On Friday, December 13, 2019 at 11:36:54 AM UTC-5, Tom wrote:
Reaching out to query about golf carts - we use them to tow gliders (not on a flat surface, plenty of inclines) and transport people. I know there are a lot of different opinions but generally I’m curious what is the prevalent type in use out there - gas or electric?

Both have their ups and downs - I’ve seen some electric ones have problems towing stuff but I’m told that poor battery maintenance was a major factor. We’ve always used gas but because the majority of carts are electric the supply and demand issue causes the gas ones to be more expensive. This is causing me to consider electric.

The prices on these things seem outrageous to me either way (I’m famously frugal or as my friends say “cheap”). But, we use them every day and they are critical to the operation so i don’t want to be dealing with constant problems with old crappy ones.

Thanks for your input.

Regards, Tom

Tom, there are a couple of ways that you can go. We have used both electric and gas tugs, the electric units have been both 36 and 48 volt. The gas unit was my Kawasaki Mule 4010. There are advantages to both, the electric 48 volt is the only way to go if you choose electric. I just bought a new 48 volt unit that is superb. It will run for two days and still show 80% charge. The new computer controlled units are truly superb, quite and speed control is fantastic.
The gas unit is nice, but not as quite and when you are pulling gliders it is a big safety issue being able to hear the wing walker. The gas unit is more costly to operate as well. We found the 36 volt electric not nearly as strong and reliable as the 48 volt unit.
So if I were to rate the three the 48 volt electric would be number 1, followed by the gas tug and then the 36 volt electric. Hope this helps. Bob