You can lift your Power Wheels jeep or truck without using metal parts. Here are the steps to follow.
- Buy Old Power Wheels
- Cut the Front and Back Parts
- Remove Power Wheels Tires
- Mount the Parts
- Bolt Parts Together
- Add Steering Shaft
- Test Drive
The idea is to take parts on the old Power Wheels and thrust them onto your toy vehicle to increase the clearance from the ground. You may need some height to your Power Wheels if you live in a hilly area.
Better clearance for the toy car will prevent the vehicle’s underbelly from hitting bumps on the ground.
Looking for 4×4 Power Wheels with Rubber Wheels?
Check out our 4×4 with Rubber Wheel Recommendations or our Best Power Wheels Truck Recommendations.
What You Need For the Lifted Modification
You will need to buy several supplies and collect several tools for the modification. Most of the tools you probably have in your garage.
You can buy the supplies at your local hardware store or online on Amazon. It would be best if you prepare everything beforehand so that the modification goes smoothly.
Supplies
- Bolts
- Steering shaft
- An old Power Wheels Jeep or Truck **
Tools
- A hand saw
- Screwdriver
- Wrench
- Razor
- Drill
It would be best to have a steering shaft to cover the distance a few inches and reach the new wheel axles under the vehicle. There are several parts sold online that don’t require any tools to install in a toy car.
**As for the old jeep or truck you will take apart there is an alternative which is to 3D print the Power Wheels parts that are needed but we have not investigated that approach at this time.
How to Lift Power Wheels
Most parents who lift Power Wheels Trucks a few inches off the ground tend to do it with welded parts, which are expensive and require welding skills. The method below involves adding parts to your Power Wheels for some height.
You don’t need to learn any new skills to do it as a DIY project in your garage.
Step 1: Buy Old Power Wheels
You can go to yard sales and open markets searching for an old Power Wheels Jeep or truck that matches the make and model of the one you want to modify.
The old vehicle to be the same must make as yours. Don’t buy a different model no matter how low the price is because the modification won’t go as planned.
You should expect to buy $5-$10 for an old toy jeep or truck. Check the underbelly of the vehicle to ensure that it is in mint condition.
Most toy vehicles that are old tend to be worn out at the top but work fine at the bottom. Ideally, the vehicle should have a deep color on the underbelly.
Clean the vehicle once you take it home because you will need to see where you are cutting for precision. You can always wash the underbelly of the vehicle with a hosepipe because it is the only part of the vehicle you will use.
Step 2: Cut the Front and Back Parts
Remove the old toy car seats, and you will notice there is a trough-like part that has the back wheels at the bottom. The front part is similar but has the steering wheel’s parts passing through it.
Use a hand saw and cut the parts that the wheels are attached to the wheels. You cut the parts as high as possible so that you can fit them in your other Power Wheels.
Also, cutting large chunks gives you room to modify the parts of your toy car.
You will have to remove the steering wheel and shaft at the front before cutting the bottom part. You should end up with two trough-like parts with a wheel at the bottom.
Don’t worry about the different colors because you can spray paint the visible parts.
Step 3: Remove Power Wheels Tires
Remove the tires of your Power Wheels because the parts have tires. If the tires on the parts are old, you can swap them with the wheel from the Power Wheels you are modifying.
Ensure that the wheels are screwed on when before proceeding to the next step.
Step 4: Mount the Parts
Remove the seats in your vehicle so that you can do the next step. You can also remove the battery from under the hood. Mount the parts to the corresponding areas on your Power Wheels.
Front wheels should go to the front part and align the areas where the steering shaft passes through under the hood. It will make it easy to see where to make the steering shaft modifications.
Add the back wheels to the back parts of the vehicle.
Everything should fit well though forcing any parts. You will have an extra 5-6 inches of height once you add the parts from the old Power Wheels.
The only thing remaining is to secure the parts together.
Step 5: Bolt Parts Together
You need two bolt holes for each side above the wheel. Add one hole in the middle of the front and back parts to ensure they are well secured.
You can use a drill to make holes on your Power Wheels and your parts. Use a razor to remove any excess parts before bolting everything in place.
Add the bolts to the Power Wheels and mount the screws in place with a wrench. You can make additional holes if you feel the addition is not secure.
The bolts are an extra security measure since the parts fit together.
Step 6: Add Steering Shaft
You need to add the steering shaft to reach the new front wheel axle to control the vehicle’s direction. Modify the length of the steering shaft you have until it fits the size of the modified toy vehicle.
Mount the steering wheel and connect it to the shaft.
Step 7: Test Drive
Reinstall the seat and the battery before doing a test drive using a remote control to see if everything is working as it should. Do a few runs before you allow your kids in the lifted Power Wheels.
Keep an eye on your child in the beginning, to ensure everything is okay with the modified Power Wheels.
How to Paint the Additional Lifted Parts
You may need to do a little painting on your Power Wheels if the parts aren’t the same color as the vehicle. You don’t have to paint the parts entirely.
You can choose to paint the parts before the modification or after. Painting the car after the modification allows you to paint the parts that are only visible to others.
Remove the car battery and seats before starting the process. Make sure the vehicle is clean for the paint to stick. Buy two-in-one spray paints containing a primer and paint.
Place the vehicle on the side and apply a layer of paint to the front and back parts. Don’t forget to apply paint in the areas behind the wheels.
Use newspapers or other protective materials to keep paint off the wheels. Repeat the process to the other side of the toy vehicle.
Let the paint dry after each layer and apply several layers until you achieve your desired results. The process should take 1-2 hours because you apply paint to a small part of the vehicle.
Overall, your new car will have an even look, and no one will be able to spot the modification without taking a closer look.
If you want to do a different modification and this one isn’t for you, consider lowering the Power Wheels instead.
Conclusion
Many parents wonder how to lift a Power Wheels jeep or truck to give the vehicles more ground clearance. Using an old toy car for the modification saves you time and money compared to other modification methods.
It’s easy to find an old make and model identical to your Power Wheels at yard sales, online, or open markets. Parents are always disposing of Power Wheels that their kids no longer use.
It should take you about two hours to complete the modification if you are new to toy car upgrades. A person who is familiar with Power Wheels will do it in less time.
Therefore, you can add 5-6 inches to your power wheels for less than $20-$30 if you buy supplies at bargain prices. Next, let’s take a look at how to add traction to the wheels so they can really grip.
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