An off-road golf cart is great fun to drive through the woods or over rough terrain, but building your own cart is an even more satisfying experience because you did it yourself and saved a lot of money. It is easy to modify a golf cart for this type of purpose. It’s best to start with a well-maintained, reliable used golf cart. The necessary parts and supplies can be found in specialized stores and even cheaper on the Internet.
There are many accessories that you can add to your cart. Here is a list of mods to get you started:
Lift Kits – Lift kits are suspension parts that raise the body of your golf cart for off-roading. These kits are necessary to not only raise the height of the golf cart, but add stronger suspension to the vehicle. Off-road driving exposes you to a variety of ditches and terrain where a lower-profile car would get stuck. Without these kits, you could injure yourself or damage the cart. There are many different types of lift kits. They come in 3 inches, 6 inches and more. Lift kit prices range from $300 to $600, depending on lift height and suspension complexity.
Steering Wheels – Steering wheels, while not a necessity, do add to a better driving experience. An attractive steering wheel not only improves the appearance of your vehicle, but also provides a better grip and less fatigue on your hands and wrists. Your steering wheel must be 13 inches in diameter. You have many options on steering wheel style, such as wood grain, formula car, European, and neoprene. Expect to pay $45 for the wetsuit to $190 for the Formula GT steering wheel.
Golf Cart Windshields: Most standard golf carts do not come with windshields. But you’re going to need one to go off-roading. You’ll encounter mud and dirt as you ride, not to mention the occasional branch. If you’re not sure about the need for a windshield, get one that folds down so you have the option of using it or not. Windshield prices range from $100 to $200 depending on whether they fold, the style of the frame, and the thickness of the acrylic.
ATV Tires: Of course, you can’t use golf cart tires, you have to upgrade to ATV tires. You need them for their durability on rough terrain and to give you maximum grip on muddy terrain. When shopping for tires, you will have a wide selection of wheel and tire combinations. It’s best to skip low-profile tires and get a tire with good traction and tread. The 23×10.5-12 All Trail tire with alloy rims is the way to go for great traction and style on all types of terrain. Tire and rim combinations can run you anywhere from $45 to $140. This is the most important part of your off-road upgrades, don’t skimp in this department.
This is all you need to build a first class machine. But if you want an even more equipped machine, you can add light packs, dash kits, fender protectors, cargo boxes and hunting accessories.
Get ready to spend some quality time in the backcountry with your new off-road cart. It’s a great inexpensive alternative to buying a new ATV.