Pushing Around a 5500 lb. Car
Car pushing can help build muscle and strength in ways you never would have imagined. I first came across car pushing and pulling while watching The World’s Strongest Man competition on ESPN as a kid. It can help train your body in ways that conventional weights, exercises, and machines can’t. It’s also a great total body cardio workout.
I have been wanting to test my strength by pushing a car for quite some time. So I finally decided to bite the bullet and head to the park. I managed to convince a nice guy at the park to let me push his 2004 Ford Expedition around the lot for a few minutes. The total curb weight for that size truck is 5499 lbs. Add to that the 173 lbs. that the guy weighed and the extra stuff I saw in the trunk of the SUV and we are looking at well over 5600 lbs. Oh, and I have it all on camera.
I wasn’t at all intimidated by the size of the truck, I knew I could push it. I just didn’t want to look like a fool pushing around a car. My car pushing skills are limited to the many times I have had to get out and push a stalled car from the middle of the road or a car stuck in the snow during the winter in NYC. That hasn’t happened for a few years, so I am rusty. I didn’t bother stretching, instead I mentally prepared myself for the task. Small words of encouragement and picturing myself push the car around helped to psyche me up.
As you will see in the video, it wasn’t that hard to start off. I found it rather easy pushing the truck from the back, but pushing from the front was really difficult. The engine weight maybe? I estimate that I pushed for anywhere from 50 to 80 yards. Either way, it was a great experience. After that last push I ended up with that burning sensation in my throat. You know, the feeling you get when you train real hard and your heart and chest start pumping. I usually get that feeling when I run fast, but 2 or 3 minutes of car pushing and I was feeling it bad! My technique may be off, but then again I was just doing this to say I could do it. Next time, I will look into car pushing techniques. I tried pushing with my legs and upper body, then just my legs, then just my upper body. It all felt the same.
Here’s the video:
Damn, that looks like fun. Looks like you’ve lost weight too.
It was fun. Can’t wait to do it again. Thanks for the compliment too.
my first ride ran just like that. i pushed it around, picked up dates, went grocery shopping with it. it was like a glorified shopping cart. such a status symbol just having a car where I’m from even if you do have to push it up a steep incline.
You probably felt sick from inhaling the fumes from the exhaust or the engine. You looked like you had good technique to me. keep up the good work.
I don’t think it was that. It was probably a combination of the cold weather and the stress my body underwent as I pushed the car.
It was my SUV he was pushing too. I live the high life too much, I know.
Damn, fat kids. Always making up for their short comings. Or should I say, large comings?
Hey Israel,
Nice work, just looked over your progress and i’m impressed. Keep up the good work!
Wes
Thanks. I have a long way to go, but I know I can get there.
I would have liked to see the video of you asking a stranger if you could push his truck. HA!
That’s what that whole first minute was.
I wouldn’t have let your grubby hands touch my SUV. j/k man. That’s some impressive work there… and as said above, you’re looking trimmer. Keep it up.
Thanks for the compliment. the car was pretty easy to push, I bet anyone could do it.
Haha, nice video. I like muscles, but I am at the moment to young to go to an fitness centrum.
You are damn strong man. If I had the power like you, I would be very happy.
Thanks.