Technical
Utility Vehicles
Which one is right for you?
Ian Mitchell, a former Senior Training Technician at Cutting Edge Training, now runs his own training company. In this article for his former employer, he looks at utility vehicles - the options available and which one is right for you
I
f you’re in the market for a new utility vehicle the current choice and list of options has to be the widest it has ever been. Not only is there a choice of brands but, within each brand, there is
a wide range to choose from. Application
Any decision has to be made with a real focus on what the vehicle is actually going to do for you. The application has to be the starting point and, from that, you can develop a list of minimum requirements in terms of the payload, transmission capabilities, ground clearance, engine power, transmission type and comfort requirements. A golf buggy derived utility vehicle will have a smooth and quiet ride, but it won’t like rough ground or load carrying duties.
Key questions to ask would include the following:
- How many people will it need to carry, what type of ground will it run on?
- How far will it have to travel in a day, how long will a working day be?
- What will it carry, how much weight, and how big will the cargo box need to be?
- Will it be used to tow a trailer?
There are several tyres, or categories within the utility vehicle market, and
116 I PC APRIL/MAY 2016
understanding these will assist in selecting the right one for your application.
The Golf Car
The least expensive, and the most popular due to fleet sales to golf courses, is the golf car commandeered by the greens staff. It is the lightest, simplest to operate, and the easiest to get on and off. However, they are limited to who and what they can carry. Power will be from a small petrol engine or a battery pack. The benefit of electric golf cars is that they are virtually silent, so they can work well in noise sensitive areas, where the requirement is to move people quickly, easily and efficiently.
Look for models with re-gen braking systems, which prevent the vehicle from running away downhill. The transmission also recharges the battery pack on these models. Not only does this give you longer run times, it saves on brake wear and it’s much safer as well.
Some models now have automatic parking brakes, which apply whenever you stop. You don’t have to apply the brake before leaving the vehicle, or remember to release it, before moving off.
The downside is a lack of carrying capacity, but there are box and load tray accessories, provided there is not too much weight or bulk. Another drawback to the golf car can
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