Do They Make Power Wheels for Adults?

No. Every Power Wheels is made for kids: Mattel rates its biggest 12V Power Wheels for ages 3 to 7 and up to 130 lbs, and says never to modify the electrical system. Adults who want the same kind of fun ride adult-rated electric go-karts and dirt bikes, or build a purpose-made racer.

Riding Power Wheels with your kids is a blast, and plenty of parents wonder whether there’s a grown-up version. Here’s the honest answer, and what adults can ride instead.

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Do They Make Power Wheels For Adults?

No. Power Wheels (a Fisher-Price brand) are sized and rated for children.

Mattel’s 12V two-seaters are rated for ages 3 to 7 and up to 130 lbs for both riders together. Even the extra-large ride-ons from other brands, the XXXL 24V UTVs, are rated for kids, with limits around 200 lbs for two riders and ages up to about 12.

An adult on a kids’ ride-on is over the weight limit and outside the seat, pedals and frame it was designed around. It overloads the motors and gears, trips the fuse and can crack the frame or the steering. So the short answer to “can I ride my kid’s Power Wheels?” is no.

There are two real options for adults: ride something that’s rated for adults, or build a purpose-made adult racer, which is where “modified Power Wheels for adults” comes from. Razor makes electric go-karts and dirt bikes rated for ages 16 and up and riders up to 220 to 240 lbs, and gas go-karts for adults are common too.

Modified Power Wheels for Adults: What It Really Takes

Adults do race “Power Wheels”, in the Power Racing Series. But those aren’t kids’ cars with a bigger battery. They’re adult-built electric racers with a Power Wheels look.

The series caps them at 48V and about 1,440 watts, requires a main fuse that all the battery current passes through, and the drivers wear motorcycle helmets. The fastest run around 20 mph.

If you’ve seen one and want to build your own, here’s what changes compared with a kids’ ride-on, and why none of it is a weekend upgrade to your child’s car.

More power means a new motor, controller and battery

A 12V Power Wheels has two small 550-size motors, plastic gears and switches that handle about 20 amps. Adult builds replace all of it: bigger motors, a motor controller, a battery pack and wiring sized for the load, with a fuse as close to the battery as possible.

This is not the same as upgrading your child’s car. For kids’ cars, the safe limit is 18V on a 12V car, with a fuse, matched batteries and an adult doing the work. My mod guide covers it, and it stops at 24V.

Changing the voltage also means changing the motor, gearbox and wiring to parts made for that voltage, so nothing burns out.

Some builders swap in a small gas engine instead, and motorcycle engines are a common choice. At that point it’s a go-kart, not a ride-on toy, and it needs a go-kart’s frame, brakes and safety gear.

Bigger, wider tires on stronger wheels

Bigger, wider tires give more traction and grip. On an adult build the wheels, hubs and axles have to be rated for an adult’s weight, because a kids’ plastic wheel isn’t.

Real suspension

Suspension makes rough ground less jarring. Kids’ ride-ons use small springs sized for a child, so adult builds use kart or ATV shocks.

A roll cage and a seat belt

Adult racers use a steel roll cage or roll bar and a seat belt, because a rollover at 20 mph is a real crash. A kids’ ride-on’s plastic body and toy roll bar aren’t built to protect an adult.

A seat that fits

Kids’ seats are too small for an adult to sit in properly and still reach the pedals. Adult builds fit a kart seat and move the pedals and steering to suit.

A metal frame

A kids’ ride-on is a plastic body on a light frame rated for about 130 lbs. Adult builds use a welded steel frame, and the plastic body becomes a shell on top.

Hardware rated for the load

The small screws and plastic clips in a kids’ car aren’t rated for an adult’s weight at speed. Adult builds use proper bolts and lock nuts everywhere that carries a load.

Real brakes

Most kids’ ride-ons stop by cutting the power when the pedal comes up, and the motors act as the brake. That works at 5 mph with a 50-lb child.

An adult racer needs a mechanical brake, usually a disc brake, so the driver can stop with a foot or a hand. Here’s how Power Wheels brake today.

Reverse is already there

Power Wheels already have reverse: the shifter has forward and reverse, and reverse runs at the low speed (2.5 mph on a 12V Power Wheels). Adult builds keep a reverse through the motor controller.

What Adults Can Ride Instead

If you want to ride with the kids rather than build a racer, these electric rides are rated for adults. They’re all Razor models for ages 16 and up, and every one needs a helmet and private ground.

The rest of my 36V and 48V ride-on picks are sized for kids and teens. For minibikes, see whether adults can ride minibikes.

Power Wheels for Adults FAQs

Final Thoughts

No one makes Power Wheels for adults, and a kids’ ride-on can’t be safely upgraded into one. If you want the same fun at your size, look at an adult-rated electric kart or dirt bike, or a purpose-built adult racer.

Another option for adults is to check out the best go-kart designs. A go-kart can hold an adult easily and is always fun to work on with the kids.

Kevinsmak

Power Wheels dad. Writing RC Ride On Cars since the start.

Hello! I'm Kevinsmak; I have been a content producer of RC Ride On Cars since the start of this site. I have always enjoyed Power Wheels with my family. My two boys love them, and seeing this helps me make sure this website is very accurate for the safety and enjoyment of your family.

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