Lifting your childʼs Power Wheels does come with its fair share of perks. Plus, the extra bit of work can easily become your next passion project.
And, once youʼre done with it, your child will be able to ride through rough and bumpy terrain with minimum fuss, largely due to the extended ground clearance.
Sure enough, the lift modification task ahead may seem monumental at first, but with the right equipment and guidance, and a good paint job, you should be able to lift your childʼs Power Wheels safely, with no problems whatsoever.
Before we get started, you need to bear in mind that the lift modification project will change the dynamics/control of the vehicle. In other words—the power wheels will drive differently upon completion of the project.
A word of advice—follow the method to the letter if you donʼt want to compromise on your childʼs safety.
Contents
Tools Required to Lift Power Wheels
First things first, youʼll require certain tools to lift Power Wheels. Get ready with your bolts and screws, a wrench, steering shaft, screwdriver, handsaw, and drill.
These basic tools are easily accessible; in fact, you probably already own a wrench and a steering shaft, and even some paint.
Last but not least, get yourself an old Power Wheels vehicle (a donor vehicle that’s the same model and has the same color paint) that matches the one you wish to modify from a yard sale. A different model will simply not work.
Getting Rid of Certain Parts From the Old Power Wheels
Now that you have your tools ready, itʼs time to start the operation. First, remove the front and back parts of the Power Wheels’ body.
Step 1: To ensure the removal process goes smoothly, use your handsaw to cut through the section beneath the seat of the old Power Wheels. This section around the wheels will be used later to lift the Power Wheels you wish to modify.
Step 2: Itʼs also crucial that you remove the front section (steering wheel shaft) above the front wheels of the Power Wheels for the same reason mentioned above. Once youʼre done, check to see if the seat only has plastic above it and nothing else.
Eventually, youʼll end up with two trough-like parts with the wheels attached at the bottom.
Removing the tires from the old Power Wheels
The second process to lift Power Wheels involves you removing the tires from the old Power Wheels car. Ideally, youʼd want your newer Power Wheels car to have the same tires it currently has.
To do that, you must swap the tires of the old Power Wheels with the new Power Wheels. You see, the two trough-like parts are later aligned to the same parts on the new Power Wheels.
To take the tires off, use a flathead screwdriver to loosen the retainers and hubcaps from all four tires.
Remove the battery from the new Power Wheels for safety reasons
Itʼs now time for you to get started on the Power Wheels you wish to modify. To be on the safe side and, thereby, minimize the risk of accidental contact with the acid battery of the Power Wheels car, you must first remove it.
To do that, locate the battery first. In most cases, youʼll find it under the hood.
Then, unplug the cable. After that, use a head screwdriver to remove the cover.
And, once youʼve lifted and threaded the cable out of the hole, remove the battery from its original place, and keep it somewhere safe.
Step-By-Step: How to Lift Power Wheels
It’s finally time to lift your Power Wheels.
Step 1: First and foremost, you need to align the chunks of plastic parts you removed from the donor vehicle with the same parts (back and front wheels) on the new Power Wheels. By now, Iʼm assuming that youʼve already removed the tires from the Power Wheels youʼre modifying.
Keep in mind that this process will only go smoothly, with no problems whatsoever, if you use the plastic parts from the same model of the Power Wheels you wish to modify.
Once everything has been aligned, you should get an extra five–six inches of height. Be careful not to go overboard with the height extension (ground clearance) as doing so can decrease the maneuverability and even tip the ride over.
You can even use a handsaw to ensure the ideal height is maintained. And, donʼt worry about the mismatched paint colors on the vehicle as a simple spray paint will maintain the visual appeal of the ride.
Step 2: It is now time to secure the parts on the kids’ car you’re modifying. To secure the car, drill holes through both the new and old sections of the parts.
The more holes you drill, the greater the stability of the vehicle. Then, add bolts to the ride where you’ve drilled the holes and mount the screws in place.
You can use a wrench to tighten the screws.
Step 3: In this modification step, you need to add a steering shaft to the front axle to ensure it attaches to the raised steering wheel properly. Adding a shaft will require some patience as it can take time to modify the length of the steering shaft to fit the size of the modified power wheels.
Step 4: Finally, the moment has come for you to place the battery back into its original place under the hood, secure the cover, and plug it in.
Step 5: Unfortunately, it isn’t time for you to rest yet. The lift modification project isnʼt completely over until you test-drive the vehicle.
You wouldnʼt want to run the risk of letting your kid drive an unsafe vehicle now, would you?
During the examination, study the dynamics and grip of the modified vehicle. Check to see if the ride operates smoothly and isnʼt susceptible to tipping over.
After a thorough check-up, instruct your child about the different dynamics of the modified Power Wheels.
Painting Power Wheels
Of course, adding the additional parts to your Power Wheels car could ruin the color scheme of the vehicle. You need to ensure the paint matches completely.
To ensure the Power Wheels maintains its original aesthetic appeal and all the parts have the same color paint, consider using spray paint to get a consistent color on the vehicle.
Apply several layers of paint until you achieve your desired result. A word of advice—wait for several hours to allow the layers of spray paint to dry before you let your kid drive away in the Power Wheels car.
Professional help
Thankfully, we live in an era where professional help for every type of service is readily available. If you donʼt have the time to lift your Power Wheels or find yourself lacking in confidence, consider hiring a professional to get the job done.
An expert will be able to weld parts with professional tools, fill all the holes, add suspension safely and, ultimately, give you a safer, more reliable vehicle.
Sure enough, the service will set you back quite a bit, and it might hurt your ego too, but isnʼt the safety of your kid the priority here?
Conclusion
Contrary to what you may believe or have heard, it isnʼt difficult to find old models at yard sales identical to the Power Wheels you wish to modify. Youʼll find that many parents are in a hurry to sell the Power Wheels cars that their kids no longer play with.
Look for Power Wheels online. Youʼll also find that the cars are available at bargain prices at open markets and yard sales.
After getting your hands on an old model, parents can complete the lift modification project in around two hours i.e. if youʼre new to car upgrades. An experienced person can complete the task in less time.
With that said, I wish you success with your project. Have confidence in yourself and commit to every step of the method outlined with diligence and conviction.
After all, there’s no point in undertaking a task without giving 100% effort!
Now that you know how to lift a Power Wheels car, spread the word and give the other many parents wanting to prolong the use of their kids’ Power Wheels a chance at making their children happy.