safe operating angle debate

[thechestiemech]

my superintindent at my course has asked this question to several people mechanics and sales men. the question is what is the safe operating angle for club car golf carts year 2010-2011 is 20 degree incline or 20% incline?

[dougmcp]

Club Car's owner's manual states:

Avoid driving the vehicle on slopes exceeding 20% incline.

My explanation:
A 20 degree incline angle is close to a 37% grade so the answer is 20% not 20 degrees.
Incline is also called pitch or rise and is a ratio of rise divided by run.
The percentage of incline is rise/run x 100.

Here is a example of incline:


Here are some inclines vs percentages:

[Stoney]

Doug,

Excellent data!

[Michael Eddie]

Great information Doug, I copied it into an article

[thechestiemech]

thank you, we could not find t or just looked over it in the owners manuals

[dougmcp]

thank you, we could not find t or just looked over it in the owners manuals

I don't know whether your are using DS or Precedent carts at your facility.
I used the 2007 Precedent Owner's manual located here: http://www.golfcartsforum.com/golf-c...rs-manual.html
The info I referred to is on page 14:

ý WARNING
• Zero speed detect will not limit vehicle speed to 1 mph (1.6 km/h) on very steep grades. Do not operate vehicle on slopes exceeding 20% grades.

Hope this helps.