Golf carts are increasing in popularity as a top choice in recreational transport, and adding a golf cart lift kit can help bring new functionality and performance to any cart.
In this guide, we’ll break down what a golf cart lift kit is, what they do, some of the best brands, and where you can look for them online.
Read on to learn more.
What Is a Golf Cart Lift Kit?
Golf cart lift kits are aftermarket parts that can be installed on a golf cart that allows the cart’s height to be raised (typically from 3” all the way to 12”). There are a few reason to install a lift kit on a golf cart, which we’ll cover next.
Why Install A Lift Kit On A Golf Cart
The better question is, why not get a lift kit for your golf cart? The benefits of golf cart lift kits range from practical to superficial, but all serve to make your golf cart more fun, which is a win in our book.
Here are some of the main reasons to install a golf cart lift kit on your cart:
- Clearance: If you’re going off road with your golf cart, a lift kit will allow extra clearance for getting over brush, rocks, and water, allowing you to take your golf cart places you couldn’t go before.
- Stability & Safety: Adding a golf cart lift kit can widen your wheelbase, providing more safety and overall stability to your cart. This can be very important depending on the terrain and slopes you’re driving on.
- Better Looks: Most golf cart owners love the additional look a lift kit adds to their setup. This makes the cart look a bit more substantial overall and heightens the ATV look that lifted golf carts sometimes have.
- Performance: In addition to being able to get over more kinds of terrain, a lifted golf cart also has better performance on smooth terrain and an overall smoother ride due to the quality of aftermarket shocks included in some lift kit packages.
- Room for Larger Wheels and Tires: The look of a nice, large low-profile tire on a lifted kit is really slick. Or, you may need larger tires to properly handle certain kinds of terrain, but your stock cart won’t fit those tires. A golf cart lift kit can make it happen for you.
Types of Golf Cart Lift Kits
There are several different types of golf cart lift kits out there, and choosing the right one really depends on your intended purpose, preferred installation method, and the make and model of cart you’re installing the lift kit on. Let’s walk through these different types below.
A-Arm Golf Cart Lift Kits
These nearly replace your entire cart’s front suspension, offering a smoother and more comfortable ride. They also allow installation of larger tires than offered on a stock cart. A-Arm lift kits also have the added benefit of looking great on nearly any setup.
Drop Axle Golf Cart Lift Kits
Drop Axle lift kits are a great affordable solution for lifting your cart. These kits (as stated in the name) replace your stock front axle with a drop-axle design, lengthening your axle height and allowing you to keep your stock spindles with your new lift kit, saving time and money on the process.
The trade-off with drop axle kits is that while they’re affordable and easy to install, they won’t ride as smooth as A-Arm or Spindle kits.
Spindle Golf Cart Lift Kits
Also called drop spindle lift kits, these are the most popular. Spindle lift kits are affordable, easy to install, and use your cart’s existing suspension, simply replacing and increasing your cart’s stock spindle size and length, which adds a wider stance and more stability to your cart.
You can go for larger offset wheels and custom tire setups when using spindle lift kits, and they’re offered in standard and heavy-duty varieties.
Block Type Golf Cart Lift Kits
Block lift kits are affordable, easy to install, and give your cart in immediate height boost (typically around 4”). These kits involve block-shaped steel pieces that fit under your cart’s existing suspension to lift the cart.
Block lift kits are cheap and a breeze to install, but won’t provide as smooth as a ride when compared to other lift kit types. Keep in mind that you’re literally using the same suspension that your current cart has, so how it feels today is how it’s going to feel once you install the block.
Long Travel Golf Cart Lift Kits
If you want to transform your golf cart in to an ATV-like powerhouse, long travel lift kits are where it’s at. These kits are the most expensive of the bunch, but for good reason: they have independent front and rear suspension systems and incredible shock absorption.
Also called extreme duty lift kits, these usually come in lift heights of 6-8”.
Coil-Over Golf Cart Lift Kits
These are a variation of long travel and extreme duty lift kits featuring a front independent suspension and a fixed rear suspension, helping to lower the cost.
All About Golf Cart Lift Kit Sizes and Heights
The height of your lift kit is going to play a big factor in what kinds of terrain you can tackle with it, as well as what size tires your cart can handle.
Here are some of the typical lift kit sizes you’ll encounter along with their uses.
Common Golf Cart Lift Kit Sizes
3” Golf Cart Lift Kits
Great for adding tires of up to 20” to your cart, you can find these kits in A-Arm, Spindle Lift, and Drop Axle styles. If you’re looking for your cart to be close to stock but want the extra functionality or tire room a 3” kit is a great bet.
4” Golf Cart Lift Kits
4” kits are usually Block-style lifts and will also accommodate up to 20” tires.
5” Golf Cart Lift Kits
While not nearly as popular as 6” kits, 5” kits will allow you to put up to 22” tires on Yamaha and Club Car carts, and up to 23” tires on E-Z-GO carts.
6” Golf Cart Lift Kits
The 6” lift kit is the most popular size out there, fitting all models of golf carts to fit nearly any tire (up to 23”) and offer plenty of wheel well space.
Extreme Duty (7” to 12”) Golf Cart Lift Kits
If you’re looking for huge tires, handling rough terrain, or otherwise need extreme suspension capability, an extreme duty lift kit is for you. Long-travel and coil-over lift kits both fall in this category.
What’s The Best Golf Cart Lift Kit For My Tire Size?
We’ve got some easy-to-reference tables organized by make to help you choose the best lift kit for your desired tire size. We hope this will make things quite a bit easier for you when planning your custom setup.
Yamaha Golf Cart Lift Kits by Tire Size
Yamaha keeps things pretty tight on space, so unless you’ve got a DRIVE G29 model (which can accept up to 20” tires without modification), you’re going to be looking at a lift kit for non-stock tires on most Yamaha models.
| 18″ Tires (Common Sizes: 205/50-10″, 205/30-12″, 215/35-12″ | Lift Kit Not Needed |
| 19″ Tires (Common Sizes: 215/40-12″, 205/30-14″) | Lift Kit Not Needed |
| 20″ Tires | 1″ to 3″ Lift Kit Needed |
| 20.5″ Tires (Common Sizes: 205/65-10″, 215/50-12″, 205/40-14″) | 3″ Lift Recommended |
| 22″ Tires | 4″ Lift Recommended |
| 23″ Tires | 6″ Lift Recommended |
| 25″ Tires | 8″ Lift Recommended |
Club Car Golf Cart Lift Kits by Tire Size
Similar to Yamaha, you’ll probably need a lift kit to accommodate most non-stock tires on Club Car carts.
| 18″ Tires (Common Sizes: 205/50-10″, 205/30-12″, 215/35-12″) | Lift Kit Not Needed |
| 19″ Tires (Common Sizes: 215/40-12″, 205/30-14″) | Lift Kit Not Needed |
| 20″ Tires | 1″ to 3″ Lift Kit Needed |
| 20.5″ Tires (Common Sizes: 205/65-10″, 215/50-12″, 205/40-14″) | 3″ Lift Recommended |
| 22″ Tires | 4″ Lift Recommended |
| 23″ Tires | 6″ Lift Recommended |
| 25″ Tires | 8″ Lift Recommended |
E-Z-GO Golf Cart Lift Kits by Tire Size
Most E-Z-GO Carts have space to handle up to 20” tires on a stock setup. Look beyond 20” though, and you’re need to install a lift kit.
| 18″ Tires (Common Sizes: 205/50-10″, 205/30-12″, 215/35-12″) | Lift Kit Not Needed |
| 19″ Tires (Common Sizes: 215/40-12″, 205/30-14″) | Lift Kit Not Needed |
| 20″ Tires | Lift Kit Not Needed thru 2014 |
| 20.5″ Tires (Common Sizes: 205/65-10″, 215/50-12″, 205/40-14″) | 3″ Lift Recommended |
| 22″ Tires | 3-4″ Lift Recommended |
| 23″ Tires | 5-6″ Lift Recommended |
| 25″ Tires | 7-8″ Lift Recommended |
Should I Buy A Golf Cart Lift Kit That Includes Tires?
Since you’re already the type of person who is looking in to modding your golf cart, we’re willing to make a safe bet that you like getting in to the particulars of each aspect: choosing your specific lift kit, hand-selecting the best tires based on reviews, and so on. If that’s the case, then just refer to the above tables to get the best kit for your desired tire size and roll on.
Alternatively, buying an all-in-one kit ensures that you’ve got a great match of tire and lift kit as well as any additional parts or accessories, and takes the guesswork out of building your setup. If you’re hands-on but not super experienced, an all-in-one kit is for you.
What Are The Best Golf Cart Lift Kit Brands?
As a general rule, all of the following manufacturers provide lift kits for the most popular brands of golf carts out there, including Club Car, E-Z-GO, Yamaha, and more. As a good practice, always double check each manufacturer when purchasing your lift kit.
Here are the most popular Golf Cart Lift Kit brands (in no specific order):
- Jakes
- MadJax
- All Sport
- RHOX
- Double Take
- GTW
All of these manufacturers make reliable, high-quality golf cart lift kits. The main thing is to ensure compatibility with your make and model of cart and your desired tire size before purchasing and attempting an install.
What Is The Best Golf Cart Lift Kit For My Golf Cart?
We’ve done our best to break down some of the best choices for golf cart lift kits out there today, but there are a lot of factors at play here: what make, model, and year your cart is, what your intended use is, your desired lift height, and the tire size you’re going after.
Take the following suggestions in mind if they fit your end result, but as a rule of thumb always double check for compatibility and make sure to read other purchasers’ reviews for additional information.
The Best Club Car Golf Cart Lift Kits
Take a look below at some of the best golf cart lift kits for Club Car models.
Club Car DS 6” Double A-Arm Golf Cart Lift Kit
- Fits Most 1982-2003.5 models (DS 82-03.5 Electric & 97-03.5 Gas Models)
- Easy-to-follow full color instructions
- No cutting and no-weld design – easy bolt-on application
- 6” Lift allows for up to 23” tires
- Must have metal steel dust covers on front hub of cart in order to fit
- Pros: Works on both electric and gas carts, lets you make camber and tow adjustments, includes durable urethane bushings for max protection
- Cons: Fits older cart models, requires metal dust covers on cart for proper fit, only fits Club Car models.
Club Car Precedent 6” Double A-Arm Golf Cart Lift Kit
- Fits 2004 & Up, Electric or Gas Models
- Made from durable steel, designed to lengthen your golf cart’s wheel base
- No cutting, no-weld design
- High-gloss black powder coated finish
- Pros: Easy to follow instructions make for a smooth install, additional real brackets included, can rase your cart over 2 feet
- Cons: Adds a good bit of addition weight to cart, some users complain of difficulty adjusting the wheels
Club Car Precedent 6” A-Arm Golf Cart Lift Kit
- Clearance for 23” Tires
- Fits Precedent Electric and Gas models
- Easy maintenance with grease fittings
- Toe and Camber Front End Alignment
- Increased Suspension Travel is great for Rough Terrain
- Pros: Easy to maintain, wide compatibility, grease fittings for extra lubrication
- Cons: a little pricey for a standard kit
The Best E-Z-GO Golf Cart Lift Kits
Take a look below at some of the best golf cart lift kits for E-Z-GO models.
E-Z-GO Drop Axle Golf Cart Lift Kit
- Fits E-Z-GO TXT & Medalist (2001.5 – 2018 Electric Carts only)
- No cut, no weld installation
- Includes Front AND Rear lift pieces
- All-Alloy High Strength hardware
- Detailed Instructions and a 4-year warranty
- Pros: 4-Year warranty provides extra peace of mind, includes front and rear pieces, easy installation
- Cons: price point, limited compatibility (TXT and Medalist models only)
E-Z-GO All-Terrain Golf Cart Tires and Lift Kit Combo
- Fits TXT/Medalist 94-01.5 Electric models with old 3-bolt style steering columns
- 23” All-Terrain Tires included
- Comes with lift kit, 4 Tires, 4 All-Black Terminator Golf Cart Wheels, & Lug Nuts
- Tires come mounted on wheels and aired up to recommended pressure
- Pros: everything’s included in this kit for a full-on installation, great-looking wheels included, holds up to 1,000 pounds
- Cons: expensive, not compatible with gas models
E-Z-GO 6” Drop Axle Golf Cart Lift Kit
- Includes front and rear lift
- Fits 94-01.5 models with 3-bolt patterns and 01.5-13 models with 4-bolt patterns
- All-alloy high strength hardware included
- One of the strongest, safest, and easiest kits to install
- Pros: affordable price, great customer support, kit can be adapted to most carts and bolt patterns
- Cons: U-bolt not included, some drop brackets may require cutting
The Best Yamaha Golf Cart Lift Kits
Take a look below at some of the best golf cart lift kits for Yamaha models.
Yamaha Freedom Off-Road Performance 4” Golf Cart Lift Kit
- Fits G14, G16, and G19 Yamaha carts
- Includes front and rear lift pieces
- 4” lift provides clearance for 20” tall tires
- Lifetime warranty
- Includes all necessary pieces and easy-to-follow installation instructions
- Pros: Affordable price point, lifetime warranty
- Cons: Limited compatibility
Frequently Asked Questions on Golf Cart Lift Kits
Why Should I Choose a 3” Lift Kit over a 6” Lift Kit?
If you don’t need 23” tires or the height a 6” kit offers, a 3” kit will be great for giving your cart a low-profile lift. They’re excellent for keeping your cart’s looks close to stock while allowing your cart to handle extra weight and up to 20” tires.
Why Should I Choose a 6” Lift Kit over a 3” Lift Kit?
The 6” lift kit is the most popular size because it gives most golf carts the highest amount of clearance and allows for up to 23” all-terrain tires. Bottom line is that if you plan on doing a lot of off-roading, 6” is your best bet here.
Does Golf Cart Wheel Size Matter When Choosing My Lift Kit?
Bottom line, no. The wheel or rim size is not important, but the tire size is absolutely critical. Nearly all golf cart wheels and rims can accept tires of any reasonable size (like the ones mentioned in this guide), and that’s the key factor here. Focus on tire size, not on rim or wheel size when making your choice.
Can I Use A Positive Offset Wheel Setup With A Golf Cart Lift Kit?
No. Lifted carts require wheels with a negative offset- this allows the larger wheels and tires to fit under your lift kit without any problems.
Can I Lift My Golf Cart Without Buying Or Installing A Lift Kit?
Sure! You won’t get the same effect as a full-on lift kit will bring you, but you can install some low-profile 14” tires for a small boost in height.
Can I Just Build A Homemade Golf Cart Lift Kit?
There’s the old saying of “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. We don’t recommend it for many reasons, but the big two of safety of you and your passengers, along with protecting your investment should be reason enough.
How Much Extra Weight Can A Golf Cart Lift Kit Help My Cart Hold?
Typically, adding a lift kit to a golf cart will help it hold or haul up to 100 pounds of additional weight. You can even increase that load capacity by another 100 to 200 pounds by adding some heavy duty leaf springs to your cart if needed or desired.
Final Thoughts on Golf Cart Lift Kits
We hope this guide helped you with narrowing down which tire size, lift height, and lift style is best for your golf cart.
If you’re just getting started, read through our guide on how much a golf cart costs and how long do golf cart batteries last for some basics.
If you’ll be towing your golf cart, also be sure to see our article on how much a golf cart weighs so you can make sure to get the proper towing vehicle, make sure you have space to store your golf cart properly, and more.
If you don’t have a trailer, check out our article on will a golf cart fit in a truck bed.
Looking for other ways to trick your golf cart out? Take a look at our guide to the best golf cart bluetooth speakers!
