How much can a golf cart tow?

As much as the towing limit for the exact model, year and installed equipment allows. Ignore generic 300–800 lb ranges: a personal golf cart needs its own towing approval before it tows anything.

Is tongue weight the same as towing capacity?

No. Tongue weight loads the hitch vertically; gross trailer weight includes the trailer and everything on it. Vehicle payload and any combined-weight limit are additional checks.

Does Club Car sell an original-equipment hitch?

Yes. Its Onward receiver hitch 47578437001 accepts a 1.25-inch connection and lists a maximum 150 lb tongue load. That is a tongue-load limit, not a gross trailer rating, so confirm fit for your Onward configuration.

Can I drill a rear footrest to install a universal hitch?

Only if the exact hitch and vehicle instructions expressly permit that mounting and hole modification. A receiver bolted to a footrest still needs a frame and cart towing rating.

Are golf carts limited to rear-wheel brakes?

No. For example, Club Car specifies four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes on the Onward 4 Forward LSV. Towing approval is a separate check.

Golf Cart Towing Capacity & Trailer Hitches

Golf cart with a trailer hitch and small utility trailer on a residential driveway

Buy a hitch only after confirming that the exact cart is approved to tow the intended loaded trailer. Model year, powertrain, rear-seat kit and hitch mounting all matter.

Four limits to check separately

Limit	What you need to know
Gross trailer weight	Empty trailer plus every item carried on it; use the cart's towing limit and the trailer's own limits.
Tongue weight	The downward load at the hitch; check the approved cart, hitch and mounting limits.
Vehicle payload	Occupants, onboard cargo and other loads as defined by the vehicle manual, including any applicable tongue load.
Combined weight	Any specified limit for the loaded vehicle and loaded trailer together.

Do not calculate a cart's towing capacity from hitch strength, passenger capacity or engine horsepower. Do not count the whole trailer as onboard payload either: these are distinct limits with definitions supplied by the manufacturer.

Club Car's published Carryall 100 specifications list 300 lb towing capacity and 800 lb total payload for both the gasoline and 48V electric versions. These are the international specifications; confirm the specification and approved hitch for the vehicle you buy. Club Car Carryall 100 specifications.

Illustrative load check: a 200 lb empty trailer carrying 400 lb of material weighs 600 lb. That exceeds the published 300 lb towing figure by 300 lb, even if the cart's bed is empty. The unused 800 lb payload allowance cannot make that trailer acceptable.

A consequential source conflict: Carryall 500

As checked October 10, 2026, Club Car's Carryall 500 product page advertises up to 1,200 lb towing. The 2026 specification sheet linked from that page lists 1,500 lb towing, 1,200 lb total payload and 800 lb bed capacity. Those are different limits, and the two towing figures disagree. Get the serial-number-specific manual and written confirmation of the intended setup before selecting a trailer; do not choose the larger number because it appears in a brochure. Carryall 500 specification sheet, page 2.

Choose the mounting system before the ball mount

An OEM option exists: Club Car's Onward receiver hitch 47578437001 accepts a 1.25-inch connection and lists 150 lb maximum tongue load. That is a tongue-load limit, not a gross trailer rating. Ask for the fit and installation documents for your Onward year, seat arrangement or LSV variant. Club Car receiver hitch.

For any kit, match the vehicle and rear-seat assembly, approved mounting points, receiver size, ball mount, ball and trailer coupler. Obtain the required fasteners and tightening specifications. Do not enlarge mounting holes, improvise a footrest attachment or use a stronger receiver to override a weaker vehicle limit. If the manufacturer provides no approved pairing, choose another setup or a vehicle designed for the job.

One owner account shows why fit matters. On October 29, 2020, Cartaholics member 1YAMAGUY described buying a Yamaha Drive2 QuieTech EFI in June 2020, receiving a rear-seat kit that required substantial modification, and installing front and rear hitches. Owner's account.

Confirm brakes, route and service requirements

Golf carts do not all have rear-only brakes. Club Car specifies four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes for the Onward 4 Forward LSV.

Before using a trailer, obtain the applicable towing instructions: permitted loads, terrain and gradients, speed restrictions, coupling and retention equipment, and any trailer-brake requirements. Electrical brake controls need an approved system for the exact cart.

Private property does not remove vehicle limits. For public-road use, check the relevant road authority's rules for the cart and trailer combination on the actual route, as well as manufacturer restrictions. Check trailer rules separately even for a registered LSV.

Use the vehicle and hitch inspection schedules, with the manufacturer's requirements for towing or severe service. Range loss, safe towing speed and warranty coverage come from the manufacturer's documentation for your setup. If that documentation does not cover the load and route, use a different vehicle or trailer arrangement.

For alternatives, compare farm and ranch carts or find a dealer who can identify the vehicle and approved towing equipment.