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Let’s compare gators! Who’s got what model? Likes dislikes, buying advice

3036 Views 88 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  tmac58star, 
TempletonJDguy
Hey guys, lots of you know about my recent accident. I’ve been looking real hard at golf carts. I absolutely decided I want gas. Looking at carts the prices on used are 4 k plus for a decent one. Going new is somewhere over 10k$. I’ve always wanted a gator and some say there an overpriced golf cart! Well that’s exactly what I want. I’ve looked at hundreds of used ones and let me tell you how absolutely used they are!! Terrible! So at 13k for an entry level doesn’t seems so bad for something that will last 20 years (the rest of my life). I want to stay small, 4’ wide so I can park it in my trailer next to my bike and bring it camping. So who’s got what and what’s the likes and dislikes! Thanks!
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chuckv
Temp,

We have owned both a Club Car golf cart and an Electric Gator and both were extremely handy and made satisfactory work vehicles on our sloped acreage in Oregon when we owned it. The cart has a work bed fitted that also provides a fold up rear seat when needed, and the gator has the standard turf machine dump bed -- but I added a second bed on a trailer for better firewood chore efficiency. Have had no issues with the electric drive-train on either unit, and we still have the cart.

I bought the cart new as a gift for Sharon, and we added the special rear bed and the side curtains (Oregon is quite wet/misty as you may know...) but the Gator was bought used for just $1200 including cab, to which at the time I added about 4600 for new batteries. Here are some pictures...
Wheel Tire Vehicle Plant Automotive tire


Sky Motor vehicle Automotive tire Shade Outdoor furniture


Sky Tire Car Wheel Automotive tire

...We have used it for several yard parties to allow guests to tour the paths in the back of the acreage -- nice ride quality, and no champagne was spilled... ;)
Smile Plant Motor vehicle Golf cart Shorts


If you have MILES to cover, maybe the gas units are a better choice, but on 10 acres or so the electric machines are quite handy and free of fumes and most maintenance...

Chuck
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chuckv
Army,

Not all wraps are as subtle as cammo... Here is one we did decades ago that was a blatant advertisement and attention getter. That is a 45 foot Prevost coach so the size is not subdued either.. Just the wrap cost several thousand back then, but that included the custom artwork.

Wheel Sky Tire Vehicle Motor vehicle


Chuck
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chuckv
Army,

It is done with lots and lots of square yards of money!! Notice that all the windows were wrapped as well -- they use a dot printing method that still lets you see out from inside the main space, but appears mostly solid image from the outside. The driver's window, the entry door windows, and the windshield are not wrapped or tinted, of course...

Because the coach was a commercial display plus a self-contained product demo, and was on the road rather constantly for months at a time, it got hand washed at least twice a week -- and the wrap held up astonishingly well... As you might imagine, a vehicle this size is rarely inside a garage...

Chuck
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chuckv
Temp,

Club Car products are high quality -- enjoy it!

Chuck
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chuckv
Here is a low profile 'trailer' of sorts that I made for my golf cart to haul the trash bins out to the road at the Oregon acreage. It was a castor wheel style so it could be backed up easily...and fastened to the rear of the cart at two places. I used an old composite pallet and some wheels from HF.
Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Automotive tire Automotive exterior


Automotive tire Tire Wheel Gas Tread


Bumper Automotive exterior Motor vehicle Gas Wood


Chuck
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chuckv
None of that crap on the Electric Gator...but then it is for work and not a trail machine.

Chuck
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chuckv
It may not be the kind of small transport vehicle that you are looking for, but the Workman 3200 that I had featured a REAL clutch and had a 3 speed box with a two speed final drive for very flexible gearing. It had two seats side by side, a large hydraulic dump bed rated at 2000 lbs, and a three cylinder water cooled engine, and power steering among other features. I got it well used from a golf course -- it was not in very good shape but the price was right at $425. I put about twice more than that into it getting its aches and pains cured, but it was a good machine...
Tire Wheel Plant Vehicle Automotive tire


Wheel Plant Tire Automotive tire Tree


Tire Wheel Automotive tire Motor vehicle Product


Again, not a fun toy for trail riding...just a hard working vehicle for ranch use.

Chuck
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