TO GOLF CART LIFT KITS THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Let’s face it. Lifted carts are cool carts. They are here to stay. The custom golf cart market is demanding bigger, beefier carts and the lift-kit market is burgeoning. In this ultimate guide to lift kits, we’ll break down the different types of lift kits, their capabilities and discuss a few of the most popular brands. Lift Kit Basics Lift kits are simply engineered parts that are installed on a golf cart to raise or “lift” the height anywhere from three-to-ten inches. What’s the purpose? Cart owners want more ground clearance. They want more stability. But mostly they want bigger tires and rims. Let’s go over the various options…

All lift kits are not created equal. There are a variety of different types for different needs.

A-Arm lift kits tend to be a more robust version of the drop spindle kits (we’ll get to these in a minute). These kits basically replace the front suspension of the golf cart and provides for a smoother more comfortable ride.

A-Arm kits are designed to equip carts with larger wheels and tires. They’re likely the most popular lift kits for golf carts

and considered very durable. They are also affordable.

Drop spindle lift kits are widely used to gain ground clearance. These kits are a cinch to install since they utilize the existing suspension, and they are not expensive. By increasing cart spindle size, they give the cart a wider stance and increased stability. The wider stance accommodates bigger, off-set wheels allowing for wider and taller tires. Drop spindle kits are normally available in two styles -heavy duty and economy depending on how the cart will be used.

BLOCK LIFT KIT

Block lift kits are perfect for the instant gratification people. If you want to instantly lift your cart with minimal amount of work block lifts can be the answer. They are four-inch steel blocks that are installed under the existing suspension. That said, they are limited to just four-inches and have been known to make the ride a little more bumpy.

Drop axle lifts will increase ground clearance by replacing the front axle with the “drop axle”. They add a longer stock radius that tapers down to the spindles already attached to the golf

cart.

This increases the axle height and allows the replacement of the whole front axle without having to engage your spindles. These kits are typically less expensive than spindle kits but may not ride as smoothly as carts that have an A-Arm or spindle lift kit.

LONG TRAVEL LIFT KITS

Long travel lift kits are the most durable, capable and expensive kits you can install on a golf cart. They provide independent front suspension and have long bouncy springs that are shock absorbers. Long travel lifts are available in six-to-eight inches. These extreme duty lifts are similar to coil over lift kits.

GOLF CART LIFT KIT SIZES – SIZE DOES MATTER

The lift height of a golf cart is going to determine a lot of things, like appropriate terrain, wheel and tire accommodation and of course aesthetics.

COMMON LIFT KIT SIZES

3" & 4” Lifts • Great for 20” tires • Available in all the above-mentioned options • Perfect for the “slight lift” for stability and look • Inexpensive and easy to install • 4” block lifts are simple to install and inexpensive 6" Lifts • Most popular lift height • Easy to find for all the big brands (Yamaha, Club Car, EZ-GO) • Accommodates wheels up to 23 inches 7" – 12" Lifts • Lift kits for heavy duty suspension and monster tires • Built for rigorous off-road conditions • Long travel lifts are a good idea when going higher than 6”

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LIFT KIT FOR YOUR GOLF CART TIRE SIZE

The following are tables to aid in choosing the right size lift kit for both tires and cart manufacturers.

CLUB CAR

Club Car tends to have very little space on their stock setup for tires bigger than 19" so anything larger will require a lift kit. See chart below.

18" Tires - Common Sizes: (205/50-10", 205/30-12", 215/35-12") 18" Tires - Common Sizes: (215/40-12", 205/30-14") 20" Tires 20.5" Tires - Common Sizes: 22" Tires 23" Tires 25" Tires No Lift Kit Needed

No Lift Kit Needed

Needs 1"-3" Lift kit 3" Lift Kit Recommended

4" Lift Kit Recommended 6" Lift Kit Recommended 8" Lift Kit Recommended

(205/65-10", 215/50-12", 205/40-14")

EZ-GO has the most space for those looking to upgrade to bigger tires and can generally accommodate tires up to 20” without a lift. See chart below.

18" Tires - Common Sizes: (205/50-10", 205/30-12", 215/35-12") 18" Tires - Common Sizes: (215/40-12", 205/30-14") (Through 2014)

20" Tires

20.5" Tires - Common Sizes: (205/65-10", 215/50-12", 205/40-14") 22" Tires 23" Tires No Lift Kit Needed

No Lift Kit Needed

No Lift Kit Needed 25" Tires

3" Lift Kit Recommended

3"-4" Lift Kit Recommended

5"-6" Lift Kit Recommended

7"-8" Lift Kit Recommended

Yamaha also has little space for upgraded tires on stock models with the exception of their G29 (DRIVE), which can handle 20" tires without installing a lift kit. See chart below.

18" Tires - Common Sizes: (205/50-10", 205/30-12", 215/35-12") 18" Tires - Common Sizes: (215/40-12", 205/30-14") 20" Tires 20.5" Tires - Common Sizes: (205/65-10", 215/50-12", 205/40-14") 22" Tires 23" Tires 25" Tires No Lift Kit Needed

No Lift Kit Needed

Needs 1"-3" Lift kit 3" Lift Kit Recommended

4" Lift Kit Recommended

6" Lift Kit Recommended