New Cushman Hauler combines power with comfort

August 26, 2016  - By

Recently I spent a few days in Augusta, Ga., and Graniteville, S.C., hanging out with the fine folks at Textron Specialized Vehicles, checking out their new Cushman Hauler.

The new Hauler is in production right now. They’re hopeful to sell these vehicles to a wide range of customers, from golf course superintendents to airports. Of course, they also see the vehicles being a perfect fit for the sports turf market. With features like 1,500-lb. tow capacity, 1,200-lb. load capacity and 50-miles per charge on a full load, it makes sense.

No spin-outs in the new Cushman Hauler Pro! Me behind the wheel, with Matt Zaremba riding shotgun.

Photo: AT staff

Matt Zaremba, director of golf and specialty products, TSV rides shotgun while I take a turn behind the wheel.

Besides being a hard worker, creature comforts were also considered. Some of the things they looked at: does the driver slouch, or sit up straight? Does he carry an iPad or an iPhone with him? If he drives with a drink, does he need something that can hold a can? A can with a coozie? A Big Gulp? Or a coffee cup with a handle?

Or how about all of the above? Because that’s what they built: a vehicle for the sloucher and the sit-up-straighter; the Big Gulp guzzler and the coozie carrier.

Matt Zaremba, director of golf and specialty products, said their were four key ideas they wanted to go for:

  • Discreet — Groundskeepers want to go unnoticed, so goodbye alloy wheels
  • Versatile — Groundskeepers want this vehicle to be able to complete every task expected of a utility vehicle
  • Control — Confident braking and safety was a must, hence the Intellibrake System
  • Intuitive — Anybody can use it, but few can abuse it

I got to take the Cushman Hauler Pro on a test drive with Zaremba. Nice ride. As many airplane seats as I have to fold myself into, I’m always a fan of any mode of transportation that allows me to stretch out (one reason I will not be buying the new Camaro, sadly.) I also appreciated the Intellibrake System, and how it brings the vehicle to a slow stop on a steep hill. Lastly, it stood out to me how much thought they put into the vehicle… from the net storage pocket behind the seats to the inclusion of 12V and USB outlets in the dash.

More can be learned at HaulerDemo.com. And thanks to the folks at Textron Specialized Vehicles for inviting me out for the drive.

 

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About the Author:

Seth Jones, an 18-year veteran of the golf industry media, is Editor-in-Chief of Golfdom magazine and Athletic Turf. A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Jones began working for Golf Course Management in 1999 as an intern. In his professional career he has won numerous awards, including a Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) first place general feature writing award for his profile of World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman and a TOCA first place photography award for his work covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In his career, Jones has accumulated an impressive list of interviews, including such names as George H.W. Bush, Samuel L. Jackson, Lance Armstrong and Charles Barkley. Jones has also done in-depth interviews with such golfing luminaries as Norman, Gary Player, Nick Price and Lorena Ochoa, to name only a few. Jones is a member of both the Golf Writers Association of America and the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association.

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