You’ve finally done it. You bought your dream golf cart and are ready to hit the green. But how do you get there? You know it won’t fit in your backseat. That’s okay, though, because, with a few simple tips, you’ll be loading and unloading your golf cart like a pro in no time. This is a skill many new golf cart owners need, but some are afraid to / join others in asking for help.
The first step to loading a golf cart in a pickup truck is ensuring it will fit. If the golf cart overhangs the sides of your truck bed or is too tall, you’ll run into some serious problems. Always measure the dimensions of your golf cart and truck bed before loading it. If you’re looking for high-quality golf carts in Pennsylvania, our golf carts for sale in West Chester, PA offer a wide selection to suit your needs.
Measuring Your Golf Cart
Use a tape measure to note the golf cart’s total length and width. Note the width of the golf cart at its widest point, which will likely be the tires, depending on the make and model. Most importantly, be sure to measure your golf cart’s height. This is important when deciding what type of ramp you’ll need because you don’t want to realize the roof is going to be an issue halfway up the ramp.
Measuring Your Truck Bed
Just like measuring the golf cart, get your truck bed’s exact length and width. Now, compare all your measurements and make sure you have at least 6 inches to spare on all sides of the cart for a comfortable and safe fit. Also, be sure to consider your truck’s payload capacity, which is found in your owner’s manual. This will tell you how much weight your truck bed can handle.
Unless you can lift your golf cart above your head with ease and gently drop it in the truck bed, you’ll need ramps. There are several types of ramps on the market, but selecting the proper ramps for loading your golf cart will depend on the height of your truck. A safe ramp angle is important.
Ramps that are too short and steep increase the risk of your cart popping a wheelie on the way up or losing control on the way down. Aim for ramps that result in a shallow angle, making it safer to get your cart in and out of your truck bed. Ramps are most commonly made from steel (for heavier-duty, sturdier options) or aluminum (lighter-weight but generally suitable for most standard-size golf carts).
Additional Features
When deciding on your ideal ramps, be sure to look for additional features such as:
- Weight capacity (how much weight the ramp can safely hold).
- Ramp width.
- Arched vs straight design.
- Built-in safety features like side rails.
- Time to Load.
Alright, now that you know your golf cart will fit and you have a good set of sturdy ramps, it’s time to learn how to load it in the truck bed. Grab a friend to make this job easier and add a layer of safety during this process.
Preparation
Park your truck on a level surface. This will give you more stability, keep the ramps from sliding out of place, and be much easier on your back, as nobody wants to injure themselves.
Engage your parking brake for added security. Place and secure the ramps. Do a quick test and slowly drive your front tires up just a little. You’ll want to do this on each side.
If at all possible, have a spotter assist you. This adds a second set of eyes to ensure everything goes smoothly and creates an extra layer of precaution. Slowly drive the golf cart up the ramps and into your truck bed. It is important to do this slowly and at a steady pace. It’s secured in the truck bed—great work. Now, you’ll want to secure the cart using straps to make sure nothing shifts during transit.
Connect straps to secure points in the truck’s bed (D-rings are generally the sturdiest option). Make sure you crisscross those straps for a more stable hold.
It’s time to take a little test drive carefully to start. Check those straps and mirrors before fully hitting the gas pedal. After this short test drive, check your handy work and make any final adjustments. That’s it. See, I told you with a little instruction and a couple of extra sets of hands, you’d be on your way.
Learning to load a golf cart in a truck bed doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, with just a little preparation, you can turn it into an easy process. This newly learned skill will help ensure you can transport your golf cart safely and efficiently for years. As one of the leading golf cart dealers in PA, we also provide excellent options for those looking for golf carts for sale in York.
