Golf Cart Weight: How Much It Weighs? (Electric and Gas)
I was helping a friend push her dead golf cart into her garage the other day and started wondering how much does a golf cart weigh. Since I like to research things, this is what I found out
Typically, a standard golf cart weighs between 900 and 1,050 pounds, but can vary by size and type of golf cart.
When you are considering a golf cart to purchase, there are several things to know before you buy a golf cart. Besides just picking out the color of the body and whether you want to have a flip up windshield or any windshield at all, the weight of the golf cart may be something you will want to consider in your selection.
Some people like to take the cart with them when they travel or you may want to just move it occasionally. Either way, if you are going to be transporting your golf cart from one location to another location, you will definitely want to know how much your golf cart weighs.
Do you want to take your golf cart with you on a vacation or trip? There are many campgrounds and recreational areas that allow you to bring a golf cart to help get around the campground or area. Some areas are pretty spread out and a golf cart would help get around quicker and easier. In this case, it is important to know how much your golf cart weighs.
Not only may you want to take your golf cart on a camping trip, if you have a utility golf cart, you may want to transport it to use for working at other locations.
It could be for helping a friend do some light gardening or using it for a business to do some yard work or light hauling. Knowing the weight of the golf cart you have is important so you know what type of vehicle you will need to use to haul the cart.
You may need a trailer or you may need ramps to load your cart. In that case, you will need to know what size ramps will be needed.
So what does a golf cart weigh?
You can find this information in the specification section of the Operator’s Manual but, what if you need to know this information to help you with your decision on what type of golf cart to purchase? The weight depends on the manufacturer, the type of cart and the size of the cart. Will you want a gas cart or an electric cart?
Are you hauling just two people, four people, using your cart as a utility cart with a dump bed or a flat bed, or are you transporting 6-10 people on a golf cart limo? By now you probably know what kind of cart you want to get but, do you know how your cart will be powered? You can select either electric or gas power.
Gas or Electric?
In selecting from the many different types of golf carts and the use for your golf cart, there are many to select from. Ones that are used for golfing and carry bags, ones that are used for transporting people and ones that are used for hauling items. In addition to uses, there are golf carts that are powered by batteries or by gas.
First, let’s look at the difference in electric and gas golf carts. Electric carts are powered by batteries and contain as many as six deep cycle batteries. The electric carts body is usually lighter, but the battery weight causes the cart to weigh more.
Gas carts work off of a gasoline engine and usually have an electric starter with a small battery. While this may make the gas carts weigh less, you have to factor in the weight of the gas.
There are various types of gas engines and they can vary in weight which will vary the overall weight of the golf cart. The next section is based on the average, so there may be some that weigh more depending on the manufacturer.
What is it going to weigh?
Most vehicles have two weights, a dry weight and a curb weight. Dry weight is the weight without batteries. Curb weight will include batteries. Basically, the gas golf carts weigh about the same as electric carts but when you add the batteries, the electric carts weigh more.
Gas cart weight examples (approximate weight):
- Standard Golf Cart – dry weight 600 lbs.
- Six Passenger Limo – dry weight 1010 lbs.
- Golf Cart with dump bed – dry weight 820 lbs.
Electric cart example weights (approximate weights):
- Standard Golf Cart – dry weight without batteries 550 lbs.; curb weight with batteries 940 lbs. (The curb weight includes the weight of six batteries.)
- Six Passenger Limo – dry weight without batteries 1010 lbs.; curb weight with batteries 1530 lbs. (These carts may have up to eight batteries which is factored into the curb weight.)
- Golf Cart with dump bed – dry weight without batteries 820 lbs.; curb weight with batteries 1210 lbs. (The curb weight includes the weight of six batteries.)
Other considerations in selecting a golf cart?
There are also other considerations to take into account when deciding what type of golf cart to purchase. You need to determine what you are going to use the golf cart for prior to purchasing one.
Is it going to be a true golf cart that will be taken to the course to use? Or are you going to use it move about your neighborhood or property or campground? How many people do you want to transport with it?
This will determine the number of seats you need in your cart. You can also purchase a utility golf cart that will have either a flat bed or a dump bed on the back to allow for light hauling. Utility carts are great for yard work.
Besides the weight of the cart in determining whether you want an electric or a gas cart, there are other factors to consider such as how much do you want to put into the maintenance and upkeep?
Gas golf carts will require tune ups and engine maintenance not to mention the obvious gas. Gas golf carts have many more parts with the engine to maintain or possible replacement of parts on the engine.
Electric carts will require maintenance on the batteries and eventual replacement of the batteries. The cost of replacing six or even eight batteries at one time can be a large expense.
Electric carts also have other parts of the engine to replace, mostly electrical in nature. In addition, electric golf carts may not have the power and extra speed that you may require. Driving through water or in adverse weather conditions may not be the best for an electric cart.
If you require additional speed and power, the gas golf cart may be the choice for you.
And you have to take into consideration if you prefer a quieter ride, in which case you would like the electric carts. This could be a major factor if you are using the cart in a neighborhood that has restrictions on things like noise or emissions.
Or if you don’t mind the noise or sometimes smell of the gas golf cart and there are no restrictions on where you are using your cart, and you want the extra speed and power of the gas model, you should go with the gas golf cart.
So, you have to weigh (no pun intended) the pros and cons of each cart before making your final decision.
