OT Sorta - Electric ATV/UTV/Golf Carts

[chadc]

How many of y'all use an electric vehicle to get to and from the blind and removing game. I'm not looking for a workhorse, just looking for something to get in and out quietly. Which ones (Badboy, Titan, Ruff&Tuff, etc.) are you using and how do you like them. How do they handle the terrain where you hunt and would you recommend them. I am trying to cover all bases here so I don't have to have 15 different threads for one subject.

TIA,
Chad

[Humper]

I had a lifted easygo 36 volt cart. it was great on ranch roads and very quite, but the front suspension is not the best for rough terrain.

[Stins]

humper how many hours or miles would you get out of a charge and other than the rough ride did it have other limitations?

[chadc]

Good Question Stins. I was thinking the same thing.

[Humper]

With good batteries they will run all day on an overnight charge...I've hear reports of 20 miles on a single charge, but I think its more like 15. The negative is batteries are only good for about 24 months with frequent use and they cost around $100 each (x 6 or 8). As far as limitations....it was not four wheel drive. You can add high torgue motors to give it more low end. It was open to the weather...not good in a heavy rain unless you add the side curtains

[Chew]

I started using an electric cart this year. Not real happy with the power but mine is a 36 v with a lift and big tires so it took away some of the speed/power when the previous owner did this. It's great for driving to and from the stand (very quiet). I drive up on deer and blackbuck all the time and they don't have a clue I'm there 'til I'm right up on 'em. It's not somethign I would use for hauling corn around on though. I may just need new batteries but I'm a techno-idiot so I'll probably just keep driving it around and putting it on the charger every time I get to camp.

[jerp]

My question on the electric carts is how well they do in mud. I know they won't go where a 4 wheeler can - I'm not talking deep, boggy stuff. Just wondering how they do in a inch or two of mud on a hilly ranch road after a rain?

[Humper]

Bobby,

Check out this site.....you could add a high torgue motor, new controller and upgrade the battery cables and get some great power out of the cart....

http://www.golfcarttrader.com/Electric%20Motors_/EZGO.htm

Jerp...

Mine went through mud and even a foot of water in a creek. Never got stuck.

[WoJo]

My question on the electric carts is how well they do in mud. I know they won't go where a 4 wheeler can - I'm not talking deep, boggy stuff. Just wondering how they do in a inch or two of mud on a hilly ranch road after a rain?

Me too. In Childress County we have ther red clay. My two wheel drive truck has a hard time. If it rains I have a mile or more to get to my stand. In dry weather I can park within a few hundred yards.

I wonder how they would do in the mud also?

[cosmiccowboy]

I have two 36V EZGo's now...one 4 seater, one with a bed in the back.

I really like them and the price was right...I have $1400 in one and $1100 in the other...

I put 22" aggressive mud tires on the back but didn't do a lift kit...I left the stock tires on the front and just pulled the wheel well moulding off on the rear, re-adjusted the wheel well clearance with a jig saw, and screwed the moulding back on....

mine work great both in soft sand and mud...I haven't even come CLOSE to getting stuck yet...I just chug right through the stuff...They are light enough that they don't bury like a truck would...

I also added digital "gas gauges" and never let them get below 1/2 charge to extend battery life...

[expressfish]

good topic, my wife has been buggin me about one for the kids or when she takes her mother to the lease with us.........they want to be able to cruise around in something while Im in my stand or fishing (I just use my truck to go to my bind). I though we should look for a gasser for what batteries cost, although the electrics are deadly quiet.

[Raleigh]

I own a Bad Boy Buggie and I will be the first to say you dont have a spend the Bad Boy price (10K) to get a very servicable Electric
4X4. With a 4X4 electric cart you can get just about anywhere and mud is no problem from my experiences and the more uphill and rocky the better.

my .02

[cosmiccowboy]

Mine are ugly, but very effective. Just put all new interstates from Sams on cart #2 for $500 that should last for at least 3 years...

[txhunter]

I own and sale electric hunting carts. My cart has never had any issues with terrain. It gets through a little mud, over small trees and rocks, and up hills with no problems. Our carts are equipped with a 400 Amp Programmable Curtis controller that we program to allow for maximum torque. It is very powerful and has the ability to do what a lot of standard golf carts, that are just equipped with big tires and a lift kit, can't. We drove one of our 6 passenger hunting carts 35 miles on a single charge with enough juice to go another few miles more. You can get more than 2 years out of your batteries if you check and maintain the water levels in your batteries at least monthly. But you have to use good quality batteries like Trojan. Here are a few pics of my personal cart.

And it is not 4 wheel drive, the 3,000 lb winch makes up for that. Cheaper than paying $10,000 for 4x4.

[chadc]

Txhunter,
What kind of cart is that? Does it come with all the gadgets on it, and the big question, how much?