Hey everyone! I looked at the questions in regard to towing but only found answers on towing with all four wheels on the ground. Would the Gem E6 (roughly 2015- picking it up next week) be able to be towed behind a vehicle on a tow dolly? The dolly allows the front or back two wheels to be suspended by trailer wheels.
Thank you all! Excited to start the future project.
Not the ideal towing solution, that’s for sure. Maybe ok for shorter distances if you keep the speed down.
You would have to put the front wheels on the tow dolly. The front wheels, gearbox and motor are all physically coupled together, there is no mechanical disconnect. “N” just means no power is sent to the motor by the controller, so If the front wheels are turning the same direction, the gearbox will turn, which will spin the motor. Besides the wear to the u-joints, bearings and gears, If it’s a DC motor, this will wear your brushes. It also technically turns your motor into a generator, depending on the controller and battery type, this has the potential to end badly.
With the front wheels up on the tow dolly, make sure you release the parking brake as it acts on the rear wheels. Check your rear tire pressure, make sure it’s ok and mind the GEM’s rear end overhang past the wheels, you probably won’t have much ground clearance. Lastly, probably best to keep it under 40-45mph to minimize chances of damage to the rear wheel bearings,
Oh, and may want to consider pulling all the removable seat cushions out and put them in the tow vehicle, I’ve heard stories about ones that don’t fit tightly going flying out of the GEM at highway speeds.
Thank you for the response! I was planning on using it back and forth to the golf course about two miles away. I think it should be good then if I follow those instructions.
Only 2 miles? Why not just drive the GEM back and forth from the golf course? AlFAIK, all years of the e6 GEMs can be registered for street use as NEVs in most, if not all 50-states+DC.
True, but do you think the cops know that or care?
In my experience, as long as you periodically pull to the side to let vehicles that are behind you pass no one seems to care. In my case, this included police vehicles.
What year is the e6? If it’s a classic body (DC motor) you can trick the controller and probably increase the max speed of your gem to probably around 30mph or so.
I really can’t risk it. My job is pretty hard on the “integrity first” motto. I have to report any tickets. Also, I live in Maryland where we don’t see many carts like Gems up here. Especially not on the road!
If this is a regular and often trip(and it is the only event you use the car for), perhaps you can make an arrangement with the course to keep it there? (rent a spot?)
Do your plans include driving it ON the course too? If yes, you might check with the groundskeeper to see if they will even allow your car on the course. I’ve heard that some people have trouble with getting their car green certified (mostly having to do with the pizza cutter wheels).
My car actually has a tough time fitting between the castle and the spinning windmill paddles.
I am with a nonprofit that cleans the golf balls from the reservoir adjacent to the course (We are not allowed to sell the balls). I have an agreement with the city to clean up.
They don’t have carts that I can use. So, they are going to have to be okay with what ever I bring in, haha. Since, the City owns the golf course as well.
It’s been rough trying to find a reliable vehicle to do this on zero budget. Everything has been founder funded up until this point. Hoping a couple of the batteries are savable . If not, not sure how long it will be before I can get a new set.
I’ll definitely weigh that option. I already have a smaller flat 12’ trailer. Might just put a couple longer boards on it to make it 14’ (temp of course).