Power Wheels have a maximum weight limit of 130 LBS for the bigger toy cars, and the lowest weight limit is 66 LBS. Others have a weight limit of 110 LBS or lower, depending on the number of passengers.
One of the things you need to consider before choosing one is the ride-on car weight limit. Different power wheels come with different weight tolerances.
Power Wheels for toddlers and preschoolers have a weight limit of 66 LBS, while Power Wheels for Preteens have the maximum weight limit. To get the best out of your power wheels, you have to follow the manufacturer’s recommended weight limit
You must get to know the weight limit, before acquiring a new ride-on power wheel. Read on to learn the various aspects of weight limits regarding power wheels.
Looking for High Weight Limit Ride On Cars?
Here is our guide: 10 High Weight Limit Ride On Cars Above 100 LBS
What is the ride on car weight limit on Power Wheels?
The weight limit for any particular ride on the car is subject to the manufacturer’s design. Specifically for Power Wheels, the manufacturer has a range between 40 LBS (18kgs) to 130 LBS (59kgs). Here is a complete list:
| Ride-on cars with 40 lbs. (18kgs) weight limit | |
|---|---|
  | • Lil Lightning Mcqueen [Amazon Link] weight limit is 40 pounds. |
  | • Thomas & Friends™ Thomas with Track [Amazon Link] weight limit is 40 pounds. |
  | • Minnie Mouse™ Lil’ Quad™ [Amazon Link] weight limit is 40 pounds. |
| Ride-on cars with 50 lbs. (23kgs) weight limit | |
|---|---|
  | • Barbie™ Jeep® Wrangler [Amazon Link] weight limit is 50 pounds. • Full review on the Barbie Jeep Car |
  | • Hot Wheels™ Jeep® Wrangler [Amazon Link] weight limit is 50 pounds. |
  | • Nickelodeon™ Blaze™ Monster Truck [Amazon Link] weight limit is 50 pounds. |
| Ride-on cars with 100 lbs. (45.4kgs) weight limit | |
|---|---|
  | • Wild Things [Amazon Link] weight limit is 100 pounds. |
| • Boomerang™ weight limit is 100 pounds. |
| Ride-on cars with 130 lbs. (59kgs) weight limit | |
|---|---|
| • Barbie™ Jeep® Wrangler Ride-On Vehicle (12 volts) [Amazon Link] weight limit is 130 pounds. |
  | • Jurassic Park™ Jeep® Wrangler [Amazon Link] weight limit is 130 pounds. |
  | • Batman™ Dune Racer [Amazon Link] weight limit is 130 pounds. |
| • Barbie® Dream Camper™ Ride-On Vehicle weight limit is 130 pounds. | |
| • Dune Racer Extreme Ride-On Vehicle [Amazon Link] weight limit is 130 pounds. |
  | • Ford F-150 [Amazon Link] weight limit is 130 pounds. |
| • Smart Drive™ Ford Mustang weight limit is 130 pounds. |
High Weight Limit Ride-on Cars Available
Looking for the highest weight limit Power Wheels & Ride-on cars? We got you covered. Check out our detailed review on the highest weight limit Power Wheels.
Exceeding the recommended weight limits for power wheels will have adverse effects on the experience with the car and lifespan. Some signs point to an overloaded ride-on car. Let’s find out.
How to tell if your kid’s Power Wheels ride-on car weight limit has been exceeded?
Besides the instructions manual provided with the unit at purchase, there is a visual sign to know if the toy’s weight limit has been exceeded. These pointers manifest in the form of problems. They are:
I. Vehicle not running
When the car doesn’t start, it could be a result of several things. One of these might be a tripped thermal fuse.
The thermal fuse trips when the car is subjected to a higher torque demand than the onboard motors can provide. This fuse may also be connected with a safety system that acts to regulate weight.
When the car doesn’t move, you might want to check if you are within the weight limit before troubleshooting extensively.
II. The vehicle originally moving but halts suddenly
You may have experienced a stalling ride on the car, especially if there is a change in ground surface gradient or terrain condition. This action is triggered by the thermal fuse.
Let’s say your power wheels are rated at 40 pounds, on flat ground, and in recommended ground condition. You then load the toy to the 40-pound mark.
When the ride-on encounters an inclining surface, the torque required will exceed the rated max, causing the thermal fuse to trip. If your yard has some ramped sections, try not to load up close to the weight mark, or just get the kiddo one with a higher weight limit.
III. Short run time
If your ride on a car barely does 3 hours on a single charge, there might be an issue with the battery. You should, however, consider the amount of load you’re subjecting it.
Some ride-on cars can design have thermal fuses that do not trip instantly on overload. This allows for the toy’s weight limit to be exceeded.
Exceeded weight limit not only causes excessive wear and tear but also leads to battery degradation. Before you witness battery degradation, the battery will be doing a shorter time due to the higher power demand created.
If the overload is prolonged, you could even dispose of the toy halfway earlier than a friend who sticks within limits.
IV. Vehicle runs sluggishly
This is the most conspicuous sign of an overloaded ride-on car. Aside from the slower than normal speeds, you might also note a training’ sound from the motor.
If the motor operates at a fixed power output, an increase in load beyond the upper limits reduces speed. If the ride-on has two passenger seats, the chances are that if there are two occupants, their combined weight may be more than the rated value.
Try having only one kid on board, and if the speed doesn’t improve, think of doing a more thorough check. Having looked into the weight, we can also explore other features worth considering when buying a ride-on car.
What do you look for when buying an electric car for my kid?
Number of motors and battery voltage
A motor is what provides the forward or backward motion of a ride-on car. The majority of ride-on cars have a single motor attached to one of the rear wheels. Some other models have dual motors on either rear wheel.
A ride on a car with two motors can carry more weight, holding all other factors constant. Such power wheels also provide very steady motion.
By being steady, there are no unwanted speed variances, despite the weight, during operation, making it very smooth. Dual motor ride on cars (2wd) is common in the low weight rating domain. If your kid is just learning how to ride one, then a 2WD can be a great choice.
One other thing with the number of motors is stability on sloppy terrain. A single motor ride-on car would have its speed reduced when climbing up an inclined ground.
A 2WD counterpart does not reduce speed on changing gradient. For kids below 35 pounds, look for nothing more than a single motor ride-on.
The size of the battery also varies depending on the brand. Most power wheels pack a 12V battery. For younger children, there are 6V battery power wheels.
The bigger the battery, the better. That is why you can still find 24V batteries on some models. Factory-made 24V units are expensive and rare. They power the larger models.
Some mechanics, or individuals, replace the 12V battery with a 24V. The result is increased speed, reaching up to 11 KPH. Such a speed is injurious to a child and extremely rough on the car’s suspension system.
Design and Quality
There are several different designs employed in ride-on cars. These are:
TYPES OF RIDE-ON CARS
There are a lot of different types of ride-on cars, here is a quick list:
Quads
These are like motorbikes with four wheels. They are straightforward to ride on or operate. Instead of the normal steering column, quads utilize a T-shaped pair of handlebars.
They also have robust wheels with a good grip on the ground. Due to the ease of operation that does not require the motorbike-loving rider to learn to balance first, they are suitable for toddlers.
It is also very easy to mount and unmount from a quad bike.
Motorbikes
Like an ordinary motorcycle, this type of ride-on requires the child to balance on it. They are, therefore, ideal for kids who can at least balance on a bicycle.
Some types do come with training wheels though not as standard. Motorcycle ride-on cars can do two to three mph.
Car/truck
Ride-on cars of car and truck type are the most common. They resemble actual car models. Some are even licensed to use these designs.
Among the extras that such cars have are adjustable rearview mirrors, armrests, hinged doors, and trunks with carriage capacity. The larger types have a trunk capacity of up to 11 kilos.
These are toy cars and are powered by an onboard motor and battery. Ensure the kid does not load up heavier stuff than is recommended.
Otherwise, compare how long it takes to charge them against the running time for a full charge.
Specialty vehicles
These include all the other ride-on cars, such as; tractors, trains, airplanes, and tow trucks. Depending on the specific one you choose, you get full operational systems such the plows, ladders, and or excavation systems.
These special features are factored in on pricing, so expect to spend more on one of these, as compared to non-specialty power wheels.
If your kid happens to fancy a particular car brand from the screens and wants to have a similar (by brand) ride-on car, there is a high chance that the ride is licensed. Licensed ride-on cars look exactly like real cars but come at a higher price.
This is because the manufacturer incurs a licensing fee, and the ride-on car’s performance must be on par with the actual car’s reputation.
Top-class ride-on cars include models like Injusa, Famosa, and Rastar. They have a range of options from which to select, but they come at a price higher than the lower quality power wheels.
Going for a reliable toy is always recommended as it will save you time on assembly and will last for as long as it is advertised.
a) Ease of operation
This is very important to the kid. You should consider if your kid(s) can fully enjoy a ride-on car’s feature before buying it. For instance, a kid should be able to use both the forward and reverse modes with ease or easily learn to do so.
b) Remote control enabled
If you want to be part of your kid’s joy in riding, then a remote-controlled ride-on car might make you closer to the kid despite not being aboard. Remote-controlled power wheels are good for training and for young riders to whom you do not want to surrender control of the vehicle.
Such cars are also good if the rider is short and doesn’t reach the foot pedal. One thing about the cars, though, is that their frequencies tend to mess with each other. Most models are either 27 MHz or 41 MHz.
Operating your kid’s ride-on near other cars of the same frequency interrupts those cars’ functionality. You can go for the Ferrari 12V ride [Amazon Link], whose frequency is 2.4ghz.
The car can comfortably play around with other models.
c) Number of seats
Most huge-size ride-on cars have two seats for two kids to ride together. The problem with these rides is not the functionality but fighting among the kids.
To experience the thrill of being the driver, most kids will fight over who occupies the river’s seat.’
Most power wheels come with a single seat. These are smaller and can be used inside the house if there is ample open space. The single-seat models are also more detailed if they’re sporty or luxurious types like BMW.
Smaller power wheels are also easy on storage space and can make the coolest prop in a kid’s room once the kid has outgrown the toy.
d) Shipping
There are more than a hundred brands of ride-on cars. However, they tend to come from a certain location in the world.
If you are far from the manufacturer or the supplier of your desired ride-on car, you need to consider the shipping and associated cost.
You should also note that since these are huge items as compared to other commonly shopped items, the shipping cost can be upwards of $50. Some huge ride-on cars can even cost you $190 to ship domestically.
There is a reprieve for shoppers in Canada if they choose to shop from KSKids. The shipping is usually free within Canada.
FAQs
Conclusion
Power wheels are a great way of nurturing truck and track enthusiasts from an early age. If your kid loves the ride on, he/she will most likely be interested in knowing why their car might not perform.
This provides a good basis for teaching them skills, such as changing the oil and other maintenance activities in an actual car.
Besides, if you are a car-loving individual, why not pass the passion down to your kid by getting them a set of wheels.
Please be careful and use at your own risk
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