My kid's first motorized vehicle... already significantly modified :)

UselessPickles · Apr 27, 2011

My 2-year-old son got a Power Wheels ATV for his birthday:

(stock photo)

My father-in-law picked this one out specifically because it has a throttle grip like a motorcycle, and my kid definitely already likes throttle grips (

I actually have it setup to go slower than stock right now until my kid gets more coordinated (he's a year younger than the minimum recommended age), but there's plenty of room for enhancing the speed now. It's at about 1.5mph now (slower than in the video), stock is 5mph, and I can get it up to about 8.5mph just with more/different batteries. A cheap ($40) motor upgrade should put it over 10mph

phroenips · Apr 27, 2011

That seems like a whole lotta work!

UselessPickles · Apr 27, 2011

phroenips said:
That seems like a whole lotta work awesome!

I fixed it for you

FJR-RemingtonRider · Apr 27, 2011

Wow!

Now that's a MOD.

Move the furniture about, he's about to sharpen them driving skills for the dirt bike coming next year.

You are gonna get an AWESOME Father's day present!

yamafitter · Apr 27, 2011

Next Tech Day I'm bringing my R/C Star Wars Laser System and blowing that 'Traffic Copter' out of the sky.

El Toro Joe · Apr 27, 2011

Pickles...your a wild man

Denver_FJR · Apr 27, 2011

That is awesome work! It's like the electronic version of the G2 Throttle Tamer and custom Power Commander MAP all in one. Let the farkles begin!

BikerGeek99 · Apr 27, 2011

'Pickles was tellin' us about this at Tech Day II.

Once you meet him, you'll understand.

Personally, I think that's awesome! :good:

Jeremy · Apr 27, 2011

That's awesome!!

Am I the only one that thinks a series of high end kids' cars by UselessPickles would sell like crazy to maniacal enthusiasts like us? What do you think U.P.?

UselessPickles · Apr 27, 2011

FJR-RemingtonRider said:
You are gonna get an AWESOME Father's day present!

I think I might have already spent all the money that could have gone toward an awesome father's day present

Projects like this are expensive when you have to place multiple online orders for supplies because you don't really know exactly what you'll need until you're half-way done, and you can't find most of this stuff in local stores to look at it and confirm whether it will work before you buy it. Wire and connectors are especially expensive when you can only find them in larger-than-necessary quantities with shipping fees. Good news is that I almost have enough supplies to modify another Power Wheels for kid #2 next year

Jeremy said:
Am I the only one that thinks a series of high end kids' cars by UselessPickles would sell like crazy to maniacal enthusiasts like us? What do you think U.P.?

The thought has crossed my mind

I plan to work on improving the hardware/software to include the functionality of the speed controller so that all necessary electronics are on one board. That would allow me to have more control over what the motors are doing so that the brake pedal could be purely a brake pedal, and reverse would be accomplished by "shifting" into reverse with a button then using the throttle. If I can get that all working, I think I might be on my way to putting together a reasonable kit that could possibly be affordable to the buyer and make it worth my time/effort in profit.

Another option is for me to buy cheap used vehicles on craigslist, modify them, then resell them.

Niehart · Apr 27, 2011

That really is very cool. Great job.

Oh, and UselessPickles, your son is very good looking. :lol:

Bustanut joker · Apr 27, 2011

He's just a big kid..

With awesome skillz!

Good work Jeff.

mattster31 · Apr 27, 2011

UselessPickles said:
phroenips said:

That seems like a whole lotta work awesome!

Click to expand...

I fixed it for you

Damn Pickless......U got mad skillzzzz

Potentia....what???

Hey.... I can strip my bike down to the bare frame and such, but when it comes to electrical controllers and circuit board work.......my experience is nil.

Nice job.......what do you do for a living???

UselessPickles · Apr 27, 2011

mattster31 said:
Nice job.......what do you do for a living???

Thanks

I'm a software engineer (or developer, depending on whether you're the type that insists that someone must have a post-grad degree to deserve the word "engineer" in their title). Either way, I design and develop software.

I actually really know nothing about electronics and hardware. I wouldn't have been able to get the circuit board setup properly without help from a friend that studied computer engineering. Writing the code for the microcontroller was where I was comfortable. I'll definitely be doing some research to learn more about the hardware side of things so that I can do more fun projects involving microcontrollers in the future.

UselessPickles · Apr 29, 2011

My kid got his first ride on his modified Power Wheels today. He seems to be enjoying it much more now (he actually stayed on it for more than 30 seconds, then willingly got back on it himself again later). I like the look on his face after he whacks the throttle open

madmike2 · Apr 29, 2011

:clapping: Very cool!!! :clapping:

Uhm....tell "mom" that she has to learn to NOT worry about the flowers. I mean...er...once he's big enough for a dirt bike....

....welllll, y'know...

dcarver · Apr 30, 2011

I wanna be your son, what with cool toyz like that and all.

...whatcha say, Pops?

gearman · Apr 30, 2011

I had to chuckle when I saw this post. My wife picked up one of these for our grandson at a garage sale last year. It was an older model with no foot pedal and a thumb switch throttle. Of course papaw wasn't satisfied with the stocker and had to modify the steering stops and install a reverse switch.

rogdeb · Apr 30, 2011

madmike2 said:
:clapping: Very cool!!! :clapping:

Ditto that :clapping:

My kid's first motorized vehicle... already significantly modified :)

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