If you plan to transport your golf cart, the best way to get it done is by using a trailer. Everything you need to know is in our article on trailer sizes. But what happens if you can’t source a trailer, or you want to save some money. What are your options?
This article will deal with the question, will a golf cart fit in a truck bed? We will look at whether this is at all possible, and if so, what steps to take to execute.
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Can You Fit A Golf Cart In A Truck Bed?
The beds on the majority of full-size pickup trucks have a width of 4-feet between the tire wells. As a result, a standard size golf cart should theoretically fit onto the back of your pickup.
Long bed pickup trucks will give you the luxury of being able to close the tailgate. While you will likely need to leave it down if you are using a short bed.
Can You Drive Long Distances With Your Golf Cart In Your Truck Bed?
If your golf cart does fit onto your truck bed, I would suggest not traveling long distances and lower your speed compared to normal. You should only be using this option as a last resort, and I would suggest you use a trailer if you plan on hauling your cart long distances.
Steps For Loading A Golf Cart Into A Truck Bed?
Before proceeding with loading your cart onto your truck bed, there are a few procedures you need to undertake to determine if it is possible in the first place. I have outlined the steps below to guide you through every part of the process.
Step 1: The Bed Type On Your Pickup Truck
In step one of your quest to determine whether a golf cart will fit in your truck bed, you must identify what type of bed your truck has.
If you own a full-size pickup with a long bed, you will likely enjoy 8 feet of space from front to back, with the tailgate up. The team at Cunningham Golf Cars claims that a standard cart measures 8 feet in length. Making it a perfect fit for a long bed.
Conversely, if your truck bed is a standard size, you will have to leave your tailgate down to fit even a 2 person golf cart.
Step 2: The Weight Of Your Cart
The second step is to determine whether your cart can fit in a truck bed. This requires you to check the weight of your golf cart. You can get this information by simply checking the owner’s manual for your cart.
Step 3: The Length And Width Of Your Cart
Once you know the weight of your cart. You will need to size it up to determine its length and width. This information will come in handy later once you have measured the bed of your truck.
Step 4: The Payload Capacity Of Your Truck Bed
Next, check the payload capacity of your truck bed, which can be found either in the owner’s manual or on the door of the driver’s side. Determine whether your truck can hold the weight of your golf cart, which should not be an issue in most cases.
The challenge arises with the area of the bed. And whether or not your cart can fit in the truck’s bed.
Step 5: The Area Of Your Truck Bed
When you are confident that your truck can hold your golf cart, the next step is to measure your cart and the bed’s area. If you determine that your cart will fit onto the truck bed, proceed to step 6.
If your cart won’t fit onto the back of your flatbed, you will have to rent a trailer or source a pickup with a large bed.
Step 6: Ramps
Now that you are sure your cart will fit onto a truck bed, the next move is to acquire ramps. It is not advisable to hash together some homemade job. As it will make the loading procedure harder than it already is.
Make sure that whatever ramps you decide on can withstand your weight and that of your cart. Furthermore, the ramps must have sufficient space between each other to cater for the distance between the left and right wheels at the front and back.
My advice is to seek out aluminum-based ramps. They are designed to be lightweight, making them easy to set up. And they have an arch to prevent any bottoming out during loading and unloading.
If there are no suitable ramp options at your disposal, you can resort to using your tailgate as the ramp. Find a place where the tailgate opens level with the ground. That way, you can drive your cart straight off the truck. However, if you don’t set it up correctly, excessive weight on the tailgate can cause damage.
Step 7: Loading
So, you have done all the math, ensured your truck can handle your cart, and acquired some arched ramps. Now it is time to load that baby onto the bed. Make sure that your pickup and cart are on even ground for a stable ramp setup.
Place the ramp fingers on the edge of the tailgate, and secure it to the truck using the safety chains.
Once this is in place, all that is left to do is carefully drive the cart up the ramp and set it onto your truck’s bed. If your cart does not fit with the tailgate up. I suggest reversing the cart onto the bed so that the lighter front part rests on the tailgate and not the heavier rear.
Step 8: Securing Your Cart
Congratulations, you managed to successfully load your cart onto your truck’s bed. Before you drive off, you must fasten your cart with at least two nylon straps that have been ratcheted securely.
Final Thoughts
The question as to will a golf cart fit in a truck bed does not possess a straightforward answer. The short answer is that standard 2 person carts may fit onto a truck’s bed.
Those of you who own a long bed will be able to load a standard size cart and close the tailgate. However, if you have a standard bed. You may need to ride with the tailgate down to fit the golf cart.
I would not recommend making this a habit and would always suggest opting for a trailer. But if you have to use your pickup truck, you will be fine by following the steps above.
If you found this post helpful, you may find value in our article on different golf cart trailer sizes.
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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
