How to Trick Out Your Golf Cart

Contributor

By tailgatemike
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(16 Ratings)

Trick Out Your Golf Cart

Once upon a time golf carts were nothing more than a rented convenience for lazy golfers who didn't want to carry or pull their bags around the course (or were too cheap to take a caddie).

But with the advent of golf course centered retirement communities, golf carts have been transformed into personally-owned "second cars".

Growing numbers of retirees are building annexes onto their garages to house and charge up the buggies, and some communities even have added cart lanes to roads and cart trails to stores to boost golf cart access.

Nowadays, having a run-of-the-mill personal golf cart is like wearing a gray suit every day -- it's boring! So if you're in the market for a personal golf cart, or have one that could use a makeover, here's what you need to know.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Money
A computer (you're on it right now!)
A taste for the slightly bizarre

Step 1

It'll Cost You.

Be prepared to spend thousands of dollars. In nearly every golf-cart-happy community there is an enterprising fellow who has opened up shop customizing golf carts to look like ... well, anything you want, from classic cars to Hummers to dune buggies.

Custom wheels -- without the tires -- can easily set you back $800 each. Over-sized tires (which will give you a few more mph) will run you another $800-$1200 a pop. A "Hummer" cart, custom-made goes for around $15,000, and $15K is the low end. You can spend north of $22K without blinking an eye.

You can do a lot your shopping online, too. Just do a search for "custom golf carts" and a whole new world will open up to you.
Step 2

Weigh The Costs.

There are loads of used golf carts available that you can have made over. But do the math. You may need new tires, new brakes, a new battery ... so before you buy used, know what you're going to have to spend at minimum to keep it safe, then consider what all the upgrades will cost.

Don't forget about delivery charges, either.
Step 3

You Don't Have To Go Crazy.

You can upgrade your cart-driving experience without spending enough money to travel Europe for a summer.

For example, if you like the odd cigar, you can add an ashtray, cigar clip (to hold it when you aren't puffing) and lighter to your cart for just over $30.

Add a cooler that holds up to 12 cans of whatever for about $50. You can find everything you need -- or want -- online.
Step 4

Uncle Sam Will Help.

The economic stimulus package included money (as much as $5,000) to assist consumers in purchasing "neighborhood electrical vehicles." Your local golf cart dealer will know all about it.
Step 5

Be Careful.

Golf carts aren't meant to travel at high speeds. You can trick one out with bigger tires and a larger motor to enhance your mph, but in truth, it's kind of silly and dangerous. People get killed in golf cart accidents, and paralyzed too.

So think twice about turning your cart into an Indy car. What's the rush? Do you really need to get there 45 seconds sooner? If you want to go faster, drive a regular car, with seat belts and air bags.