If you’re done with renting a golf cart and have decided to buy one instead to save money in the long run, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a golf cart trailer so you can pull the cart around. Shopping for these units isn’t particularly difficult, but there are quite a few things you need to take into account in order to get the ideal one for you. While you can use a standard utility trailer, specialised golf cart trailers are made specifically to accommodate golf carts, meaning they’re lower to the ground, feature a slight tilt and a rear ramp that make loading and unloading the cart easy. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use these units around your home, like for loading a mower or some other gardening equipment. That being said, here’s what you need to pay attention to when looking for golf cart trailers for sale.

The Weight of Your Golf Cart

A golf cart’s weight is usually listed on the specification sheet as curb weight. It’s important that you know this number in order to determine whether the trailer you’re considering is up to the task. Moreover, you should make sure your vehicle is capable of pulling the weight of the trailer and cart. Golf carts can weigh anywhere between 275kg to 725kg. Of course, these numbers can vary based on passenger capacity, the material the cart is made of, and whether it’s a gas or electric cart. If you own a lightweight SUV, you may be concerned about the towing capacity. So of course, you also have to take into account things like the weight of an electric golf cart with and without batteries.

Trailer Safety Rating and Features

When shopping around, the golf cart trailer you’re looking to buy should have a safety rating. Make sure you get the model with the best safety rating your money can buy. Find a trailer that can use the rear hatch as a ramp to make loading and unloading the golf cart easier, and so that you don’t need to bring along any ramps. The trailers you can buy from places like Lowe’s and Home Depot are generally considered utility trailers that aren’t capable of holding the weight of a golf cart on their metal ramps.

If the trailer you buy can’t hold the weight of your golf cart, then consider adding wooden boards to take some of the burdens off of the frame’s weld points. Some of these weld points can’t hold the concentrated weight at the point between the trailer and the tyre. If you have welding equipment and the skills to use it, you can add a few spot welds to make the ramp beefier. Other safety features golf buggy trailers can come with are safety chains and wiring harnesses that help secure the golf cart, thus protecting it and everyone else you share the road with. Always take the time to make sure the brake lights and signals operate properly before you set out.

Trailer Size

In order to make sure your golf cart fits the trailer, measure the length and width of the golf cart and find a trailer that can accommodate it. However, sometimes the dimensions of golf buggy trailers for sale are pre-set and not the size you need. For most golf carts, the ideal size is 1.5m wide by 3m long, but it still might not fit your custom-made golf cart. A good example of this is the first golf cart trailed I bought that should have fit my custom-made golf cart, but the body hung half a metre over the back. It only allowed for two people transportation and there wasn’t an option of adding extra seating. The seller assured me that the trailer would fit any golf cart, and that would have been true if my golf cart hadn’t been modified in any way.

If you have a smaller trailer, you can try loading the golf cart backward and let the back of the body overhang a little bit in the front of the trailer. However, make sure the back bumper of the cart is high enough to go over the front wall of the trailer. This can be a must if you have a rear seat installed in the carts. Make sure to measure from the ground to the bottom of the back of your golf cart, then compare it to the height of the trailer’s front side.

Trailer Capacity

Trailers are rated with a trailer gross vehicle weight rating, which represents the amount of weight they can carry. Some manufacturers take the lowest component rating, while others include the trailer’s weight on top of its capacity. If you have a trailer that weighs 900kg, you should include this weight in the capacity formulate to make sure you stay under the gross vehicle weight rating. Other manufacturers use the hub and wheel rating, whereas some use the tyre or axle rating.