January 2020 January 2020 | Page 37

the service Golf Cart Stuck in Mud? Golf Cart Stuck in the Sand? There will be many places where the golf cart would have to pass through mud or sand. If the cart is passing through mud and gets stuck, there are some action steps that need to be taken. Tools needed to get golf cart out of the sand: • Tire pressure gauge • Traction mats • Shovel • Rope (14’ or more) • Couple gallons of water • Spare tire • Tow straps Initially, you will need to reduce the weight placed on the golf cart to prevent further sinking of your vehicle. If passengers are sitting on the cart, they should get off the cart, along with their kits and bags. If you have limited space, try using a small shovel and start digging! A hanging bag will help cover the interior and prevent additional sand from going everywhere. Now there is a need to make room for the tires to move a little. Turn your wheels left and right so that the mud will be displaced from the wheels, and you would be able to maneuver through. After doing this, you will have to position your tires in a way that they are pointed straight ahead for the next try. Manual cart drivers are required to shift the gear to neutral to allow the vehicle to move freely. For automatics, use 1 or 2 and slowly give it gas. When your golf cart is stuck in the sand, you will have to first let go let go of the gas. The more your tires struggle, the more they will dig deeper into the sand. Assess the situation and avoid making things worse. Traction mats may prove to be very helpful. Place the mat behind the tires, and begin pushing the cart over the mat. If this strategy does not work, it’s time to grab your shovel: • Use the shovel to remove sand in front of all the tires. • Make a path parallel to the tire depth, and it should be a few feet long in front of each tire. Using this technique, there will be less sand under the wheel; therefore less resistance. If none of the above works, you will need to deflate the tires to get your cart out of the mud. Don’t forget to inflate the tires again. If the above is not working try wetting the sand to further reduce the resistance. If all of the above fails, place the floor mats in front of the tires so that the traction will result in movement of the cart. Tip: Don’t use the gallon jugs because they’re specifically reserved for the engines in case of overheating. Wetting the sand will make it easier to drive get your cart out of the sand. JANUARY 2020 & repair hub 37