I would like to use a golf cart for making an art car this year. I understand the stipulations for the DMV, but I have no experience with golf carts and have a few playa related questions for bringing a golf cart.
Has anyone used one before that can give advice on which is better?
Gas or Electric. Which is easier to drive on the surfaces assuming that next years conditions don't improve from this year?
Three wheeled or four? Obviously a four wheeler is better, but can a three wheeler take the surface of the desert floor or will it dig into the sand when you turn?
Pulling capacity of a gas or electric cart? could i build a small trailer and pull it behind the cart?
Who has used one and what do you think?
Golf Carts.
Golf Carts.
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!
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theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40312
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Gas--too many electrics run out of go in inconvieniet places.
Also, the keys are all the same (I don't know if that's universal or by model.) You don't want half the playa to have the key to your golfcart.
Also, the keys are all the same (I don't know if that's universal or by model.) You don't want half the playa to have the key to your golfcart.
The Lady with a Lamprey
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
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motskyroonmatick
- Posts: 2057
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:37 am
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: B.R.C. Welding&Repair
- Location: Aurora Oregon
Yes. Gas is better.
The Golf Cart I modified and brought for an injured camp mate was way too fast. I did not have the energy to mess with the speed regulating mechanism at the burn. When I mess with it I will let you know if I think it would work for pulling a trailer. That is at least the one I have. It is an 89' Club Car. I have seen trailers being pulled by golf cart on playa so it can be done. Most golf carts I see on playa are doing double the speed or more and that's just not cool in my book.
Apparently most gas golf carts have a positive and ground switch in the ignition switch where you put your key. The ground side is for the ground loop that allows the cart to move only when all controls are in the correct position. Why do I mention this? First by adding a secret switch in the ground loop it would make the cart less easy to "borrow." Second I had a hard time trouble shooting the wiring on my cart because I just did not understand that the solenoid was controlled by the ground loop. The last connection in the ground loop is when you hit the throttle and then the engine starts and goes until you let off of the pedal.
I bought mine off of craigs list for $300 with electrical problems and a banged up front end. It was a deal. Every once in a while they come up really cheap.
Good Luck!!!
The Golf Cart I modified and brought for an injured camp mate was way too fast. I did not have the energy to mess with the speed regulating mechanism at the burn. When I mess with it I will let you know if I think it would work for pulling a trailer. That is at least the one I have. It is an 89' Club Car. I have seen trailers being pulled by golf cart on playa so it can be done. Most golf carts I see on playa are doing double the speed or more and that's just not cool in my book.
Apparently most gas golf carts have a positive and ground switch in the ignition switch where you put your key. The ground side is for the ground loop that allows the cart to move only when all controls are in the correct position. Why do I mention this? First by adding a secret switch in the ground loop it would make the cart less easy to "borrow." Second I had a hard time trouble shooting the wiring on my cart because I just did not understand that the solenoid was controlled by the ground loop. The last connection in the ground loop is when you hit the throttle and then the engine starts and goes until you let off of the pedal.
I bought mine off of craigs list for $300 with electrical problems and a banged up front end. It was a deal. Every once in a while they come up really cheap.
Good Luck!!!
Black Rock City Welding & Repair. The Night Time Warming Station. Crow Bar.
Card Carrying Member BRCCP.
When you pass the 4th "bridge out!" sign; the flaming death is all yours.-Knowmad-
Card Carrying Member BRCCP.
When you pass the 4th "bridge out!" sign; the flaming death is all yours.-Knowmad-
I too am interested in this. I'm debating about a pedal car type vehicle or golfcart. I'm wary of the golfcart route because i have no welding exp or availability and think it would just end up looking like Jo blow's furred up cart which obviously defeats the purpose of mutant vehicle.
I'm really looking for shade while i'm out and about in the day, and think a 2 or 4 person pedal car would be great, but again I dont know in the conditions if 1 person could pedal a vehicle that large or how it will react in a sand dune. If i have to get out an push.....well i'd rather stick with the bike.
I've seen some really amazing pedal cart/vehicles, can any one elaborate on the difficulties faced on the playa with them?
I actually found a trailer for a golf cart that would carry a couple of people, but again having ZERO skills with machinery I would not have the faintest clue as to modifying it short of "dressing" it up like i do with my bike.
As for the Key's issue, I would get a removable steeringwheel with a quick release and carry it with me.
I'm really looking for shade while i'm out and about in the day, and think a 2 or 4 person pedal car would be great, but again I dont know in the conditions if 1 person could pedal a vehicle that large or how it will react in a sand dune. If i have to get out an push.....well i'd rather stick with the bike.
I've seen some really amazing pedal cart/vehicles, can any one elaborate on the difficulties faced on the playa with them?
I actually found a trailer for a golf cart that would carry a couple of people, but again having ZERO skills with machinery I would not have the faintest clue as to modifying it short of "dressing" it up like i do with my bike.
As for the Key's issue, I would get a removable steeringwheel with a quick release and carry it with me.
Elliot, I've actually see quite a few of your vehicles (or atleast ones from 07 at some camp), thats the type of thing I'm leaning towards.
Care to point me to any "how to" type sites? I've found a couple of Rhoads cars, among other contraptions. I think though i may just give in and get some welding help/experience. It appears to get to anywhere near what i want its going to have to be a custom job.
Ya, i'd only ferry people around via non human power. I'f i have to pedal, their ass will too!
So am I correct that bigger wider wheels/tires and low gearing make it workable for 1 person to pedal (assuming its not a million pounds obviously)? The vehicle in the picture, how much did that thing weigh?
Care to point me to any "how to" type sites? I've found a couple of Rhoads cars, among other contraptions. I think though i may just give in and get some welding help/experience. It appears to get to anywhere near what i want its going to have to be a custom job.
Ya, i'd only ferry people around via non human power. I'f i have to pedal, their ass will too!
So am I correct that bigger wider wheels/tires and low gearing make it workable for 1 person to pedal (assuming its not a million pounds obviously)? The vehicle in the picture, how much did that thing weigh?
Sounds like you visited our Kinetic Sculpture Racing Camp in 2007.
Alas, all those Racing Kontraptions were not mine! But two of them were. Here is the other one, a trike, seen in a recent Kinetic race:
That's the one I rode on the Playa this year, and it did very well on the loose ground.
I have to guess at the weights. We have weighed that red car a couple of times, but in wildly different configurations. Let's say 600 pounds as we rode it all over the Playa in 2006. And 200 pounds for the trike this year.
How-to information? Try this:
http://kinetickingdom.com/KK-how2/index.html
It's about Kinetics, but there has to be something there that you can learn from. (Yes, I wrote it.)
Then you ought to look up the Atomic Zombie web site. Atomic Zombie sells kits, and who knows, there might be something there for you. But they also sell a book called the Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza, and that is a very good book for a beginner. You may be able to grab a copy on Amazon or eBay also.
Check out American Speedster. They sell a kit to build a pedal car out of plastic pipe. It's very iffy, and some mechanical skill is definitely needed to make the wobbly chain drive work, but I have seen several on the Playa.
If you feel ready to become a builder and take up welding, you would buy a small MIG welder. The low-buck kind with "flux core" wire is reported to be perfectly adequate for bicycle work. And people say they taught themselves in a hour. Get a good automatic-dimming helmet with it.
It is also possible to build vehicles without welding. Rivets, hose clamps, and U-bolts can all be used to hold Stuff together. And my favorite: 1/4 inch bolts with nylock nuts - in a wide variety of lengths.
This is called Thread Drift -- considering that we started with golf carts.
Sorry to highjack the thread.
Gas only!
We used this one for 2 burns and used 4 gl of gas (2 each year)
BTW, it's for sale
I have a lot of tips for you as far as building on golf cart, PM me
http://sites.google.com/site/oleangela/Home/toxicrose
We used this one for 2 burns and used 4 gl of gas (2 each year)
BTW, it's for sale
I have a lot of tips for you as far as building on golf cart, PM me
http://sites.google.com/site/oleangela/Home/toxicrose