Winterizing Your Golf Cart
Just because winter is on its way doesn’t mean you need to stop riding your golf cart, although some users do choose to put theirs away in some form of secure vehicle storage for safe-keeping. In fact, it’s easy to make your vehicle comfortable and easy to ride through winter if you install the right accessories. You’ll just need to make sure that you’re getting the appropriate accessories for your particular model and that they’re installed correctly.
Van Wert Carts is proud to be your Ohio golf cart dealer. Read on to learn more about how to properly winterize your golf cart to prepare it for winter usage or for self-storage.
Enclosures
Keeping out the cold and the elements as you drive around can easily be done with a golf cart enclosure. This accessory turns your open-air seating arrangement into an enclosed space so that you aren’t hit by high winds, heavy rains, icy snows or anything else Mother Nature might throw at you. There are different types of enclosures made to suit different types of carts, so make sure that your cart is compatible with the enclosure that you choose. The most common style is a zippered one that has zippers in lieu of doors. This style is also quick to remove when the weather warms up.
Heaters
If it’s chilly outside, you’ll want to stay warm as you ride your golf cart. A small propane heater can slip into your cup holder. You’ll just need to make sure that fumes don’t build up when the cart is fully enclosed. You could also go with an electric model that sits on the dashboard or on the floor, but this style will drain your battery, so be judicious with your usage of it.
Covers
When your golf cart isn’t being used, you need to protect it from dust, theft and the elements. Severe precipitation like heavy rains or hailstorms can build up moisture on your vehicle. Sunlight can lead to faded finishes and paints. Snow can be a challenge to clear off if you want to use your vehicle in the winter. Investing in a well-fitting and sturdy cover should help you to avoid all of these issues, and it will also reduce the risk of theft by preventing potential purloiners from seeing what lies beneath the cover without attracting attention to themselves.
Your golf cart cover will likely be made of a soft canvas material that won’t do any damage to your paint job. These covers use snaps or bungee straps to secure to the vehicle. You can even use the cover in the middle of summer to prevent sun damage, and we highly recommend this!
Tires
More traction is always better in winter weather conditions. Ice is a challenge for anyone riding a golf cart, as it’s very easy to lose control and hit something if you slip. Choose winter or off-roading tires that will offer you better traction and more grip on difficult road conditions. Extreme weather may even merit the use of chains.
Snowplow
One handy attachment for your golf cart, particularly in blizzard-prone areas like the Midwest, is a snowplow! Clear the path ahead with ease using a fully-automatic style that lifts, turns and tilts on its own, or go with a less expensive manual model that needs to be hand-adjusted. This is a great way to clear snow from your property with less effort expended!
Visit our dealership in Van Wert, Ohio, to see our full stock of new and used golf carts for sale. If you’re interested in vehicle storage options, we can help you out with that, too! Just have a chat with our friendly staff about our indoor and outdoor storage options. Van Wert Carts proudly serves our neighbors to the west in Decatur and Fort Wayne, Indiana.