Golf carts are one of those loads that look easy and then aren't. They're short, they're wide, they're heavier than most people expect (a stock EZ-GO RXV is 850+ lbs, a lifted Club Car with a lithium pack pushes 1,100), and they sit on hard, narrow, low-grip tires with weak service brakes that were never designed to hold a cart on a 15-degree ramp. Every summer we get calls from Wisconsin renters who tried loading their cart on a friend's flat-deck utility trailer and either watched a tire slip off the ramp or gave up halfway. This guide covers why a ground-load Air Tow is the right trailer for a golf cart, how the popular models actually fit, and what to plan for on the classic Wisconsin routes — lake homes on Green Lake, cottages on Winnebago, Door County peninsulas, and Northwoods runs.
Why Golf Carts Hate Ramps
The problem is a combination of three things:
- Hard tires with minimal contact patch. Golf cart tires are typically 8" or 10" turf tires, hard rubber, low sidewall flex. On a steel or aluminum ramp with morning dew or a light dusting of grass clippings, they slip.
- Weak service brakes. Most golf carts have mechanical drum brakes on the rear wheels only. On a ramp, the front wheels can freewheel and the cart can start to roll before the driver is ready.
- Low ground clearance and short wheelbase. The nose or the rear bumper can catch at the transition where the ramp meets the trailer deck.
Air Tow solves all three. The deck drops to the ground, the transition angle is essentially zero, and the cart rolls on flat pavement instead of climbing steel.
How the Popular Models Actually Fit
EZ-GO RXV, TXT, and Freedom
Stock EZ-GO carts are roughly 47" wide and 94" long. They weigh 850-950 lbs with batteries. All standard EZ-GO models fit comfortably on the Air Tow's deck with room for a spare cooler or clubs in the back corner.
Club Car Precedent and Onward
Club Car runs 48" wide and around 98" long. Same fit story on the Air Tow — straightforward. A lifted Club Car with 22" tires gets slightly taller but no wider, so deck width isn't a concern.
Yamaha Drive2 and G29
Yamaha carts are 47" wide and 95" long, and the newer Drive2 EFI gas models are heavier than the electrics at around 700 lbs plus rider weight. Same easy fit.
Lifted and Custom Carts
Where things get interesting is 6-inch lift kits with 22" or 23" mud tires. Overall width stays under 54" for almost any factory or aftermarket kit, so the Air Tow's deck handles it. Height in transit becomes the concern — confirm your total loaded height clears any garage door or drive-through you'll pass under.
Wheel-Net Straps Are the Right Tie-Down
Ratchet straps around a cart's frame will chew into the plastic body and can pull the sheet-metal roof supports out of alignment. The right tool is a set of wheel-net straps — nylon nets that cinch over each tire and anchor to the trailer deck. Four wheel nets, one at each corner, hold the cart without touching the body. Wheel nets come with the Air Tow rental; you don't need to bring your own.
If you don't have wheel nets, the fallback is soft-loop straps around the front A-arms and rear axle housing, angled outward to resist forward, rearward, and lateral motion. Never strap around the fiberglass body panels, the plastic roof struts, or the windshield frame. And never rely on the parking brake alone — it's designed to hold on level ground, not a moving trailer deck.
Non-negotiable: use wheel nets or soft-loop straps and set them at all four corners. A golf cart moving inside a trailer at highway speed can destroy the cart, the trailer, and anything behind you.
The Wisconsin Lake and Cottage Season Use Case
This is where most of our golf cart rentals go. Wisconsin lake home and cottage owners use carts for the summer, put them away in the fall, and haul them to a repair shop when a battery finally dies or a rear axle bearing goes. Typical routes we see:
Green Lake, Winnebago, and Poygan
Fond du Lac pickup, cart on the Air Tow, out to the lake home in 30-45 minutes. The Air Tow's low deck height is genuinely nice on a gravel drive down to a boathouse where a taller trailer's ramp would be awkward.
Door County
Peninsula golf-cart moves — Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Sister Bay. Longer drive (about 2 hours from Fond du Lac), but the Air Tow with no mileage limits handles it. Book the 24-hour rate and give yourself an unhurried day.
Northwoods (Minocqua, Eagle River, Boulder Junction)
Longer trip, usually a 3-day booking. The Air Tow tows well on the highway — electric brakes, 13,535 lb GVWR, air suspension helps ride quality on rough pavement.
Local Fond du Lac and Around Town
Short cart moves inside the city, out to a country club, or over to a repair shop are $250 for four hours — the minimum window. Not the cheapest option for a two-mile move, but the fastest and easiest.
Tow Vehicle Requirements
The Air Tow is a serious trailer, not a plug-and-play utility. Requirements for a golf cart load:
- 2 5/16" ball rated for at least the loaded trailer weight.
- 7-way trailer plug wired and functioning — the air suspension pump runs off the tow vehicle.
- Working brake controller in the tow vehicle. We rent Bluetooth brake controllers if yours doesn't have one built in.
- Half-ton pickup minimum for a single cart. The Air Tow empty is 3,650 lbs; loaded with a golf cart it's around 4,500-4,800 lbs.
Pricing
- $250 / 4 hours — local golf cart moves, most common booking
- $300 / 24 hours — lake home or repair-shop day trips
- $720 / 3 days — Door County or Northwoods runs
- $1,260 / 1 week — seasonal moves, storage transitions
Pickup is at W4637 Lakepark Drive, Fond du Lac, WI. No mileage limits ever. Text Nick at (920) 381-9770 with the cart make/model and your dates.
FAQ
Can I load the cart myself?
Yes. That's the whole point of a ground-load trailer — one person can push or drive the cart on. A spotter helps if it's your first time, but it isn't required.
Do I need to charge the batteries before loading?
You need enough charge to roll on and off the deck under its own power, or you can push it on if it's dead. Fully charging isn't necessary. If the cart won't roll at all, mention it at booking and we'll plan around it.
What about the top and windshield in transit?
Removable tops are safest to leave on if they're bolted down — they're built for wind. Loose or clip-on tops should come off. Windshield up-position is fine at highway speed for factory windshields; aftermarket units vary. Tie any loose accessories separately.
Can I haul two carts at once?
The Air Tow deck fits two side-by-side if the carts are stock width and the weight stays under 9,885 lbs payload. Tight but doable. Text Nick with the two models and he'll confirm.
Do you rent the trailer for out-of-state trips?
Yes. No mileage limits means Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, or anywhere else you want to take a cart. Longer trips typically go on the 3-day or weekly rate.
What if it's raining when I load?
Rain is worst on a standard ramp trailer where hard cart tires slip. The Air Tow's ground-load essentially eliminates that risk — you're not climbing wet steel. For the tow itself, an enclosed trailer is the choice if you need the cart to arrive dry. Nick can walk you through the tradeoff.
Can I get a longer-term rate?
For seasonal storage moves or repeat commercial customers, text Nick directly. There's usually flexibility on multi-booking or extended-week rates.