Florida university boosts productivity and versatility with utility vehicles

Facilities and grounds maintenance crews at St. Thomas University often begin their workdays trying to load, stabilize and protect their gear in utility vehicle bed boxes. This can be frustrating and put equipment at risk, while requiring several trips from staging areas to work sites. Juan Zamora, facilities director for the private university in Miami Gardens, Fla., has solved that problem for his 30 employees.

Zamora recently leased 16 electric-powered Carryall utility vehicles. Several are accessorized with Club Car’s configurable, removable, VersAttach track-based bed attachment system. The system is based on a unique mount that fits into the Carryall’s Rhino-lined aluminum bed boxes. It accommodates a selection of VersAttach tools, including ratcheting, standard and multi-tool holders; backpack blower racks; ladder racks; bed dividers and cargo tie-downs.

The VersAttach tools expand loading options. They let grounds crews carry weed trimmers and other tools outside the bed, freeing bed space for fertilizer or other materials. Users can also customize the system for a specific task, such as painting or electrical work.

“We’ve been using VersAttach for more than a year, and they let us carry everything plus,” Zamora says. “Now we’re not always running back and forth to the shop. The system reduces round trips and keeps crews in the field.”

“VersAttach also protects our equipment, because we’re not throwing things on top of gear in the bed,” Zamora adds.

Zamora spotlights some other features on the utility vehicles: “I love the optional single point watering system. It prevents mistakes with overwatering, and the new ERIC charging system has reduced user errors.” The facilities director says that with the charging system, “We don’t come in and find cars uncharged in the morning.” According to Zamora, the Carryalls run eight hours a day. The university is one year into its second lease with Club Car for the vehicles.

Click here to learn more about Club Car.

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