By Ken Jones, Owner at Flamingo Custom Carts
Published Updated
A golf cart rear seat kit adds a rear-facing bench to the back of your cart, turning a two-seater into a cart that can carry more riders. Most kits use a flip design, so the seat folds down into a flat cargo platform when you need to haul gear instead of people.
Done well, a rear seat makes a cart far more useful for families and neighborhoods. Done carelessly, it adds weight and risk. Here is what to know before you add one.
What a Golf Cart Rear Seat Kit Adds
A rear seat kit mounts behind the factory front seat, usually where a golf bag well or cargo area would sit. Riders face backward, looking out the rear of the cart. Typical kits include a seat frame, cushions, a backrest, and mounting hardware made for specific cart models.
The main benefits are simple:
- More seating. A rear-facing seat adds room for extra passengers, within the limits your cart’s manufacturer sets.
- Cargo flexibility. Flip designs convert to a flat deck for coolers, tools, bags or yard supplies.
- A finished look. A matching rear seat makes a custom cart look complete from every angle.
Is a Golf Cart Rear Seat Kit Right for You?
A rear seat makes the most sense when you regularly carry more than one passenger or switch between hauling people and hauling gear. Families who ride to the pool, neighbors heading to a community event, and property owners who move tools around all tend to get real use from one.
It may be less useful if you mostly ride alone, need a large enclosed cargo box, or use the back of the cart for a golf bag every week. Think about these questions before you buy:
- How often will you carry more than one passenger?
- Will young riders be using the rear seat, and does your owner’s manual set height or age guidance?
- Do you need a flat cargo area, or will the seat stay up most of the time?
- Is your cart already near its rated load with accessories, a lift or larger tires?
If the answers point toward a golf cart rear seat kit, the next step is choosing a design that fits your model and your riders.
Rear Flip Seats and Cargo-Bed Mode
A rear flip seat is built so the seat bottom folds over onto the backrest, creating a flat platform. In seat mode, riders sit facing rearward with their feet on a footrest. In cargo mode, the flat surface works like a small utility bed.
Cargo mode is for cargo only. Riding on the load deck is not safe, and manufacturers warn against it. Secure anything you carry so it cannot slide off or shift while the cart is moving.
When you shop for a golf cart rear seat kit, look at how easily the seat flips, how firmly it latches in each position, and whether the cargo surface is sturdy enough for what you plan to carry.
Safety Items Every Rear Seat Needs
Rear passengers face backward and cannot see what the driver is about to do, so they rely on good hand holds and a firm footing. These items matter most:
- Grab bar or hand hold. Gives rear riders something solid to hold when the cart starts, stops or turns.
- Seat belts. Help keep riders in the seat. Federal standard 49 CFR 571.500 requires a seat belt assembly at each designated seating position on a low-speed vehicle.
- Footrest. A sturdy rest keeps feet off the ground and gives riders a stable place to brace.
- Hip restraints. Side rails at the seat edges help keep riders from sliding off in turns.
Manufacturer rules are worth reading closely. E-Z-GO’s owner’s manual for its Express S6 models tells owners to fill the forward seats before seating anyone on the rear flip seat, to allow only two passengers on the rear-facing seat, and to have rear passengers hold both hip restraints and the rear hand hold while the vehicle is moving. That same manual says not to let passengers ride on the load deck. Your cart’s own manual is the rule to follow.
6 Helpful Tips for Choosing and Using a Golf Cart Rear Seat Kit
Use these six tips to pick a kit that fits your cart and to keep rear riders safe once it is installed.
1. Confirm the Kit Fits Your Exact Cart
Every golf cart rear seat kit is made for specific makes and models, and mounting points differ between them. Confirm fitment for your model and year before you buy, and use the hardware the kit maker supplies.
2. Check Your Cart’s Load Capacity
Two more riders plus the seat itself add real weight to the back of the cart. Look up your cart’s rated load and seating capacity in the owner’s manual, and stay within it. Extra passengers do not raise those limits.
3. Look at the Rear Suspension
Added weight over the rear axle can make the back of the cart sit lower and feel softer over bumps. Ask your installer to look at the rear springs and overall ride height after the seat is installed, especially if the cart is also lifted. Our golf cart lift kit guide explains how lifts change stance and center of gravity.
4. Keep Tire Pressure in the Recommended Range
More weight changes how tires carry the load. Check pressure regularly and keep it within the range your cart’s manufacturer lists, never above the maximum shown on the tire sidewall.
5. Set Clear Rules for Rear Riders
Before anyone climbs on, explain the basics: stay seated, hold on, keep feet on the footrest and hands inside the cart. Follow the height and age guidance in your owner’s manual, and have the driver slow down for turns, slopes and bumps.
6. Match the Upholstery to the Front Seat
Mismatched seats are one of the most common things that make a cart look unfinished. Good golf cart seat upholstery on the rear bench should match or deliberately complement the front seat in color, stitching and material.
Matching Upholstery and Long-Term Care
A golf cart rear seat kit gets more sun and weather exposure than you might expect, because the rear bench often sits fully in the open behind the roof line. Durable, outdoor-rated vinyl and good stitching help the seat hold up.
For a fully custom look, the front and rear seats can be designed together, with matching colors, piping and stitch patterns. Our custom seats page shows how we approach upholstery for complete builds.
For everyday care, clean vinyl with a soft brush or sponge and mild soap and water, rinse, and let it dry before covering the cart. Avoid harsh solvents that can dry out vinyl over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can ride on a rear-facing seat?
It depends on the seat and the cart. Some manufacturers limit the rear-facing seat to two passengers. Check your owner’s manual and the seat kit’s instructions for the exact limit.
Can I ride on the cargo bed when the seat is flipped down?
No. Cargo mode is for cargo only. Manufacturers warn against letting passengers ride on the load deck.
Does a golf cart rear seat kit need seat belts?
Seat belts are a smart addition for any rear seat. If your cart is registered and used as a low-speed vehicle, federal rules require a seat belt at each designated seating position. Check with your city or county about local rules; this is not legal advice.
Will a rear seat affect how my cart drives?
Added weight in the back can change ride height, ride feel and braking distance. Stay within your cart’s load limits, keep tires properly inflated, and drive more gently with rear riders aboard.
Add a Golf Cart Rear Seat Kit With Flamingo Custom Carts
Flamingo Custom Carts, the custom build and upgrade shop of Golf Carts Atlanta, builds custom seating and upgrades that fit together as one finished cart. Visit us at 1680 Lower Roswell Rd, Suite 100, Marietta, GA 30068, Monday through Friday from 7am to 3pm.
Call (678) 436-2282 or contact us online to talk about a rear seat, upholstery and the safety items your riders need.
