You’ve likely seen impressive videos of strongmen deadlifting cars, a feat of strength that captivates and amazes. The question that naturally arises is: How Heavy Is A Car deadlift, really? It’s a question that has intrigued strength enthusiasts for ages, sparking discussions about the true weight being lifted and the mechanics involved. While hoisting an entire vehicle off the ground is a rare spectacle, car deadlifts typically involve lifting just one end. So, how much of the car’s weight are you actually grappling with?
The Truth About Car Deadlift Weight: It’s Not the Full Vehicle Weight
Unless you possess superhuman strength and manage to lift a car entirely clear of the ground like Franco Columbu, the weight you’re lifting in a car deadlift is only a fraction of the car’s total mass. Most car deadlifts utilize specialized equipment like a car deadlift frame, often incorporating straps and lifting suits to aid in the lift. By focusing the lift on just one end of the car and employing a lever system, the actual force required is significantly reduced.
To understand the mechanics and calculate the force involved, we can analyze the car deadlift setup using physics principles. Imagine the system as two rigid bodies, each fixed at one end. The car, resting on the deadlift frame, acts as a roller, with the force directed perpendicularly. By applying the concept of moment arms, we can determine the effective weight being lifted. Essentially, we’re dealing with a lever system lifting another lever.
Several factors influence the efficiency and perceived weight of a car deadlift. Optimizing these can make the lift more manageable:
- Hand Placement: Grip the handles as far forward as possible. This maximizes the moment arm (represented by the blue line in the diagram), providing the greatest mechanical advantage. A longer moment arm reduces the force needed to lift the weight.
- Pull Direction: Instead of pulling straight upwards, direct your pull slightly backward, perpendicular to the theoretical moment arm (indicated by the green arrow). This ensures that the maximum force you exert translates into rotating the frame. Remember, your range of motion (ROM) follows an arc, not a straight vertical line.
For a more detailed calculation tailored to your specific setup, you can utilize a Car Deadlift Calculator. This tool allows you to input your measurements and assumptions for a precise estimation of the lifting force.
For a quick understanding, the table below provides reference values based on a standard car deadlift frame design:
https://startingstrongman.com/2014/08/05/how-to-build-a-car-deadlift-frame/
As the table demonstrates, the weight you lift in a car deadlift, while still substantial depending on the car model, is considerably less than the vehicle’s total weight. It’s crucial to note that these calculations represent the maximum force required at the initial lift-off. As the lift progresses, the leverage increases, and the weight feels progressively lighter due to the changing angles and force vectors inherent in lever systems.
Why Car Deadlifts Are Unique: Beyond the Barbell
While both test strength, the car deadlift is fundamentally different from a barbell deadlift in several key aspects:
- Pull Direction & Range of Motion: In a conventional barbell deadlift, you overcome gravity by pulling vertically upwards in a linear motion. The car deadlift, due to the lever frame, involves a circular range of motion. You’re not pulling straight up but in an arc.
- Starting Height: A standard barbell deadlift begins with the bar approximately 9 inches off the ground. Car deadlift frame handles are significantly higher, often exceeding 16 inches (when using a 2×4 under the frame). This elevated starting position drastically reduces the overall range of motion, making the car deadlift feel mechanically different.
- Hand Position and Grip: Car deadlift frames necessitate a wider hand position than a barbell deadlift. While a wider grip typically increases the range of motion (think of the hypotenuse of a right triangle), the neutral grip afforded by the frame offers a biomechanical advantage. In a barbell deadlift, the bar is in front of the body, creating additional torque that the lifter must overcome. The neutral grip in a car deadlift minimizes this torque, allowing for a more direct and powerful pull.
These differences highlight that a direct strength conversion from a barbell deadlift to a car deadlift is not feasible. They are distinct movements, each demanding unique strength adaptations.
Trap Bar Deadlift from Blocks: A Closer Relative
For those seeking a gym-based exercise that more closely mimics the car deadlift, the trap bar deadlift performed from blocks stands out.
This variation effectively addresses two of the three key distinctions between barbell and car deadlifts: the elevated starting height and the neutral grip. While it doesn’t replicate the circular pull path of a car deadlift, it provides a readily accessible and effective training tool in most gyms.
Dedicated Training for the Car Deadlift
For competitive strongman athletes specifically training for car deadlifts, utilizing a dedicated car deadlift frame and a designated “lifting car” remains the most specific and beneficial approach. However, for those without access to such specialized equipment, understanding the mechanics and nuances of the car deadlift allows for more targeted and effective training using variations like trap bar deadlifts from blocks.
Conclusion: The Undeniable Awesomeness of Car Deadlifts
Regardless of the precise weight lifted, the car deadlift remains an undeniably impressive display of strength. Successfully deadlifting a car, or even a portion of one, places you in an elite category of strength. Understanding the physics and weight dynamics involved only deepens the appreciation for this incredible feat. So, while it might not be the entire weight of the car, conquering a car deadlift is, without a doubt, incredibly cool.
By Mark Jones
Mark Jones is a lightweight amateur strongman, seasoned powerlifter, and practicing mechanical engineer. He is also the owner of 4Armour LLC, a company specializing in stone sleeves. Mark’s background in mechanical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, combined with his athletic pursuits, provides him with a unique perspective on strength training. He applies his physics knowledge to optimize lifting techniques in both the gym and real-world strongman scenarios.
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