DIY Golf Cart Modifications: Conquer the Course with a Lifted Club Car
Nov 3rd 2017
With a lifted Club Car golf cart, you are sure to make a statement, not only on the back nine with a birdie on 14 followed up with that great approach on 17, but when your ride turns heads as you head off the course on your modified golf cart at the end of the day.
The stock look has a nice appearance, but have you ever thought about adding bigger tires to your golf cart? Perhaps you want to drive over difficult terrain or use your golf cart as a utility vehicle. A golf cart lift kit can help you achieve these results. If you do it yourself, you make yet another statement and end up with how-tos to talk about and photographs to share at the 19 th hole and on DIY forums.
Spindle Lift Kit
The spindle lift kit is affordable and easy to installand uses your cart’s standard suspension. It increases or replaces your cart’s spindle length, improving stability. It also provides a wider stance, which enables you to add larger tires.
A-Arm Lift Kits
A-Arm kits are very easy to install and replace your cart’s front suspension, providing a more comfortable ride and the ability to accommodate larger tires. They are commonly used in Club Cars and give the best bang for your buck.
Axle Lift Kits
An axle lift kit is designed with a longer radius, which lengthens your axle height and allows you to replace your front axle while keeping your spindles. This inexpensive option does require more installation time.
Long Travel Lift Kits
Long Travel Lift Kits are the best-performing kits and should be considered for some serious off-roading. They have an independent front suspension for a smooth ride. They are more expensive, but worth the investment if you intend to go off-roading in the off-season.
Lift Kit Heights
Lift kits are available in 3-6” heights.
3” is perfect for adding a little height to your cart so you can add a rear seat and bigger tires.
4” allow carts to fit up to 20” tires.
6” is the most popular height and can fit tires up to 23”.
Appearance
Lifted golf carts get noticed. You’ve taken note of the larger tires and wheels and the custom look of the blackened tires mounted on polished aluminum or matte black wheels.
The raised lines of the lifted cart are visually appealing, and the higher seating position allows for a better overview as you travel the course and, especially, when you head off-road or along your favorite shoreline. Even a few inches make a difference.
Function
Installing a lift kit introduces the outdoors as another playground and/or workspace for your lifted Club Car golf cart. The increased utility as a result of the higher ground clearance can add a range of additional uses.
Traveling off-road in the nearby woods and removing snow from your driveway, or perhaps carrying a heavier load more easily all become possible with a golf cart lift kit and the additional height and suspension that go along with that improvement. A lift kit makes it possible to see your golf cart as a multi-season vehicle. Its uses go way beyond the golf season if your climate limits that to a few summer months.
Fun
Depending on its drivetrain, your cart can go up hills in more rugged terrain or through sand on a beach. Adding a DIY golf cart lift kit can make it possible to pull a small utility trailer for your fun gear to get to the right fishing spot or launch area on the river for kayaking.
Just remember, the faster you go or the rougher the terrain, the more you’ll also need to consider the overall suspension capacity and stability for off-road trails and seasonal roads. You still need to respect the cart and its ability. Have fun and enjoy discovering what your creation can do.
Satisfaction
When deciding on a kit, think about what is right for you, such as the desired height and accessories like a rear seat or cargo bed.
There is the immense satisfaction of a job well-done, especially when it’s one you did yourself. A DIY club car lift kit can give you one of the meanest-looking and utilitarian golf carts around.