If you are considering adding a trailer to Power Wheels, you have come to the right place. You can add a trailer with the following steps.
- Step 1: Identify a Location for the Hitch
- Step 2: Add the Hitch
- Step 3: Add Routing Materials
- Step 4: Attach Your Trailer
- Step 5: Test Drive
Some Power Wheels do not have storage space, and adding a trailer to Power Wheels is an excellent way to give your little one storage space. Other kinds are flatbeds, trailers, or trucks, and modifying a toy vehicle to add a trailer will make the child happy.
They really enjoy that they can help out mom or dad by transporting grass.
Overall, you do not need a lot of supplies to do the upgrade. You may have to learn how to weld because most toy cars will require some routing to add a hitch system safely.
Also, you will need to upgrade your battery output if your toy is under 18V. Doing this will also require an updated speed controller and motor upgrade.
This article is a step-by-step guide on how to install a trailer on Power Wheels. Ideally, you should add a trailer to bigger Power Wheels for children who are 5-10 years old.
Power Wheel Trailer Upgrade Requirements
Power Wheels are built to carry a certain weight depending on the voltage of the toy car. Therefore, you need to consider the vehicle’s voltage before adding a hitch system to attach a trailer.
Any car with a battery below 18V will need an upgrade. 24V Power Wheels are okay to add a trailer without upgrading the batteries.
Another thing to consider is the weight of the vehicle. You don’t was to have a trailer that will cause the motors to strain when moving forward.
Choose the trailer or flatbed you will attach to the hitch wisely. You can look for plastic trailers because they are lighter than metal ones.
Upgrading Power Wheels?
Don’t forget to update the motor Power Wheels Motor Upgrade Guide.
Tools Needed For the Trailer Addition
There are several tools and supplies that you need for the upgrade as follows.
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Razor
- Hitch
- Trailer
- Routing materials
- Screws and bolts
You should check the size of the screws for your hitch system to know the size of drill bits to use. Most of them are ½ inch, but it is good to confirm before drilling any holes.
You can find parts on Amazon or a local hardware store.
This post was inspired and checked over by sarek2165 on Reddit who performed this modification. The video also shows it being used. Thank you for the help Sarek2165.
Adding a Trailer Hitch Upgrade To Power Wheels
Prepare a working area in the garage or your driveway for the upgrade. You can lay out your tools and supplies on a countertop for easy access.
Ensure that your child stays at a safe distance because they will probably want to see what daddy or mommy is doing to their toy.
Step 1: Identify a Location for the Hitch
Power Wheels come in different shapes and sizes, so there is no universal location where a hitch would go.
Also, Fisher-Price doesn’t recommend modifications, so there won’t be a place allocated for a hitch system. However, it is simple to identify a spot on the frame to add your hitch.
One of the areas you need to check is Power Wheels’ back, where some of them have a small storage area. It is an excellent place for adding a trailer on Power Wheels.
You can opt to mount the hitch on the inside or under the storage area.
Another place to attach a hitch system is underneath the frame of the vehicle. Power Wheels with battery slots on the rear don’t have the luxury of adding a hitch at the back easily.
Tip the car to the side and identify a suitable location. Ensure the addition doesn’t hinder how the battery panels open because you will need to access the battery in the future.
Whatever area you choose, you will need some routing materials to ensure that the trailer is secured well. Most parents opt for metals as the choice of routing materials during the installation. Some welding is necessary in some cases.
Step 2: Add the Hitch
Check the sturdiness of the plastic in the area you choose to add the hitch. If the plastic is thin, think of ways to reinforce the hitch so that the panel doesn’t break due to the trailer’s weight.
Take the hitch and place it to your desired location so that you can mark the bolt holes. Use a drill to create holes in the plastic frame of the vehicle.
Use a razor to remove any excess plastic after you drill the hole.
You need to remove the toy car seats if you choose to add the hitch system at the vehicle’s back. It will give you more space to maneuver during the installation.
Mount the hitch and bolt it to the toy car’s frame. Try to wiggle the hitch to ensure that it is firmly secured on the vehicle.
Step 3: Add Routing Materials
You may need a rod to connect the trailer to the hitch for those adding a hitch on the underbelly. Even those using the storage area will need some routing materials so that the trailer hook is at the vehicle’s back.
Adding routing materials will require some welding at the corners. You can do it yourself if you have welding materials and the skill.
Alternatively, you can find an expert to do it at a small fee near your area. Overall, there isn’t much welding to be done because power wheels are miniature vehicles.
Step 4: Attach Your Trailer
You can attach the routing materials to the hitch and connect the trailer to the other end. Confirm that both ends are secure.
The tires of the trailer should be standing firmly on the ground after attaching it.
If some of the wheels are not touching the ground, your attachment is a bit skewed. It would be best if you corrected it.
Remember that your child may decide to carry a sibling or friend on the trailer, and you don’t want it to topple because it is off-balance.
Step 5: Test Drive
Have your little one drive around the yard with the trailer attached to the Power Wheels so that you can see how the toy handles the modifications. There shouldn’t be a change in the speed of the vehicle if you use a lightweight trailer.
You will have to teach your child how to drive the toy with the trailer to account for the new length added. Otherwise, your child may take corners sharply and hit something with the trailer.
Also, you have to regulate the weight that goes into the trailer for safety reasons. You do not want to overwhelm the vehicle’s motors with the extra weight.
How Long Will the Installation Take?
It should take about an hour if you have everything ready beforehand, including the routing. If you intend to weld the routing before the installation, give yourself 2-3 hours to complete the installation.
Experienced welders will take a shorter time to prepare the routing and do the modifications.
Overall, it is a project you can attempt on a Saturday afternoon with a friend or alone. There isn’t much technical experience in installing the hitch to the vehicle.
You can always take measurements and ask a local welder to make the routing for you.
Can I Make My Own Trailer?
Yes, you can. Handy people can make a trailer at home using materials available to them. Most parents who build a trailer for Power Wheels use a lightweight metal gauge and some metal bars.
Some use wood for the trailer and attach a metal pole at the front. It will depend on the end product you envision.
However, keep your child’s safety and the overall weight of the trailer at the forefront of your mind when making a DIY trailer.
Conclusion
You can modify your Power Wheels to add a trailer so that your child can carry a few extra things. Some kids can play make-believe that they are transporting precious cargo (grass) from one city to the next.
A trailer adds another level of fun for a child and their friends.
It takes a short while to do the upgrade as a DIY project. Most parts are available online or locally, and they are affordable.
Since the child won’t be carrying heavy stuff, the additions should not alter Power Wheels’ performance with an output of 18V and above. Give it a try and give your child an improved toy car at a small cost.
Next, you can try lifting the Power Wheels so it is higher off the ground and leaves room for upgrading tires.
Please be careful and use at your own risk
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