Thermal Equipped Electric Hunting Cart for Night Use

Gman757

Gman757

Well-known member

This has been an ongoing project for the last several years. I think I have finally run out of things to add with the Pulsar HD19A and a waterproof screen.

48 volt electric with limited slip rear end and independent front suspension.

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These KC lights are low output with red lenses and are good for night running.

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Also doubles as a very comfortable hunting blind.

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Originally Posted By: Victor_TNVCNice looking rig! You got IR lenses on those front lights as well?

No IR lights Vic.... I no longer have any Gen 3 NV equipment. When I did I had an IR emitter mounted just under the top.

I am all thermal now. The areas I hunt are usually so thick that I was constantly fighting IR feedback issues with conventional NV.
 
I like the fact that electric kart has all independent suspension, must make for a smooth ride, very few golf karts have that feature.

Probably works pretty good even without 4WD due to the light weight and the large flotation tires too!

Silent, but deadly!!!
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Originally Posted By: SkyPupI like the fact that electric kart has all independent suspension, must make for a smooth ride, very few golf karts have that feature.

Probably works pretty good even without 4WD due to the light weight and the large flotation tires too!

Silent, but deadly!!!
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Yes Pup ..... the old straight axle would beat me up in the woods.....I felt every root and hole. Now it rides like a Cadillac and just floats over the nasty stuff.

4WD is not necessary..... the limited slip rear end is all I need for my area. I am mostly on sandy roads or fields here in north FL so this works well for me.


 
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sweet ride...what company is that gun rest? You said a couple of years and it looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor? Gman you take good care of your equipment.
 
How does ine go about building one? I've wanted to go electric but don't like what I see on the market. Not even sure electric could handle the hills in MO. Have 3 Grizzly 700's with EPS, but it would be nice to sneak around.
 
that look really great Gman! the silent part is great also. mine will go most anywhere but it isn't silent. it's not too bad as long as I putt and don't try to go at a high speed though. and I don't have any thermal setup in it but I usually just drive it out a ways and park it and then walk anyway.

 
Very cool! The Kubota at my bigger club is diesel, and you can hear it from a LONG way off.

We looked at an electric, but haven't made the change.

JPK
 
Originally Posted By: Mr Benellisweet ride...what company is that gun rest? You said a couple of years and it looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor? Gman you take good care of your equipment.

Mr B. This cart also doubles a street legal ride for the neighborhood so I try to keep it clean. The places I hunt all have roads or cleared trails for access so I don't have to go through any really nasty stuff. If I get it covered in mud I just stop at the carwash and pressure wash it on the trailer on the way home.

The gun rack is just a standard model made for carts and I tie wrapped a monopod to it for shooting.

http://www.wheatlandplowing.org/golf-cart-gun-rack/
 
Originally Posted By: cmatera How does ine go about building one? I've wanted to go electric but don't like what I see on the market. Not even sure electric could handle the hills in MO. Have 3 Grizzly 700's with EPS, but it would be nice to sneak around.

Originally Posted By: JPKVery cool! The Kubota at my bigger club is diesel, and you can hear it from a LONG way off.

We looked at an electric, but haven't made the change.

JPK
There is a trade off in range when going electric but the STEALTH factor is huge. I have driven up on lots of animals including packs of coyotes and sounders of hogs. I have never run my batteries down but I have a split 12v/48v electrical system just in case. If my batteries die I can use the 12 volt winch to load it onto my trailer provided I can get the trailer to where the cart is. I also have a very accurate "battery fuel gauge" for monitoring my state of charge.

You can get a unit that is designed for your conditions and they will go anywhere a gas unit will go except submerged in water. I installed a programmable 500 amp controller so that I can switch from a speed motor to a torque motor if needed. I can just hook a laptop up to the controller via USB and install the appropriate field map for the new motor. This cart would literally climb a wall with a torque motor. I have a GE speed motor in now and I have never had any issues climbing hills and it runs 21 MPH.

A friend of mine just bought one of the new Bad Boy units and it looks like a pretty good cart for hunting. They used to be junk but EZGO bought them a few years back and the now they are running 72 volt AC motors. Tons of torque and top speed is 25 mph. They are also making a hybrid 4 WD gas and electric model......you can run on gas for range and switch to electric for stealth.

http://badboybuggies.com

 
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Gman,

I know we had talked about your cart but I had NO idea it was so incredibly useful and cool until I read this thread. If I hadn't been forced to buy a new truck recently I'd be driving a cart like yours by the end of this week... Too bad you don't wanna sell yours and get a hybrid...
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Because of you and SP I won't be able to retire as planned for SEVERAL more years but I guess the fun will be worth it... LOL

Your (currently) broke buddy $bob$
 
Don't be fooled, it is ALLOT of hard work setting up an electric golf cart like that or like my UTV.

I spent countless hours planning, measuring, and configuring mine to get it setup properly and I am certain GMan has too.

The reason I went with the Honda Pioneer 700 is it has a fully hydramatic 3-speed transmission with no belts, 4WD locked differentials, 1,500 pound carrying capacity in the bed which tilts or fold up the seats and seats 4 adults. The 450 watt alternator was also a major consideration for all the extra lights and thermal gear to operate, plus space to mount a permanent 35watt/hr AGM battery under the hood with battery isolator. Top speed is 45mph which is more than plenty for me as I hardly ever go over 20mph. The 5,000 pound winch is great too with 150 feet of steel cable.

With the FoxPro TruckPro electronic caller makes for a mobile coyote calling platform too.

I talked with GMan this past year many times about his and mine setups. It is 16 miles around the perimeter of the backyard, so I could not go electric with all my electrical gear running too.

Plus, I can haul 20 50-pound bags of corn to the feeder without a problem and drag a 500 pound hog home a couple of miles on the sled behind the rig.
 
Originally Posted By: cmatera Only problem with the gas/electric Bad Boy is 2WD in electric mode, and have to use gas AND electric for 4WD (no stealth). Anyone heard of these?

http://www.titanutv.com/catalog/titan-utv-models_1/titan-scout-e2_6

That looks like a nice ATV.

As for the BadBoy hybrid..... I have no personal experience with them but I like the concept. The advantage is stealth AND range combined. The split 2WD design is also a huge advantage. You increase your range by not driving all 4 wheels in either mode. If you run your batteries down you have gas to get you home..... If you need 4WD then use it. IMO if you are hunting in area that requires full time 4WD then you will most likely be better off with pure gas model like Skypup has.

I don't know if you have ever had a golf cart in the woods but you would be very surprised what a standard cart will go through with just a lift kit, high float tires and no other mods. I ran mine for several years without the limited slip rear end and I went through places where I had to use 4WD in my truck. Most of the time I am only pulling one wheel with my motor so I save my batteries....full time 2WD is not even necessary.

There are endless choices when it comes to these types of vehicles because everyone has different requirements based on individual needs. I chose to custom build mine because it is street legal for everyday use and then I can load it on my trailer and take it to the woods. It provides me with with quiet transportation and it's nice to use as a portable hunting blind that can be positioned for whatever wind direction I have.

If I need 4WD I just drive my truck to where I need to go....It is no louder than an ATV and I have killed plenty of hogs from a shooting chair in my truck bed when the setup allows it.

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A guy who leases my farm for hunting has a Bad Boy hybrid. Said it cost him a bunch of $$ (like 2g's) because he accidentally drove it with the diff lock mode on. Titan has eps, 2x2 or 4x4 selectable and three torque selections, BUT they've only been in business seven years, have no dealers or service centers. They even have a 4 seater with a 10kW generator on board. Don't know if the generator is just for the ATV or if it can be used to power other things.
 
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