart. One of the most significant advantages of this type of trailer is that it protects the cart from weather conditions like rain and harsh sunlight.
Loading a Trailer
You have many options when figuring out how to properly transport your golf cart, but a traditional flatbed trailer is one of the most common and accessible. Here are some helpful steps to safely load your golf cart onto the trailer.
1. Hooking Up Your Trailer
One of the first steps is connecting the trailer to your truck, SUV, or transport vehicle of choice. Typically, You can lower the receiver over the hitch ball and secure it with the pin. You should also take this time to attach safety chains and remember to hook your trailer to the electrical plug. Always check that the trailer lights work before beginning your transport.
2. Prepare for Loading
Most flatbed trailers have detachable ramps that you can set up and align with the left and right wheels of your golf cart. Other types of trailers have the back fold down in a way that acts as the ramp. Regardless of which type you have, prepare your ramps, and lock your cart to prevent it from shifting or rolling while you’re loading or unloading. You can do this by either setting the parking brake or inserting wedges underneath your tires to help prevent them from moving.
3. Loading Your Cart
Once you’ve hooked up and secured everything, you can now load your golf cart up onto the trailer. Once everything is stable, the safest and most reliable method is to drive the cart directly up the ramps and onto the flatbed. If you have a winch or similar device, you may try putting your golf cart in neutral and bringing it up the ramp that way. Either way, take the time to ensure that your cart's wheels line up with the ramps, or else you may damage your cart and trailer.
Strapping Your Cart Down
No matter what type of trailer you're using to transport your golf cart, it's a good idea to strap it down to prevent it from moving or shifting during the move. We recommend using a four-strap method that you can accomplish by following these steps.
1. Securing the Front Wheels
Put two of the straps on your front axles on both the left and right sides. Once secure, attach the other ends of your straps to your trailer's front left and right corners.
2. Securing the Back Wheels
You may then attach two straps to the towing hook of your golf cart or rear axle. Use those straps and connect them to your trailer's left and right rear corners. You should have a nice X-shaped formation of straps that help hold the cart down from several angles.
3. Extra Precautions
If your golf cart has a roof on top, it may also be a good idea to have a strap in the middle that goes over the roof and attaches to the middle of the trailer on both sides. Ensuring that your cart is stable and secure goes a long way when it comes time to transport it.
Transporting a golf cart is a straightforward process that primarily involves taking proper precautions. Having the correct type of trailer and securely strapping down your golf cart are vital steps and make things easier for everyone.
Unloading your golf cart once it reaches the destination is performing many of the same steps in reverse. You want to put wedges under your trailer’s tires and ensure they line up with the ramps. Take the straps off one by one and check for any damage before unloading your cart, and you're good to go.
No matter what size or model of golf cart you drive, transporting is always a viable option. Ben Nelson has been helping people find new and pre-owned golf carts for over a decade. If you’re looking for golf carts for sale in Mississippi, feel free to stop by one of our dealerships and let us help you out. For more details, feel free to contact us anytime, and one of our helpful specialists will address your questions, comments, or concerns.
