weekend.warrior
Golf Cart Wraps
How to Customize Your Golf Cart
Golf cart skins are pretty easy to
install. All it takes is a little time
and some attention to detail.
To start, you’re going to want to
remove a couple of things that
would otherwise get in the way.
Remove the roof, front wind-
shield, seat, and anything on the
back of the cart that prevents you
from fully accessing the body.
Next, wash and dry the cart thor-
oughly. Make sure that the entire
surface of the body is free of
grease, dirt, and any other con-
taminants that might interfere
with bonding. You might need a
bit of rubbing alcohol or degreas-
er for more stubborn spots.
Here is a list of the tools you’re
going to need:
A razor blade or hobby knife.
A hair dryer or heat gun.
A plastic putty knife or small
squeegee.
A bucket of warm, soapy water.
Choose a location on the golf
cart to start the skinning process.
A lot of experts recommend the
front area just underneath the
seat. Why? Because this is a flat,
straight surface on which you
can practice your application
techniques. The cowl would be
a more difficult place to start
because it isn’t flat.
If you ordered a kit designed spe-
cifically for your cart, the various
panels should already be cut to
size. Otherwise, you’ll have to cut
the panels as you need them. Grab your first panel and fit it over
the space it is designed for while leaving the backing paper intact.
You just want to size up the panel before you actually install it.
If you’re starting on the area just below the front of the seat,
you’ll want to mark where the film will cover the charging socket.
Don’t cut the hole just yet. Rather, you’re only marking its po-
sition to give yourself a good idea where to place the film after
removing the backing paper.
When you’re ready, remove the backing paper and position the
film accordingly. Having a friend help you makes the job easier.
There is adhesive on the back of the film that will help it adhere
to the surface of the golf cart body temporarily. The nice thing is
that you can peel and reposition the film as often as you need to.
Once you are satisfied with its position, grab your hair dryer.
Choose a point near the center of the panel to begin applying
heat. Move toward the outside in one direction, pulling and
smoothing the film as you go. Then repeat from the center out
to the other side. As you’re heating the film, you can use your
plastic putty knife or squeegee to remove air bubbles and wrin-
kles. The soapy water might make things easier by reducing the
friction between the putty knife and film.
If the film runs around the front of the body panel, you’ll need to
use your razor blade or hobby knife to cut the corners at the top.
Then fold over the material and heat it to ensure it bonds togeth-
er. That’s it. Now just repeat the process with all the other panels
in your kit.
Always Follow the Instructions
What you have read here is intended to be just a general guide-
line based on how most of the popular wrap kits work. Our
description of wrap installation should not be taken as gospel.
Rather, do what most men are accused of not doing: follow the
instructions that come with your kit. The people who made your
golf cart skin know how to install it better than we do.
For example, don’t use a plastic putty knife if your kit includes a
small widget for removing air bubbles and creases. Do what the
kit makers suggest by using that widget. They may have included
it because a plastic putty knife could harm the wrap.
OCTOBER 2019
39