The ground clearance of your golf cart is the measurement between the differential on the cart and the ground beneath it.
It is NOT the measurement of your tire height but how far they lift the lowest part of your cart from the ground.
Between the different cart manufacturers, you have a somewhat consistent but not always similar level of ground clearance.
And it is possible to change this level with some work.
What is the Ground Clearance of a Golf Cart?
Specs of a Typical EZGO Cart
The ground clearance of an EZGO golf cart is about 4.5 inches or 11 centimeters.
This distance is pretty common among other golf carts, as well, though may vary depending on the design methods between each manufacturer.
EZGO carts typically utilize many of the same dimensions between each model to create a uniform style and look between them.
As a result, the ground clearance of these carts is typically about the same.
First of all, let’s get a feel for the overall length, width, and height of a standard EZGO cart.
Most are about 93 inches or 236 centimeters long.
This length should be more than enough for most drivers and will likely provide more than enough room for many passengers.
The overall width is about 47 inches or 119 centimeters.
This width is much shorter than the length, which is typical for carts – they are usually about half as wide as they are long.
And they are 46.5 inches or 118 centimeters without a canopy and 67.5 inches or 171 centimeters with a canopy.
As for other dimensions, the wheel base is 66 inches or 168 centimeters – just a little over the width of the vehicle – with the front wheel track between 34 inches or 86 centimeters and the rear wheel track being 38.5 inches or 97 centimeters.
Specs of a Typical Yamaha Cart
The ground clearance of a Yamaha golf cart is 4.3 inches or 11 centimeters
This is shorter than the standard EZGO cart, which is important to consider if you plan on shopping for any of these carts soon.
Though the difference is quite small, it can make a difference if you end up on rough hills and difficult terrain.
Yamaha golf carts are designed slightly differently than EZGO and are focused more on ease of use, inexpensive but sturdy designs, and affordability.
However, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t built very well and are often among the most popular types on the market.
And their total ground clearance and their different specs are all very diverse and must be understood if you want to get the most out of them.
We’ll examine two different carts here to give you an idea – models with two forward and two rear-facing seats and one with all-forward facing seats.
Both carts have a four-person capacity and very similar overall widths and heights – the width for both is 47.2 inches or 120 centimeters and the height – with sun top is 70.4 inches or 179 centimeters and without the sun top is 47.2 inches or 120 centimeters.
The length of the first model is 112.3 inches or 285 centimeters while the second is 128 inches or 325 centimeters.
The first has a turning radius of 2.8 meters while the second has one of 4.24 meters, making the second a broader cart to ride.
And the wheel base of both models is 64.6 inches or 164 centimeters, with the front wheel tread being 34.3 inches or 87 centimeters and the rear wheel being 38.6 inches or 98 centimeters.
Specs for a Typical Club Car Cart
The ground clearance of a Club Car golf cart is about 4.5 inches or 11 centimeters
As you can see, this puts it at about the same clearance as an EZGO but higher than a Yamaha.
But what can you do if none of these carts have the lift that you want?
You can install a lift kit that is designed to make your golf cart taller and more attractive and higher off of the ground.
A Club Car golf cart has a pretty specific range of dimensions that make it very simple to understand.
It utilizes an I-beam style frame that makes it fairly tall and wide compared to some other carts.
It also has a pretty standard ground clearance for golf carts throughout the market, being a little higher than a standard Yamaha cart to provide you with the lift that you need for many driving situations.
First of all, the overall height is about 69 inches or 175 centimeters with a length of 91.5 inches or 232 centimeters.
The width of this cart is pretty similar to others on the market – 47.25 inches or 120 centimeters.
Remember – these carts must fit on a standard golf cart path, so they are often very much the same in width and general size with only minor variations between their designs.
Why Ground Clearance Matters for Your Cart
Most golf cart owners don’t have to worry about ground clearance because they are likely to be riding on smooth ground that doesn’t challenge this aspect of their cart.
On a golf cart, the hills and valleys are designed to be a challenge but if you stick to the cart path, your cart won’t experience any difficulties.
And on most golf carts, the clearance built into the cart should be more than enough to handle even the hilliest course, unless you go off-road in a way that the manufacturer did not intend.
But if you own a golf cart on private property and take it out in rough terrain, your ground clearance is going to matter a lot more.
For example, bottoming out – i.e., getting stuck on a hill that is too tall for your cart’s clearance – is not only embarrassing and frustrating but can be damaging to your cart.
As a result, it is critical to understand this element of your cart and to take steps to address it if you find that your EZGO, Yamaha, or Club Car cart has too shallow of ground clearance for where you want to ride.
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