Golf Cart Winter Storage Tips: Your Ultimate Winter Guide

Proper golf cart winter storage is the most effective way to protect your investment and ensure it’s ready to roll when the weather warms up. While some enjoy using specially equipped winter recreation golf carts, most owners will need to store their vehicles for an extended period. For any golf cart owner, taking the time to properly winterize your golf cart before the cold weather hits prevents costly repairs and guarantees a seamless start to the next season.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps, from battery care to final placement, ensuring your cart weathers the winter months in peak condition.

Key Steps for Golf Cart Winter Storage

Follow these detailed recommendations to prepare your cart for its hibernation.

Step 1: A Deep Clean from Top to Bottom

Before it goes into storage, give your winter golf cart a thorough cleaning. Remove all dirt, mud, and grime from the body, undercarriage, and wheels. This prevents corrosion and keeps the finish pristine. Pay special attention to the battery compartment. If you see corrosion on the terminals of a lead acid battery, clean it off with a paste of baking soda and water. A clean cart is less likely to have issues when stored. Using a golf cart cover on a dirty vehicle can trap moisture and debris, causing damage.

Step 2: Battery Preparation: The Most Crucial Step

How you store your golf cart battery is critical, especially when temperatures are dropping below freezing. The process for storing an electric golf cart for winter varies significantly based on battery type.

• For Lead-Acid Batteries: The goal is to prevent freezing and discharge. First, check the fluid levels in each cell and top off with distilled water if needed. The next step is to fully charge the battery. A discharged or partially charged lead acid battery can freeze and crack. Once charged, the best practice is to disconnect the batteries to prevent a slow drain. If you choose to leave the batteries connected, you must use a quality battery tender or maintainer designed for a golf cart to keep them optimally charged throughout the extended periods of storage.
  
• For Lithium-Ion Batteries: The rules are different for lithium ion batteries. Do NOT charge your batteries to 100%. Most manufacturers recommend storing them with a partial charge, typically between 50% and 70%. Lithium ion batteries have a very low self-discharge rate, so there is no need for a tender. Simply charge it to the recommended level and disconnect it. Always consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions. Proper care for your batteries during winter storage is paramount.

Step 3: Address the Fuel System (Gas Carts)

If you have a gas-powered cart for winter storage, you have two options. You can either drain the fuel tank completely to prevent the gas from gumming up the carburetor, or you can fill the tank and add a quality fuel stabilizer. The stabilizer will keep the fuel fresh and protect the engine components during the winter months. After adding the stabilizer, run the engine for a few minutes to circulate it through the system.

Step 4: Inflate Tires and Relieve Brake Pressure

Check the tire pressure and inflate all tires to the manufacturer's recommended PSI. This helps prevent flat spots from developing while the cart is stationary. To relieve tension on the brake cables, place chocks or blocks behind the wheels to prevent rolling, and then disengage the parking brake.

Step 5: Find a Secure Location and Use a Protective Cover

The ideal place to store your golf cart is in a dry, secure location like a garage or shed. This protects it from the elements and potential theft. If your chosen storage location is off-site, you'll need a safe method for moving your vehicle. A set of durable aluminum golf cart ramps makes loading your cart onto a truck or trailer a simple and secure process.

For ultimate protection once it's in place, invest in high-quality golf cart winter covers. A durable, weather-resistant protective cover will shield your vehicle from dust, moisture, and pests. Quality golf cart winter covers are a small investment that pays off by preserving your cart's condition.

Step 6: Final Checks Before You Walk Away

Before leaving your cart for its long winter nap, turn the key to the "OFF" position and remove it. Set the forward/reverse switch to the "NEUTRAL" position. Following this complete process of winterizing a golf cart ensures every component is properly prepared.

Conclusion: Ready for Spring

Taking these steps to winterize a golf cart may seem like a lot of work, but it will save you from headaches and expensive repairs down the road. When spring arrives, your electric golf cart or gas model will be ready for action. And if you’re one of the few who brave the cold in winter recreation golf carts, this regular maintenance will keep your vehicle running smoothly all year long.

FAQs About Winterizing Your Golf Cart

1. How to winterize a golf cart?

Winterizing a golf cart involves a full-system preparation for cold-weather storage. The key steps include:

• Thoroughly Clean: Wash the body, undercarriage, and battery compartment to prevent corrosion.
• Prepare the Battery: Fully charge lead-acid batteries and check water levels, or partially charge lithium-ion batteries (to 50-70%). Disconnect the batteries or use a battery tender for lead-acid models.
• Manage the Fuel System (Gas Carts): Either drain the fuel tank completely or fill it and add a quality fuel stabilizer, running the engine briefly to circulate it.
• Inflate Tires: Inflate tires to the recommended PSI to prevent flat spots.
• Secure the Cart: Chock the wheels and disengage the parking brake to relieve cable tension.
• Cover It: Use a high-quality, weather-resistant golf cart cover to protect it from the elements, especially if stored outdoors.
• Finalize Position: Turn the key off, remove it, and place the forward/reverse switch in neutral.

2. How to winterize an electric golf cart?

Winterizing an electric golf cart focuses primarily on battery care, as that is the vehicle's most critical component. The process is as follows:

• Clean the Cart: Perform a deep clean of the entire cart, paying special attention to the battery terminals and connections.
• Service the Batteries: This is the most important step. For lead-acid batteries, check fluid levels, top off with distilled water, and then fully charge them. For lithium-ion batteries, charge them to the manufacturer-recommended storage level, typically 50-70%.
• Disconnect or Maintain: Disconnect the fully charged batteries to prevent them from draining. If you have a lead-acid model and prefer to leave them connected, you must use an automatic battery tender to maintain the charge throughout the winter.
• Tires, Brakes, and Storage: Follow the standard procedure of inflating tires to the correct pressure, securing the cart with wheel chocks, disengaging the parking brake, and using a protective cover.

3. How to store an electric golf cart for winter?

Storing an electric golf cart for winter involves the full winterization process with a special emphasis on the location and battery maintenance. After cleaning the cart and preparing the batteries (fully charged for lead-acid, 50-70% for lithium), you should:

• Choose a Dry Location: A garage, shed, or dedicated storage unit is ideal to protect the electrical components from moisture.
• Disconnect Power: Disconnect the main battery pack to prevent any parasitic drain from accessories or the controller.
• Prevent Rolling: Use wheel chocks instead of relying on the parking brake, which can cause the cables to stretch or seize over time.
• Cover the Cart: Use a quality, breathable cover to keep dust and pests out while allowing air to circulate.

4. Can you store a golf cart outside in the winter?

Yes, you can store a golf cart outside in the winter, but it requires extra protection. If indoor storage isn't an option, you must:

• Perform a complete winterization process as described above.
• Invest in a heavy-duty, waterproof, and weather-resistant golf cart cover. This is non-negotiable. A standard dust cover will not protect it from rain, snow, and ice.
• If possible, park it on a paved surface rather than grass to prevent moisture from coming up from the ground.
• Periodically check on the cart, especially after heavy snow or rain, to ensure the cover is secure and no water has pooled on top.

5. How to store golf cart batteries in the winter?

Properly storing your golf cart batteries is the single most important part of the winterization process. The method depends on the battery type:

For Lead-Acid Batteries:

1. Clean the terminals to remove any corrosion.
2. Check and top off the water levels with distilled water.
3. Fully charge the batteries. A discharged battery can freeze and crack in cold temperatures.
4. The best option is to disconnect the battery pack's main positive and negative cables to prevent any power drain.
5. Alternatively, if you leave them connected, you must use a battery tender or maintainer to keep them at a full charge throughout the storage period.

For Lithium-Ion Batteries:

1. Do not store them fully charged. Charge them to the level recommended by the manufacturer, which is usually between 50% and 70%.
2. Disconnect the batteries.
3. Lithium batteries do not require a tender and are much more resilient to cold, but they should still be protected within the cart under a proper cover.