Dealer Turns Golf "Cars" Into ATV's

Dealer Turns Golf "Cars" Into ATV's ATV'S ATV'S 22-6-27 "Used golf cars can be an inexpensive alter-native to 4 or 6-wheel ATVs," says Clark Carr, Kokomo, Ind., who transforms used golf cars into work-ready utility vehicles. Carr is a dealer for new and used Melex, Club Car, Yamaha, and EZ-Go golf cars . As part of his business he customizes used Yamaha golf cars for farm use, installing a lift kit that raises the body 4 in. for better ground clearance. He can also add lugged rear tires and knobby front tires, an aluminum cargo box, all-weather enclosure, electric or propane heaters, and even an electrically-operated 54-in. wide snow blade. He also sells do-it-yourself kits that let you convert a used golf car chassis into a "funmobile". Two kits are offered - a Dodge "Ramcota" that looks like a pickup and a "Kool Kart" that looks like a 1934 Ford car. FARM SHOW caught up with Carr at the recent Farm Progress Show near Windfall, Ind., where he was renting golf cars to exhibitors and farmers attending the show. "Farmers are often amazed at all the uses for a golf car. About 90 percent of the farmers who rented our golf cars said they had never been on one and were surprised at how well they rode and handled. Many said they'd like to have one," says Carr. "Other farmers have already found this out - in fact, about half my sales of used golf cars are to farmers." Carr prefers to use the word "car" instead of "cart". "As defined in Webster's dictionary, a cart is a small wagon . A golf car is a miniature car equipped with a steering wheel, accelerator, engine, transmission, heavy duty springs, shocks, front end alignment, and brakes." According to Carr, golf cars have many ad-vantages over utility vehicles like the Kawasaki Mule or Deere Gator. "Golf cars have bench seats and can hold four or more passengers, while the Mule and Gator have only one seat and can hold only three. Golf cars can be made to tow bigger loads than the Mule or Gator. A standard golf car can tow an impressive 8,900 lbs., and is equipped with an automatic transmission that's much more user friendly. The biggest advantage, though, is that a used golf car costs only about half as much as a used Gator or Mule. A good used gas or electric golf car sells for about $1,500. Adding a lift kit and new tires adds about $1,000. For example, a fully reworked 1993 Yamaha gas 4-cycle overhead valve 9 hp golf car sells for $2,500 to $2,900 while a Gator or Mule sells for almost $10,000." The Ramcota kit mounts on a used Club Car or EZ Go golf car chassis. The kit includes a 2 hp electric motor, 36-volt battery, automobile rack and pinion steering, and 10 by 20 wheels. The back part can be left open or equipped with a removable seat. Options are endless and include everything from high performance engines to unique decals and painting. The kit sells for $3,000 to $9,000 depending on the options chosen. The Kool Kart mounts on a Yamaha golf car.. The front end is completely new. The basic kit includes glass nose in gel-coat, de-cal set, hood ornament, and chrome head-lights and sells for $1,290. The Ramcota and Kool Kart are also avail-able as complete turnkey units. The turnkey Ramcota sells for $10,000 to $15,000 and the Kool Kart for $5,000 to $10,000. Snow blade sells for $799 plus $50 S&H. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Clark Carr, Oakford, Ind. (ph 765 453-9230; fax 5244).

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