Thread: Pushing Cars

For some reason I got the urge to push my 4wd for training purposes as its something different and I would assume would have lots of benefits.

I workout at home with a couple of mates, so at the end of our last workout, we marked out around 40m and timed each other pushing the 4wd accross the line. After doing this twice i could barely walk straight.

Just wondering what the exact benefits would be?

Would this be more for cardio or strength/muscle building?

Would this add strength and muscle?

Would this work out the whole body or just the legs?

Is this worth adding to a training schedule?

I have not heard much about people doing this, but its so simple and easy to do and absolutely screws ya.

Thoughts?

It would be similar to pushing a prowler around, very good for cardio and foot speed. It will add strength/power and will increase recovery times between sets or events.
Not really a muscle builder.

If you have some thick rope you could sit with your feet in a gutter and pull your car arm over arm style as well.

This reminds me of Mark Philippoussis pushing a 4WD uphill with the coach/trainer sitting inside the car and blasting music through the speakers.

I've pushed and dragged 4-wheelers in the past for fitness. It definitely made me puff out quickly so I can see why you couldn't walk straight. I think this type of exercise is more useful if you're trying to improve your overall fitness. Most of the punishment centers on the legs of course, although I assume you're using your arms to push the car too, unless you're a rugby forward and pushing the car like you're in a scrum. So your arms and upper body strength will be used to stabilise your body while you push.

This exercise did wonders for my lung capacity and it was a nice change of pace for my regular training. Most people don't use it because it's a bitch of an exercise and a little inconvenient too. You kind of need flat terrain, no distractions and it helps if you have friends. Imagine pushing the car uphill by yourself with heavy traffic around you. You'd be rooted if you got tired and couldn't jump in the car quickly enough to stop it rolling backwards :)

I train on a cul-de-sac and the land is flat, So makes it easy with little to no traffic.

My new training partners are really excited to do some strong man style exercises, which is the main reason for trying this out.

I want to get big and strong, but love my fitness, so I think ill try this out for a while and see how I go.

I see the biggest benefit of all = it is bloody fun and you can compete with your mates.

Obviously it is without a doubt a helpful exercise but the fun part means you will really give it a good thrashing.

I would have thought pushing a car/4wd in the way he describes would really activate your CNS. Or am I completely off track?

Hey Kairazy,

Next time i head out for a bit of 4x4ing you can come and long, so when i get bogged and stuck you can get out and push, hahahaha

i don't think so...

squats and deads tax the ns because they load the body where you have to shoulder the full load of the wt

sprints tax the cns because of the neural activity of doing something as hard as you can during an activity where you don't have much inertia to overcome

pushing cars don't have either of these but they will wear you out pretty quickly so you'd definately want to monitor your main training focus to see if they affect your performance there

have you pushed a car before? once moving on flat surface it moves very easily...

could try sled training with a car? but not trying to spring say a slow run until you get it going?

it would look pretty good and would give you scary expoisves,

probley wouldnt work but hey y not try it

This is pretty interesting, gives you an idea on what pushing a car may involve - in this case pulling a truck

yeah but a 4x4 isn't a 26 tone truck...

Originally Posted by C_T

yeah but a 4x4 isn't a 26 tone truck...

No shit?

Thats why I said - "gives you an idea what pushing a car involves, in this case a truck"

Talks about what force it takes to get it going and to keep it moving.

Originally Posted by C-T

have you pushed a car before? once moving on flat surface it moves very easily...

Point taken, though I have never had the priveledge to push a car on a flat surface, has always been on a upwards slope.