Lifting golf carts has never been more popular and with all the advancements made in this area it has never been easier! You now have a wide variety of options when considering a golf cart lift kit. This article is designed to give you a basic introduction to golf cart modification and to help you decide if the lift is right for you.
Lift kits are great and so much fun, nothing looks as good as a lifted cart with big tires and an awesome paint job! The risers will also give you the clearance needed to navigate more difficult terrain. However, there are several performance elements to consider before lifting a cart.
Speed, torque and gear ratio will all be affected by a lift. There are many performance golf cart parts that can drastically improve any inconvenience, but understand that lifting a golf cart can be a time-consuming and expensive task. The quality of the products you choose will play a big role in the performance you can expect after a lift. Lift kits are one area where you should never skimp or buy lesser quality equipment.
Here are some of the basic areas to consider before jacking up your car, if you find the benefits of a lift outweigh the drawbacks then chances are you’ll love your new lift.
Along with most lifts come larger tires. Since all cars are designed with a specific tire size to work efficiently with the gear ratio in the differential, increasing tire size will affect your cars performance in several ways:
- When you increase the overall height of your tires, you can gain a bit of top speed when you’re on level ground, because larger tires roll more with each revolution.
- More pressure is put on your engine or engine to move the larger tires the same number of rotations that you were moving the smaller tires.
- When climbing hills or hauling loads, your engine has to work harder, even with standard-size tires. The bigger the tire, the more work for the car.
- More work combined with the stress to rotate the larger tires will greatly reduce the rate of climb and load torque.
Safety is probably the most important area to consider with any car modification, no matter how small. A lift will not only raise your cart, it will also raise your center of gravity. Your driving habits will need to adjust in response, the chances of rolling or tipping a cart increase with any elevation or each time the center of gravity is raised. You will no longer be able to take turns as quickly as you normally do and will need to be careful in mountainous terrain.
One of the biggest benefits you’ll get from a lift is that by raising your center of gravity, you increase your clearance. Now you can navigate rough terrain that you probably couldn’t before!
Golf cart lift kits come in various lift types and sizes depending on the make of your cart. The most common elevators are the spindle and drop axis elevators. Recently, long travel adjustable lifts have taken golf cart lifts to a whole new level! These truly amazing lifts allow you to be in control of the height of your carts and easily change them to suit your needs.
Spindle lifts are probably the easiest kits to install and also the cheapest. Spindle lifts simply replace the factory spindles that lift the carriage. Drop axle lifts replace the entire axle and can be a bit more expensive and complicated to install. However, a shaft lift is a much stronger cleaner looking lift.
To better decide which lift is right for you, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What is the trolley mainly used for?
- Are you bothered by the current limitations of your carts?
- Do you use the cart on a golf course or on the fairway?
- What is your budget and can you go over it if necessary?
- Is it important to carry large loads or climb hills? If so, are you willing to further modify your cart?
- Do you have the time and money to modify other components if necessary?
If your cart is used primarily in a field or on the street, you should not jack it up or use an adjustable long-haul kit. Golf courses do not allow aggressive tread or all terrain tires due to the damage they cause to the turf. An adjustable kit will give you the freedom to drop your cart and change your tires whenever you want to play a round. All-terrain tires are designed to be used both on and off the road, however they will wear faster on pavement and the drive will not always be pleasant. It’s up to you to decide if the time spent adjusting your lift and changing your tires is worth it, or if it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Most people who spend more time on or off the road, but occasionally do the opposite, benefit more from a long-haul kit.
If you spend most of your time off-roading, then a more permanent lift is probably the best option for you. Then it will be more a matter of deciding between a spindle or a drop-axle lift.
Drop axles are usually the best lift kits you can buy and there are several great premium manufacturers out there, like Jake’s or All Sports Mfg. Always invest as much as possible as quality really does make a world of difference in a lift kit. Save if you have to, but never sacrifice quality for cost!
If you have the time and money to invest in your cart, it can become a great hobby for you and your family. You’ll be surprised how one mod will lead to two or three, and if done correctly, you’ll end up with performance mixed with style. Just always remember security and make sure any changes you make are fully investigated beforehand.
