Author Archive: Don

Destination Recommendation: Bal Harbour

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Located at the top of the Miami Beach island, Bal Harbour is a small village packed with luxury designer shops, elegant, lavish fine dining restaurants, and a beautiful, scenic white sand beach with jogging, biking, and pet walking trails. We also have a rental location in Bal Harbour; you can visit the website here to learn more! If you’re in the area or planning to visit Bal Harbour or anywhere near the Miami Beach area, consider renting a golf cart by using our Bal Harbour rental reservation form!

destination recommendation: bal harbour

Bal Harbour Shops is probably the most popular attraction specific to Bal Harbour. Located only a few minutes away from the beach, Bal Harbour Shops is a high-end luxury shopping center featuring designer brands Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Saint Laurent, and Balmain. But it isn’t only luxury shops – if you’re interested in something more casual, stop by Books & Books and explore thousands of books! Take a look at their calendar to find out when an author event is coming – it’s a relaxing atmosphere all around!

For the newcomers and visitors, Bal Harbour and areas nearby offer all kinds of activities that aren’t your average, ordinary city tour. If you have a large group, consider renting a 6 passenger golf cart – rates start at $275 for 24 hours -, and taking a party of up to 6 on the private boat tour of Miami Beach, departing from the Miami Beach Marina. With the options of a 2, 4, 6, or 8 hour tour, you can experience an unforgettable day on the water on a 20 foot long Bayliner with Bluetooth sound systems and champagne! You’ll cruise through the intercoastal and get to know the beaches, islands, and sandbar of Biscayne Bay, and observe marine life swimming all around you. You can sunbathe, swim, and even snorkel! Life jackets and other safety equipment are included in the package, along with bottled water, soda, and champagne.

You can also experience an extraordinary, incredible aerial view of the city by taking one of the many private plane or helicopter tours! Most aerial tours over Miami are around 50 minutes, and for couples coming in for a vacation, it’s the perfect romantic adventure. As the sun sets over the beach, you’ll experience a breathtaking, enchanting view of the city that you won’t see anywhere else. For those who prefer to stay on land, take the historic coastal bike adventure along the whole length of the Miami Beach island, learning all about the history and culture of the different areas you see! It’s a 20 mile journey that takes around 3 to 4 hours, with a feeling of community among the group taking the adventure with you. For those travelling or visiting with a group, this is the perfect way to keep the party together.

destination recommendation: bal harbour

If you’re coming to the north area of the Miami Beach area, Bal Harbour is a great place to visit and tour, especially with all the different ways you can sightsee. It’s a great place to take a group, and you can get a free rental quote by filling out our Bal Harbour rental reservation form today!

America EV 39 Roadster

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From our specialty golf cart company, America EV, comes dependable, comfortable, and affordable golf carts, assembled from the ground up in our main headquarters in Riviera Beach, and built with purpose and reliability in mind. Today we feature the America EV 39 Roadster, a golf cart similar to the California Roadster in terms of having a design based off the old car after which it is named, but being different in the year the design comes from. While the California Roadster is based off the roadsters from 1932, the 39 Roadster – as its name suggests – is based off the roadsters from 1939. This small difference in years gives the 39 Roadster a more rounded, futuristic look, yet still keeping the spirit of vintage cars in mind.

The 39 Roadster is an all-electric vehicle with a maximum speed of 24mph, and a range of approximately 20 to 25 miles on a single charge. Like our other America EV golf carts, the 39 Roadster is able to be registered as a low speed vehicle (LSV), making it street legal and allowed to be driven on public roads with a posted speed limit of 35mph or less. Other features that make the 39 Roadster eligible for street legal registration are headlights, tail lights, brake lights, horn, and turn signals. Like other America EV carts, the 39 Roadster features a 4-wheel braking system, which includes the use of front wheel hydraulic disk brakes, and frames made from rugged and corrosion-proof all aluminum I-beams.

Not only is the America EV 39 Roadster available for sale, but can also be rented in one of the standard colors; our rental rates page has a table of the various prices depending on the amount of time you’d like to rent the cart.

Standard colors for the 39 Roadster are yellow, red, arctic white, black, and orange, and they can be customized with a color-matched hard top roof, colored flames cascading down the hood, airbrushed wood-patterned sides, custom wheels, and a multitude of additional options you can learn more about on our website.

New Location: Miami

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Fort Lauderdale Golf Cart Rental is pleased to announce a new location in North Miami, making it our third complete showroom! In the future, we plan to open more locations, but our Miami store was just recently opened and filled with a selection of our fleet of reliable and affordable golf carts. If you’re in the northern Miami area and are interested in renting or purchasing a golf cart, our new address is 10705 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33161, and you can contact our rentals department at 786-435-2927, or our customer service at 786-485-3108.

Prime Golf Cars Miami features many brands of golf carts that we deal with on a regular basis, such as new Advanced EV car, and also showcases some of our fleet of used carts from EZGO, Club Car, etc. We also carry multiple types of golf cart accessories and other general products like tires and batteries.

Visit or call today!

America EV 1932 California Roadster

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Not only do we offer a wide range of standard golf carts – both street legal and non street legal – for rental or purchase, Surfside Golf Cart Rental also owns our own golf cart company: America EV. In our main headquarters in Riviera Beach, America EV is run and operated by trained, experienced professionals, who use high-quality, completely new parts, and assemble them by hand from the ground up. America EV golf carts can reach speeds up to 24mph, which qualifies them for street legal certification. This means that they can become registered as low speed vehicles (LSVs), and can then be driven on roads with a posted speed limit of 35mph or less.

Today we feature the America EV 1932 California Roadster, an all-electric vehicle based on the design of the old car of the same name. These vehicles were built in our Riviera Beach location, with street legal features including headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, and seat belts. The frames of the California Roadster are made from rugged and corrosion proof all-aluminum I-beams, and each cart uses a system of Trojan batteries managed by the SEVCON computerized controller, capable of travelling for approximately 20 to 25 miles before needing to be charged.

These carts are available for rental, with rates starting at $295 for a single day rental of a street legal cart (Non street legal is $250 for a single day). Our rates page details the price of longer rental durations.

Standard colors of the California Roadster are Rosso red, black, arctic white, and yellow, but many carts have custom colored flames cascading down the hood, and also have the option of unique graphics and custom paint colors.

In order to charge the California Roadster, all you need to do is plug it into a standard wall outlet. These carts also feature an on-board 12-volt converter that gives an in-dash power source, where a laptop or cell phone can be plugged in and charged. Along with custom paint and graphics, the California Roadster can also be upgraded with features including but definitely not limited to: custom leather seats, a Bluetooth sound system, a backup camera, a color-matched roof, an underglow for under the cart body and/or under the roof, and a security system.

City roads, events, vacation destinations…wherever you may take the America EV 1932 California Roadster, it’s going to be a memorable trip, that much is certain. With a unique cart like one from America EV, you’ll be sure to stand out. If you’d like more information, you can read about the California Roadster and about its specifications on our website.

Destination Recommendation: Las Olas

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If you’re a fan of history, arts, and nature, Las Olas is a great place to visit. Las Olas is a commercial shopping district in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, and its main road, Las Olas Boulevard, is a two and a half mile stretch that takes you past multiple shops, bars, galleries, and more, ending at the beach. South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, the road where Las Olas Boulevard joins at the east end, travels along the beach and gives a great view of the long expanse of crashing waves. When it’s time to take a break from driving, you can park your golf cart just like a car – Fort Lauderdale’s beach has parallel parking, which is a lot easier when driving a golf cart – and have a scenic walk along the beach, while checking out the multitude of shops and restaurants down the drive.

A few miles down the beach road is Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, where you can take a walk through a forest pathway of South Floridian ecology, such as oak trees and mangroves, with small plaques scattered throughout to explain history of the park, and information on the plants and animals. Visitors can also rent a kayak or paddleboard for the long body of water running through the park, and there are multiple hiking and biking trails, along with picnic and camping areas. The beach is also directly across the road for when it’s time for a visit to the waves or a stargazing walk along the sands.

destination recommendation: las olas

Further down Las Olas Boulevard and into the Fort Lauderdale surrounding area, you can find a large selection of museums, perfect for anyone interested in history and arts. Right near the beginning of the boulevard is the historic Stranahan House museum, a house originally built as a trading post in 1901 and converted into a residence in 1906. It is the oldest surviving structure in Broward county, and hosts guided tours in the afternoon as well as various events/presentations throughout the year. Going further west, you can visit the NSU art museum, which features a significant collection of ceramics by Pablo Picasso, or check out the Fort Lauderdale History Center, a historical museum featuring photographs, displays, artifacts, and dioramas. Next to the Fort Lauderdale History Center is the New River Inn, one of the earliest hotels in Fort Lauderdale – built in 1905 -, with one room decorated to appear as a typical hotel room of 1908.

destination recommendation: las olas

If you’re coming to the area and are interested in learning the history of Fort Lauderdale, are a fan of the arts, or enjoy visiting the beach, Las Olas is a great place to check out this summer. As a commercial shopping district, Las Olas Boulevard is filled with all kinds of shops, restaurants, bars, and more, offering something for everyone.

The Benefits of Switching to a Lithium Battery

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Fort Lauderdale Golf Cart Rental is in the business of selling lithium golf cart batteries, most notably Roy Pow lithium batteries. With our turn-key replacement system, anyone can easily convert their golf cart from the standard lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries in less than an hour. Switching to lithium batteries comes with several benefits, and can take you and your golf cart to distances far beyond where it could go before, and then further.

the benefits of switching to a lithium battery

Why choose lithium?

Lithium batteries are slowly beginning to enter the mainstream world of golf carts – they are universal and can be installed in any golf cart. At Fort Lauderdale Golf Cart Rental, not only do we offer Roy Pow lithium batteries, but for a nominal fee, we can install it and easily convert a lead-acid battery system in less than an hour. Roy Pow batteries also come with a 5-year warranty.

When buying a lithium battery, the price is higher than a regular lead-acid battery, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. For one, once that lithium battery is installed, it won’t need to be replaced for up to 10 years – up to 70% in expenditures can be saved over a 5 year period, since it won’t need to be continuously replaced like a lead-acid battery. Roy Pow lithium batteries have a quick charge time of approximately 2.5 hours, and can be rapidly charged to about 80% in only an hour. It takes up to five hours to charge the battery completely, and once fully charged, it will hold that charge for about 8 months when not in use. – they also have a life cycle of up to 3,500 charge cycles. The distance a golf cart can travel depends on the power level of the lithium battery, measured in amp hours (A/H):

56 A/H: 30-35 miles per charge.

105 A/H: 60-65 miles per charge.

160 A/H: 95-100 miles per charge.

Lithium batteries are also much better for the environment, since they aren’t made with harmful chemicals like lead-acid batteries and give off no dangerous fumes. Since they aren’t filled with water either, they don’t need to be maintained like lead-acid batteries, and are considered maintenance free. Roy Pow lithium batteries are much lighter as well – since multiple lead-acid batteries are used to power a cart, the weight increases vastly, but only one lithium battery is needed, and depending on the level of power, can weigh less than 100 pounds. This puts less stress on the golf cart, and allows it to carry more weight and reach higher speeds with less effort. A Roy Pow lithium battery also has multiple built-in safety measures, such as fire detection systems, water spray systems, flammable volatile monitoring and alarms, battery box warnings and protections, battery operating situation monitoring, and anti-collision, along with many other active safety systems. They have systems that prevent them from overcharging, over discharging, short-circuiting, overheating, and even have anti-theft systems and remote GPS tracking, with the ability to check the battery status remotely in real time.

To power a golf cart, 6 or 8 lead-acid batteries are needed. Only one lithium battery is needed to power this whole cart.

Why switch from lead-acid batteries?

Lead-acid batteries are the standard in almost every golf cart, most of the time being flooded lead-acid. These batteries need to be regularly filled with water, and also contain multiple chemicals and gases, including sulfuric acid and lead compounds. Not only are these batteries filled with a multitude of harmful chemicals, they have a possibility of giving off potentially dangerous fumes when plugged in to charge, and can even explode if something goes wrong during charging. The water inside also makes them very heavy, and with 6 or 8 in a golf cart, a lead-acid battery system can add over 300 pounds of weight to a golf cart. When plugging in a golf cart with lead-acid batteries, it’s very important to remember to lift up the seat to ventilate the fumes that may come off the battery, as buildup under the seat can be extremely dangerous. Cart owners with lead-acid battery carts must regularly perform maintenance on them, like waterfilling and terminal tightening, as well as cleaning potentially harmful acid deposits. Lead-acid batteries will also only last a few years at most, with a life cycle of about 500 charges. They need to be charged every day as well, and can take about 12 hours to fully charge. In short, lead-acid batteries do have their benefits and are easy to find, but don’t last long, and need to be replaced often – replacing them also comes with the cost of having them installed.

If you’re interested in switching from lead-acid to lithium batteries, or just want more information, you can visit our lithium battery site to view the various types of lithium batteries available and contact us using the phone number or contact form.

the benefits of switching to a lithium battery

How to Prepare Your Golf Cart for Long-Term Self-Storage

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If you would prefer to store your golf cart on your own property rather than in a storage facility, there are several important steps to take to ensure that your golf cart stays in top condition during the off-season or time it’s not in use. Even when storing your golf cart for long periods of time, there is more to it than simply tucking the cart away in a shed for months at a time. Golf carts still require periodic maintenance when not in use, but following the right guidelines to storing your golf cart will keep it preserved and ready for when it’s time to be brought out again.

Battery Preparation

When preparing your golf cart for storage, you’ll want to first perform some basic battery maintenance. Begin by disconnecting battery cables, and clean any corrosion from the cables and battery by using a mix of baking soda and warm water (or white vinegar and water) – baking soda neutralizes acid corrosion. Fully charge the battery, as batteries will naturally self-discharge when not in use. When disconnecting the battery charger, unplug it from the AC outlet before unplugging it from the cart. Using only distilled water, refill the batteries, making sure the cart has been fully charged. Do not refill the batteries before fully charging your cart, as this can lead to electrolyte overflow.

Turn the key switch off to turn off everything on the cart, and depending on your cart, you’ll have either a Run/Tow switch or a Run/Maintenance switch. Flip this switch to “tow” or “maintenance” in order to reduce battery discharge and fire risks. Finally, disconnect the main positive and negative connections – it’s recommended to tape the connections together in order to not forget where they go.

You’ll want to periodically check in on your charge and water levels – especially in warmer climates, the water levels can slowly decrease due to evaporation, and batteries will self-discharge when left unused for extended periods of time. It’s recommended to return to your cart every 2-4 weeks and check these levels – fully recharge and refill the batteries as needed.

Tire Checks

Before putting the golf cart in storage, you’ll want to inflate your tires as high as possible without over inflating them. When the cart is stationary for long periods of time, the tires naturally deflate from the weight of the cart, possibly causing damage to the tires like flat spots. When checking in on the cart as recommended, inflate the tires every two weeks and move the cart slightly, applying pressure to a different part of the tire.

Another option is storing the golf cart off the ground – raise the cart up onto jack stands, which will take pressure off the tires and ensure that no flat spots will form.

General Cleaning

Even in the best storage, moisture will still be produced. Inspect your cart to make sure there are no rust spots, and if there are, cover them with fresh paint. Rust spots can increase from moisture in the air if left untreated, and any other markings will also worsen with extreme temperatures. Be sure to remove any crumbs that may be on the seats, as they can grow and harbor bacteria in the time the cart is stored, and make sure to clean the flooring and upholstery to prevent any possible molding. Remove any rugs or carpets, cut and polish any scratches, and replace spark plugs if needed. Other things to clean include any dirt or grime, bird or other animal droppings, mirrors, fuel, air, and oil filters, and cables and connectors.

Storage

An important tip to remember is to leave the cart in neutral when storing it, and if storing it on the ground, keep it on a level surface and surround the wheels with bricks or other heavy objects to keep it from rolling. Do not keep the parking brake engaged – this can damage the cart.

Most golf carts will fit in a 10×10 enclosed space – placing the golf cart inside is critical and will prevent any damage that could be caused by harsh weather and below freezing or exceedingly high temperatures. A garage is a good option, although it can take up space that may be needed for cars, so storing it in a small shed is another ideal choice.

Even though the cart is inside, always use a protective cover to keep dust and dirt off the cart. If you don’t have a cover specifically for golf carts, a large canvas cloth will suffice – the most important thing is simply making sure the cart is covered.

Even when not in use, your golf cart still needs periodic maintenance, so it’s important to follow these steps to ensure that your golf cart is sufficiently prepared for storage and regularly checked in on, so when it comes time to use it again, it’ll still be in top condition.

 

Street Legal Golf Carts in Lauderdale by the Sea

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Street Legal Golf Carts In Lauderdale By The Sea is becoming very popular. Many people in Fort Lauderdale have taken a liking to LSV Golf Carts. They are  low-speed, compact and very environmentally friendly, and a lot of the local officials see them as a good fit for the community. This is a better way for the locals to get around town.

The town is looking into making things easier  for people who drive LSV carts to park in the crowded commercial area. The city is planning to make some of the parking spaces for street legal golf cart only parking. By converting one regular space to LSV parking spaces we can park up to 4 LSV carts in one car space which leaves more room for cars to park.

City officials don’t know how many Street Legal Golf Carts In Lauderdale By The Sea are in town, but said they’re seeing them with increasing frequency. The officials said they can make sense in compact communities like Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Sea Ranch Lakes and Lighthouse Point. They are even practical in upscale neighborhoods like Harbor Beach in Fort Lauderdale.

Why would you jump in the big Cadillac Escalade to go half a mile to get something to eat when you can drive your Cadillac Escalade Golf Cart ? You would take you Full size Escalade if you were driving to Boca Raton.

We have seen a sales spike when the price of gas goes up. We also find it very common for people to drive them around town because they’ve seen someone else in the neighborhood driving around town with one. I think as people start seeing more of the LSV vehicles around town, more people will want  to own one of them. The Street Legal Golf Carts In Lauderdale By The Sea would help create a clean environment for us to live in and would also reduce the parking problems in the downtown area..

Unlike for standard golf carts, Florida law requires the LSV to have headlights, brake lights, turn signals, seat belts, a windshield, parking brakes and a vehicle identification number. The electric vehicles are designed not to exceed 25 mph, must be registered and legally insured, and any operator must have a valid driver’s license.

The vehicles can only be driven on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, which covers the whole town. City officials are considering buying several LSV carts to help with code and parking enforcement operations. They are cheaper to run and they give you a lot more interaction with pedestrians.